The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recently passed legislation that requires all individuals who work or volunteer with children to obtain clearances (background checks). Not only does this legislation apply to full-time, paid-employees (like pastors and youth pastors), it also applies to non-paid volunteers (like Sunday School teachers, Nursery workers, or Vacation Bible School staff).
Our Grace Baptist Church volunteers who work with children are asked to complete these clearances, and then submit the completed certificate(s) to the church office. If you have additional questions, you can read more at the Frequently Asked Questions page at Pennsylvania’s ‘Keep Kids Safe‘ website.
As a volunteer working with children at Grace Baptist Church, you are required by law to secure these two clearances, both of which are FREE. **Please note, if you have lived outside of Pennsylvania within the past ten years, you are required by law to secure a third clearance– a FBI background check**
- You may get your FREE Pennsylvania Child Welfare Background check here: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS
- You may get your FREE Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Background check here: https://epatch.pa.gov/home
- If you have lived outside of Pennsylvania within the past ten (10) years, you will also need to get an FBI background check. You can get the FBI Background check here: https://www.identogo.com/services/history-check/fbi-history-check Please note that Identogo charges a fee for this background check (around $25).