If you are planning to be a leader with our troop or participate in trips and camping trips, you are required to have volunteer clearances. BSA volunteers must comply with the requirements of the law and have background checks completed. This is for the safety of your child and our Troop leadership takes this very seriously. As a Troop, we are providing this information so you can complete the clearances which are FREE to complete (with one exception discussed later).
Does it apply to you? Yes, it applies to all adults. Consequences of not completing your clearance will result in you not being able to attend trips. All adults attending trips must have their clearances on file - no exceptions.
There are 3 clearances which apply to everyone and are FREE:
1. Report of Criminal History from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), should take about 10-15 minutes, can be completed at: epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp Response to this clearance is virtually immediate.
2. Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services, should take about 20-30 minutes (because you have to setup an account to complete it), can be completed at: www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Make sure to inlcude your parents in the history of who has lived with you in the past 10 years (even if they haven't) so you don't get an error. Once you complete the Child Abuse History Clearance, your results may take a day or two. You will receive an email to log back in to your account to obtain the clearance form.
3. Volunteers who have resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years can submit a Disclosure Statement, should take about 10-15 minutes (need to print the form, sign it, have a witness sign it, and then scan to a PDF), can be downloaded from: http://newbirthoffreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/2015-06-15-disclosure-statement-application.pdf If you have not resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years, you will need to complete the following instead of the Disclosure Statement:
4. Fingerprint based FBI criminal history clearance submitted through the Department of Human Services, cost – $25.75, should take about 5-10 minutes online and 10-15 minutes at the fingerprinting location, can be completed at: www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpwNew.htm You will need to save your clearance report as a .pdf file on your computer and print the report with the barcode. Take the printed copy with you to fingerprinting location. Our understanding is that some UPS Store locations are approved fingerprint locations. You will pay the fee at the fingerprinting location and your prints will electronically be sent to the FBI. #3 above is an either or requirement depending on your residency status in PA for the last 10 years. You only need to do one of them.
If you already have clearances (i.e. - for your job, other group, etc), please continue to read this paragraph for instructions. If this does not apply to you, please skip to the next paragraph.
Make sure you have a .pdf converter to allow you to print the reports and upload them to the Background Clearances System. Free .pdf converters are available from CutePDF and PrimoPDF.
Make a PDF copy of your clearance forms.
Complete the Disclosure Statement if you do not have the FBI clearance.
Upload your PDF forms (all 3 items) to: http://tinyurl.com/qc6fhfm
Once you have uploaded all of your clearances, you are done! The clearances submitted for BSA are valid for 5 years. (The clearances you have obtained for another purpose are probably only good for 3 years, but the BSA can use them for 5 years)
If you need to complete your clearances, please read the following:
Make sure you have a .pdf converter to allow you to print the reports and upload them to the Background Clearances System. Free .pdf converters are available from CutePDF and PrimoPDF.
Follow the links above for the 3 clearances. Everyone must complete #1 and #2 above. You must pick which #3 applies to you (lived in PA for the last 10 years or not).
Once complete, and you have a PDF of all 3 forms, Upload your PDF forms to: http://tinyurl.com/qc6fhfm
Once you have uploaded all of your clearances, you are done! The clearances submitted for BSA are valid for 5 years.
One note about the link to upload your forms - this link requires you to enter contact information and submits your forms to a third party vendor employed by the BSA to keep your records. No one in the Troop or at BSA Council will be able to see your records. BSA Council will be able to get a report by Troop # to show which adults BY NAME ONLY have clearances on file. You will be contacted by email about 4 1/2 years after you complete your clearances to remind you to renew them. Our troop leadership will be able to obtain the report of names for people who have submitted clearances to confirm if your clearances are on file so that we know if you can attend trips, be a registered adult leader, or interact with the scouts.
Please take the time to complete the required clearances. Please remember it is for the safety of your child. Thank you.