Now that school is in full swing that means time for after school activities. These activities include sports, clubs and the arts like music and theatre. These extracurricular activities usually involve volunteer parent assistance. And anytime you have adults spending time with an at-risk population like children there should be a thorough background check. Every school utilizing volunteers should take all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their children. Having a thorough vetting process that includes criminal history checks, reference checks and the proper verifications is essential to securing the safety of the students.
A best practice for schools requiring volunteers to assist in afterschool activities is a thorough vetting process, one that includes a criminal background check.
At-risk populations, such as children or the elderly, are vulnerable to victimization. Schools using volunteers that interact with children must take steps to ensure their safety.
And the reasons are clear.
In Yadkinville, NC a school volunteer was arrested for alleged malicious behavior.
From JournalNow.com (Oct 02, 18):
A Starmount High School volunteer coach was arrested after being charged with sex offenses involving a student… journalnow.com/news/crime/volunteer-coach-at-yadkin-county-high-school-charged-with-sex/article_9f219f44-9ca9-59f3-8615-4743311e0cc6.html
Things are no different on the west coast.
From theCalifornian.com (Sep 20, 18):
In Salinas California a youth football coach faces “charges of gunning down a man in Chinatown two years ago.” thecalifornian.com/story/news/2018/09/20/salinas-coach-murder-arrest-what-we-know-now/1362358002/
A potential conviction of murder would certainly preclude an individual from serving as a volunteer but in some areas of the country certain convictions would not lead to a failed background check or rejection from a volunteer role.
In New Hampshire…”A former Winnacunnet High School assistant football coach facing burglary charges was a convicted felon when hired by the school in 2017, but officials say the conviction would not necessarily have prevented him from working in education.” seacoastonline.com/news/20181005/ex-whs-football-coach-had-prior-felony-convictions
The requirements and legalities of a volunteer background check can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A best practice is to work with a well-qualified third party background screening agency.
A solid and thorough background check can work as a barrier to potential predators from working around children as a volunteer. Despite potential pushback, a best practice remains that all volunteers should be background checked by a well-qualified third-party background screening agency.
To read more about this subject read recent press release: Back to School; Back to Background Screening Volunteers