National Service Criminal History Check Resources
The Corporation for National and Community Service has issued a regulation requiring grantees to conduct and document National Service Criminal History Checks on Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents, as well as on AmeriCorps State and National (including Education Award Program) participants who, on a recurring basis, have access to children, persons age 60 or older, or individuals with disabilities. Visit the Corporation's website for more information.
- Read the Federal Register notice – published on September 10, 2009 (PDF)
- Read the Federal Register notice – published on August 24, 2007 (PDF)
- National Service Criminal History Checks, September 6, 2007 (PPT)
- Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- How to Request Approval of an Alternate Search Protocol (PDF)
The resources listed below are provided to help Corporation grantees establish appropriate screening procedures for the selection of volunteers and staff members. These resources contain practical, useful information that can help grantees exercise proper due care in the selection of volunteers and staff members for their respective programs. This list is not exhaustive. Consequently, it would be prudent for grantees to also review other available resources that address volunteer selection and management issues.
- Key Points: National Service Criminal History Checks (PDF)
- Staff Screening Tool Kit, 3rd Edition
- Screening and Placing New Members, EnCorps Collection
- The Attorney General’s Report on Criminal History Background Checks (June 2006) (PDF)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- National Mentoring Partnership: Risk Management and Screening and Background Check Resources (scroll down to find these categories)
- The EEOC Compliance Manual
- Department of Justice (DOJ) National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSOPR)
- State sex offender registry
- Federal Trade Commission’s Standards for Safeguarding Customer Information, 16 CFR Part 314 (PDF)
From The Resource Center Online Learning Center Managing Risk by Screening Volunteers (from the Corporation's Disaster Services and Points of Light Foundation's Disaster Volunteer courses are accessible.
RELATED RESOURCES
Effective Practices Collection
- Identifying and keeping good program staff
- Screening online volunteers
- Using a team project to conduct a group interview
- Establishing a responsible mentoring program
Lending Library
- Staff Screening Tool Kit: Building a Strong Foundation through Careful Staffing
- Beyond Police Checks: The Definitive Volunteer & Employee Screening Guidebook
- Guidelines for the Screening of Persons Working with Children, the Elderly, and Individuals with Disabilities in Need of Support
- Screening Volunteers to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: A Community Guide for Youth Organizations
