There are three background checks that are required for all adults who will be volunteering with youth organizations in Pennsylvania
- Report of criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police (see item #1 below)
- Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services (see item #2 below)
- One of the following:
- If you have lived in Pennsylvania for less than ten years or you do not live in Pennsylvania – Fingerprint-based Federal Criminal History (see item #3 below)
OR - If you have lived in Pennsylvania continuously for ten years or more – complete the Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers
- If you have lived in Pennsylvania for less than ten years or you do not live in Pennsylvania – Fingerprint-based Federal Criminal History (see item #3 below)
If you have already obtained these checks due to another volunteer position or job, you must provide us with copies.
Instructions for Obtaining Clearances
#1 Report of criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police
- Visit https://epatch.pa.gov/
- Click New Volunteer Record Check.
- Read Disclaimer, click the check box and click Accept.
- Enter Volunteer Organization Name: Boy Scouts of America
- Enter Volunteer Organization Telephone Number: 570-390-7066
- Once you enter all required information click Next and review your personal information. If the information is correct, click Proceed. Otherwise, click back and make necessary changes.
- Enter all required information on the Record Check Request Form and click Submit This Request.
- On the Record Check Request Review page, click Submit.
- On the Record Check Request Results page, wait for the process to complete – do not close the page. Once the status bar goes away, click on the Control #.
- Click on the Certification Form link and click Ok.
- Click the Print link at the top of the page to print a copy of the certificate. Also click Save to save a copy of the form for your own records.
- YOU MUST PRINT OR SAVE THE RESULTS, they will not be mailed to you.
#2 Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services
- Go to http://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
- If you have never requested a Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services:
- Click CREATE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT
- Click NEXT (bottom right side of page)
- Complete all required fields
- Note: Keystone ID is anything you want but must be 6 to 64 characters
- Once you are done entering all of the information, click FINISH
- The next screen that comes up says: Check your email for your temporary password. Please close this browser window. Check your email for your temporary password.
- Go to http://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
- Click INDIVIDUAL LOGIN
- Click ACCESS MY CLEARANCES
- Read the disclosure and click continue at the bottom right hand corner.
- Enter your username and temporary password.
- Click Login.
- You’ll be prompted to verify your account:
- Click Start under Email Security Code.
- Open your email and get the security code. Enter this into the form and click Submit.
- If prompted to choose the type of device, choose either Private (if nobody else uses your computer/phone/tablet) or Public or Shared (if somebody else uses or owns the device).
- Enter a new password and click Submit.
- Click Close window and you will be taken back to the login page. Follow the steps below and use your new password to login.
- If you have previously requested a Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services:
- Click INDIVIDUAL LOGIN.
- Click ACCESS MY CLEARANCES.
- Read the disclosure and click continue at the bottom right hand corner.
- Enter your username and password and click Login.
- If you’re prompted to verify your account:
- Click Start under Email Security Code.
- Open your email and get the security code. Enter this into the form and click Submit.
- If prompted to choose the type of device, choose either Private (if nobody else uses your computer/phone/tablet) or Public or Shared (if somebody else uses or owns the device).
- If your clearance is still current:
- Click To view the result, click here to download and print your certificate.
- If you need a new clearance (you have never requested one or yours is out of date):
- Read and accept any disclaimers that may appear (this seems to differ based on if you’ve logged in before and/or requested clearances previously).
- On the My PA Child Abuse History Clearances page, click CREATE A CLEARANCE APPLICATION.
- Read the Getting Started page and click Begin.
- On the Application Purpose page
- Choose Volunteer having contact with children
- Volunteer Category: Select other
- Agency Name: Boy Scouts of America
- Click Next
- On the Applicant Information page, enter the required information and click Next.
- On the Current Address page, enter the required information and click Next.
- On the Previous Address page, enter the required information and click Next.
- On the Household Members page, enter the required information and click Next.
- Review the information on the Application Summary page and click Next.
- On the eSignature page, enter the required information and click Next.
- On the Application Payment page, select No (a fee is not required for volunteer applications) and click Next.
- You will receive an email within the next few days (often within the same day), indicating that the review has been completed. When you receive the email:
- Follow the link in the email.
- Click INDIVIDUAL LOGIN.
- Click ACCESS MY CLEARANCES.
- Read and accept any disclaimers that may appear (this seems to differ based on if you’ve logged in before and/or requested clearances previously).
- If prompted, login with your Keystone ID.
- If you’re prompted to verify your account:
- If prompted to choose the type of device, choose either Private (if nobody else uses your computer/phone/tablet) or Public or Shared (if somebody else uses or owns the device).
- Click To view the result, click here to download and print your certificate.
#3 Fingerprint-based Federal Criminal History
If you have lived in Pennsylvania for ten years or more, complete the Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers. Otherwise, follow the instructions below.
- To find the closest location near you: https://www.identogo.com/locations
- Go to: https://www.identogo.com/locations/pennsylvania
- Click on Digital fingerprinting
- Enter the following code: 1KG6ZJ and click Go
- Click Schedule or Manage Appointment
- Follow the instructions and enter all of your information as requested.
- On the Service Summary page, click Print Status to print the page. Take this and the required documents with you to fingerprinting location.
- The report will be sent to you after your appointment.