Background Checks for Volunteers

When someone is a volunteer for an organization, should they have their background examined? This is an issue facing many organization heads -- whether they run schools, a landscaping business or a sports team. The bottom line is that just like part-time workers, the volunteers may essentially be performing the same tasks but minus the paycheck. These volunteers then intermingle with the customers or children, the elderly or the disabled -- whatever the form of business. They are therefore also representing the organization. Money for this may be a problem and should be examined prior to accepting volunteers whether the volunteers pay for this or the company does. Having volunteers can save money so funding for background checks is really a small price to pay for extra care and caution to protect our business and our customers/children etc. Almost anyone can be a volunteer, but we mustn’t just have anyone doing the job, especially if it involves work with the vulnerable.

The question can now become, how far should we really go? Should we check out every single volunteer, no matter what the duties? What about a board member? Take the case of Matthew Boyer, 35, who was a school board member in Newton County, Missouri and maybe we’ll rethink how far background checking should go. He was charged with statutory rape of a 16 year old and possession of child pornography. Criminal background checks are required for the teachers in Missouri, but not for school board members. Local school districts are now realizing how essential it is to have background checks even when you’re a volunteer working with children (Read the article here).

I volunteer at my children’s school all the time as do many other parents, but I admit it seems a grandiose and even idealistic notion to do a background check on every person that walks through the school doors. I do, however, recognize the necessity and of course want my children and all children to be protected from the predators and criminals. I wondered, has a large scale background check been done before on volunteers? In Hillsboro, Oregon, eight district schools will do exactly that. The process began just about two weeks ago where now thousands of classroom volunteers and event chaperones will be checked, requiring a date of birth and Social Security number or an identification card. If this background checking program works, it will be expanded to other schools beginning in the fall. This basic records check will also be performed from a district level to alleviate inconsistencies in the checking from one school to another. Of course, speeding tickets may not hinder a parent from volunteering, but certainly crimes related to sex, drugs and violence would. It will be interesting to see the results of this program. (Eight Hillsboro School District Schools Will Background Check All Volunteers Under Test Program)

Whether we have volunteers or paid employees in our organization, weeding out the criminals and harmful deviants is a necessity if we want to run a successful and safe organization.