Safe Environment
Dear Employees and Volunteers for: School, CYO, BINGO, PREP, Scouts, Lunch Parent, Home & School and *Trip Chaperone.
Archdiocesan policy requires all parish and school personnel to obtain background checks. Volunteers who may have any possible contact with children must also obtain background checks. All background checks and clearances must be obtained prior to beginning work/service.
Please fill out the forms and RETURN TO PARISH OFFICE, OR EMAIL TO This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., DO NOT SEND TO SCHOOL. No need to send money. Parish will pay any fee (exclusions apply).
The packet can be placed in an envelope and dropped into the Rectory drop-box which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you have any questions, please email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Required Clearances
The following clearances must be obtained by employees:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance
- Pennsylvania State Police Clearance
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
The following clearances must be obtained by volunteers living in PA for less than 10 years:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance
- Pennsylvania State Police Clearance
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
The following clearances must be obtained by volunteers living in PA continuously for 10 years:
- Pennsylvania State Police Clearance
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers to be filed at the place of service
Obtaining Required Background Checks
1. PA State Police Criminal Record Check
- Can be obtained online at https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp with results available within a few minutes.
2. PA Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance
- Can be obtained online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS
3. Federal Criminal Background Check
- Go to https://uenroll.identogo.com to schedule an appointment for the background check.
- The following are service codes needed to register for all current and/or prospective school employees/volunteers:
1KG6TR is the code for (PDE) Pennsylvania Department of Education Educators/Staff (non-public schools)
1KG6Y3 is the code for (PDE) Pennsylvania Department of Education Volunteers
If you don’t fall under any of the above categories you will need to contact the PDE Pennsylvania Department of Education to determine the appropriate code you should use at 717-214-9755 or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- The following are service codes needed to register for all current and/or prospective parish and other staff/volunteers:
1KG738 for Child Care Services/Program Employee and/or Contractors 18 and over (this includes all parish employee)
1KG6ZJ for Volunteers
If you don’t fall under any of the above categories you will need to contact (DHS) Department of Human Services to determine the appropriate code you should use at 717-783-6211 or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- After above code is entered you should then click on Schedule or Manage Appointment and enter the required information
- For fingerprint locations please visit the following website:
https://www.identogo.com/locations/pennsylvania - If any of the results come back as unreadable the applicant will need to go for a 2nd set of fingerprints. If the results are still unreadable a name search will be conducted and the applicant will receive a letter. Please know that this process/letter still needs to be completed/updated every 5 years for compliance.
Minors
Minors, defined as 17 and younger, who are volunteering are not required to obtain any clearances.
Minors, ages 14-17, applying for or in a paid position as an employee responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children are required to obtain all three clearances.
The following are service code needed to register minors for all current and/or prospective parish and other staff:
- 1KG756 for Employees 14-17 year olds that have contact with children
Clearance Renewal Requirements
All required clearances, including FBI, must be renewed every five years.
Volunteers who have been a resident of Pennsylvania for less than 10 years must renew their FBI Fingerprint clearance until they reach 10 years of residency in Pennsylvania. Once the volunteer meets the 10 year residency requirement, they must complete a Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers which must be submitted every five years.
Training Requirements
All church personnel and volunteers who have regular contact with children must complete the following training:
- Safe Environment Part I: Protecting God’s Children. Please follow these instructions.
- Safe Environment Part II: Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse must be completed on-line through the OCYP website at childyouthprotection.org under “Training Institute”.
- Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement: Please read the document, sign and return.
*Trip chaperones must take the Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement only.
For more information, please visit www.childyouthprotection.org or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Parish Office at 215-638-3625.
Many Thanks,
Isabel A. Jaramillo
Safe Environment Coordinator