Friends who work with children and youth are generally asked to complete references and background checks that are in compliance with state laws. <\/p>\n
Friends who have clearances from their place of employment or other volunteer roles may show the original documents to the responsible person in the meeting, and provide copies for records. The clearances will be acceptable only if they comply with law and meeting policy. Meetings are encouraged to consult with the requirements of their insurance company.<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n PYM is a resource to monthly and quarterly meetings in DE, MD, NJ, and PA who need to complete background checks for Friends who are volunteering with the children in the meeting. \u00a0Please review the process below.<\/strong><\/p>\n PYM uses approved services to conduct the recommended national and required state background checks. Monthly (local) meetings may request background checks be completed through the Yearly Meeting using the online service Protect My Ministry. PYM staff will help facilitate the background checks through the online service and keep secure records; meetings are responsible for making sure the steps are completed by volunteers.<\/em> PYM staff can provide support and consultation with the process, whether or not you are conducting the clearances through PYM.<\/p>\n To request that PYM staff complete a background check for a meeting volunteer, please provide the following basic information:<\/p>\n Each of your listed volunteers will receive an email with a link to an online service (Protect My Ministry) where they will be asked to fill out a consent form, provide references and some basic information. PYM conducts clearances that at a minimum are in compliance with state law for the various states in which our meetings are located. We also consider best practices in providing a safe environment for the children and youth of our community, so in some cases our background checks go beyond the minimum requirements.<\/p>\n Please note the complete process will involve two to four steps, depending on whether you have lived in Pennsylvania 10 or more years. Please ask those requiring background checks to keep an eye on their e-mail during this time (and check spam folders) as there will be instructions and links sent for each part of the process.<\/em><\/p>\n The Yearly Meeting will process the clearances and keep online records. The local Meeting is responsible for keeping track of those who require background checks and updates.<\/p>\n PA law requires that adults applying for or holding an unpaid position as a volunteer with a program, activity or service responsible for the child\u2019s welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children obtain child abuse clearances. For more information about the laws, visit Keep Kids Safe: http:\/\/www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov\/resources\/clearances\/index.htm<\/a><\/p>\n To order background checks directly through the state, free of charge, visit the PA state website.<\/a> We have learned that since the state has begun making the clearances available to volunteers for free, and through a more streamlined process, it can be more efficient for meeting volunteers to use that process directly and provide results to the meeting.<\/p>\n Volunteers who have lived in PA for the past ten years consecutively need to complete the PA state required Child Abuse History Clearance which includes the child abuse and criminal background checks.<\/p>\n PA volunteers who have not lived in PA for 10 years, and paid staff in PA, will have an additional cost of about $27 for an FBI fingerprinting clearance. The cost for New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland volunteers is $14.95\/person. Meeting volunteers should click on \u201cPA Department of Human Services\u201d for the proper clearance. Information and Registration is here: https:\/\/www.identogo.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n Meetings can set up an organizational account to manage PA Child Abuse History Clearances online for their employees and volunteers. To set up or log in to an individual or organizational account visit the PA Child Welfare Portal page: https:\/\/www.compass.state.pa.us\/cwis\/public\/home<\/a> (It\u2019s a good idea to record the username and password you set up, because some folks have found it difficult to retrieve when forgotten.)<\/p>\n The Yearly Meeting processes background clearances for Friends who are volunteers in the Yearly Meeting Youth Programs.<\/p>\n This process applies to Friends serving with PYM Programs such as Young Friends, Middle School Friends, Children’s Sessions, or other yearly meeting wide programs. Friends volunteering with their monthly meeting AND the Yearly Meeting only need to complete this process a single time if the Yearly Meeting processes the clearance.<\/p>\n If you have questions or need help contact:<\/p>\n Kristin Simmons Youth Programs<\/a> Monthly & Quarterly…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":426,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
\n\n
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\nPennsylvania Resident Volunteers:<\/h3>\n
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\nPYM Youth Programs Volunteers<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/strong>Youth Engagement Coordinator<\/em>
\nksimmons@pym.org or 215-241-7171<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#d6dff9″ custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|15px||15px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]\n
\nYouth Engagement Coordinator<\/span>
\n215-241-7171
\nksimmons@pym.org<\/a><\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\nVision & Mission<\/a>
\nRequest a Visit<\/a>
\nChild Safety Forms<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Monthly & Quarterly Meeting Volunteers<\/h2>\r\nFriends who work with children and youth are generally asked to complete references and background checks that are in compliance with state laws. Friends may also wish to consult PYM's Best Practices for Child and Community Safety<\/em><\/a> to\u00a0learn about developing policies and procedures that will help support a safe environment in your meeting.\r\n\r\nFriends who have clearances from their place of employment or other volunteer roles may show the original documents to the responsible person in the meeting, and provide copies for records. The clearances will be acceptable only if they comply with law and meeting policy. Meetings are encouraged to consult with the requirements of their insurance company.<\/strong>\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nPYM is a resource to monthly and quarterly meetings in DE, MD, NJ, and PA who need to complete background checks for Friends who are volunteering with the children in the meeting. \u00a0Please review the process below.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nPYM uses approved services to conduct the recommended national and required state background checks. Monthly (local) meetings may request background checks be completed through the Yearly Meeting using the online service Protect My Ministry. PYM staff will help facilitate the background checks through the online service and keep secure records; meetings are responsible for making sure the steps are completed by volunteers.<\/em> PYM staff can provide support and consultation with the process, whether or not you are conducting the clearances through PYM.\r\n\r\nTo request that PYM staff complete a background check for a meeting volunteer, please provide the following basic information:\r\n\r\n \t
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\nPennsylvania Resident Volunteers:<\/h3>\r\nPA law requires that adults applying for or holding an unpaid position as a volunteer with a program, activity or service responsible for the child\u2019s welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children obtain child abuse clearances. For more information about the laws, visit Keep Kids Safe: http:\/\/www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov\/resources\/clearances\/index.htm<\/a>\r\n\r\nTo order background checks directly through the state, free of charge, visit the PA state website.<\/a> We have learned that since the state has begun making the clearances available to volunteers for free, and through a more streamlined process, it can be more efficient for meeting volunteers to use that process directly and provide results to the meeting.\r\n\r\nVolunteers who have lived in PA for the past ten years consecutively need to complete the PA state required Child Abuse History Clearance which includes the child abuse and criminal background checks.\r\n\r\nPA volunteers who have not lived in PA for 10 years, and paid staff in PA, will have an additional cost of about $27 for an FBI fingerprinting clearance. The cost for New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland volunteers is $14.95\/person. Meeting volunteers should click on \u201cPA Department of Human Services\u201d for the proper clearance. Information and Registration is here: https:\/\/www.identogo.com\/<\/a>\r\n\r\nMeetings can set up an organizational account to manage PA Child Abuse History Clearances online for their employees and volunteers. To set up or log in to an individual or organizational account visit the PA Child Welfare Portal page: https:\/\/www.compass.state.pa.us\/cwis\/public\/home<\/a> (It\u2019s a good idea to record the username and password you set up, because some folks have found it difficult to retrieve when forgotten.)\r\n
\r\n \t
\r\n\r\nPYM Youth Programs Volunteers<\/h2>\r\nThe Yearly Meeting processes background clearances for Friends who are volunteers in the Yearly Meeting Youth Programs.\r\n\r\nThis process applies to Friends serving with PYM Programs such as Young Friends, Middle School Friends, Children's Sessions, or other yearly meeting wide programs. Friends volunteering with their monthly meeting AND the Yearly Meeting only need to complete this process a single time if the Yearly Meeting processes the clearance.\r\n
\r\n \t