Volunteer Background Screening – Volunteers who work directly with children

Volunteer Background Screening – Volunteers who work directly with children must be screened and vetted in the same manner as staff, with the exclusion of the medical requirements. 1. Screening. Partner Providers must: a. Obtain and verify three (3) personal references and one (1) professional reference for each volunteer. b. Complete a Central Registry check, a criminal background check and a Sex Offender Registry check for each volunteer. These checks must be updated annually. c. Submit a MACWIS Inquiry Data Sheet to MDCPS. d. Complete NCIC fingerprinting for each volunteer. This check must be updated every five (5) years. 2. Groups. Requirements for volunteers that are serving on behalf of an approved entity (i.e., public school district providing tutors for youth at facility) that requires satisfactory background checks for its employees may be waived upon written request to MDCPS. The Partner Provider shall continue to adhere to the required staffing ratio in this instance. Volunteer groups (i.e., church groups, etc.) shall not be left alone with any children and Partner Provider shall adhere to the required ratio in this instance. 3. Restrictions. The Partner Provider must not a. employ or permit to volunteer an applicant who has been convicted of a sex offense, a violent crime, a crime against a child, or any other felony conviction. b. employ or permit to volunteer an applicant who has been adjudicated physically or mentally incompetent to stand trial by a court of law.