The following three criminal background checks are required for all employees. The same three background checks are required for all volunteers of a child care service, school or program, activity or service, responsible for a child’s welfare or volunteers having direct contact with children. (The only exception is for those employees who are 14 to 17 years of age; they do not have to have obtain the Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check.)
- Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History [PATCH])
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certificate
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Fingerprint Check (18+ years old)
These three criminal background checks are required upon hire and are required to be repeated every five (5) years, per the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Act 153 of 2014 and amended under Act 2015-15.
Background check process (PDF) is provided on this page under 'Resources' (please scroll to view)
English Lay Employee/Volunteer Background Check Authorization Form (PDF)
Child abuse clearance form (PDF)
Child Abuse Clearance Release form (PDF)
Employee and Volunteer Background Check Policy (document)
Employee and Volunteer Background Check Policy (PDF Spanish)
Background check FAQs (PDF)
Background check FAQs (Spanish PDF)
Employment Affidavit (PDF)
Safe Environment Checklist Employee (PDF)
Safe Environment Checklist Volunteer (PDF)
Safe Environment Quick Reference & Resource Guide (PDF)
School Vendors and Contractors (PDF)
Volunteer Pa. Criminal History form for mailing to state (PDF)
