To Managers, Coaches and Volunteers:
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Babe Ruth League has teamed up with SportsEngine to help us keep kids safe with an advanced and streamlined safety program. Now that we have successfully transitioned to this new system, it’s time for all managers, coaches, and volunteers to complete their comprehensive background screening and abuse prevention training.
Completion is mandatory for all managers, coaches, and volunteers.
Please refer to the league website for further information on the safety program requirements, or go directly to the coaches and volunteer safety registration link to access the safety program and complete the required steps.
Of course, since we are in Pennsylvania, things are more complicated. You must complete the steps below so you will have these documents available for upload when you go to SportsEngine.
The background check is good for 2 years. The cost for SportsEngine is $ 25.50. If this is a hardship for you, please contact me and we can work something out
In addition to the Gold Standard background check, SportsEngine provides additional document management services to help organizations remain compliant with Pennsylvania Act 153 of 2014. This Act requires that any adults who come into contact with children while serving in Pennsylvania, either as paid employees or unpaid volunteers, provide the following clearances before participating:
- Criminal History Record Search from the PA State Police (PATCH) system.
- Child Abuse Clearance obtained through the PA Department of Human Services.
- One of the following:
- FBI Fingerprint screening submitted through the PA State Police
- Signed Volunteer Affidavit (volunteers with continuous residence in PA for the past ten years)
Those coaches and volunteers that live in PA and are completing a background screen, will be required to upload the three required documents onto SportsEngine, and NCSI | SSCI will validate these documents. Please refer to the following link for complete instructions on how to obtain these clearances: www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov
More PA info below:
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Due to a change in Pennsylvania law (Act 153 of 2014), we are unable to have our background checks performed by an outside vendor.
We must now have the Pennsylvania Criminal History Report and The Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance on file for all coaches and volunteers who have contact with the children.
The good news is that it only needs to be done every 3 years. If you have had these checks performed for other organizations (CYO,Raiders) or for your employer, you only need to produce a copy for us to satisfy your background check requirement. The checks must be less than 3 years old.
You still must register as a coach.
UPDATE: PENNSYLVANIA DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE IF YOU SELECT THE VOLUNTEER OPTION ONLINE.
It is a 2 part process.
1) Request For Criminal Record Check form. you can do this online at https://epatch.state.pa.us/ .
(Note: Online is the way to go. You can pay by credit card and I got an instant result. Remember to print the certification page.)
2) PENNSYLVANIA CHILD ABUSE HISTORY CLEARANCE form. You can do it on-line. You have to register first and get a keystone ID. After that, it is easy. https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Now to the most important part: This is not optional, it is a State law. A fuller explanation of the law is available below as a pdf.The checks must be in process with proof sent to us no later than May 1st. If you do not submit your check or receipt by then, you will be removed as a coach.
This is also a Babe Ruth League/Cal Ripken rule, so it is not optional in any way.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Pat Wagner