Pennsylvania Requirements for Volunteers Working With Children​

Laws have taken effect that require all Pennsylvania organizations which have volunteers who work with children ages birth through 18 years old to have multiple background checks. Volunteers now are required to provide a PA Child Abuse Clearance, PA Criminal Background Check and an FBI Clearance with fingerprinting. For Calvary Presbyterian Church this includes anyone who teaches or shepherds Sunday School, nursery volunteers, choir helpers, youth group advisors, retreat chaperones and all adults who have contact with children through a volunteer job. Volunteers who have lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 years can be exempted from the FBI clearance by signing an Affirmation of Residency. Links to more information from the Presbytery of Philadelphia can be found here. Click on each background check for links to online information:
PA Criminial Background Check- https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
PA Child Abuse Background Check- https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Federal Criminal History Record (Obtained through the FBI)- https://www.pa.cogentid.com/index.htm
Affirmation of 10-year Residency- Affirmation of Residency.doc
Summary of Requirements from the Presbytery of Philadelphia as of June 2015