Clearances

TO ALL ST. PETER SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS:  We thank you for your willingness to volunteer at our school!  Whether you are a new volunteer or a volunteer who needs to renew your background checks, ALL of the following must be completed prior to volunteering at any school or student centered event or being in the school at any time when students are present.

 

Please follow the 3-step process for :

  • Paperwork
  • Clearances (online)
  • Training (online) for employees & volunteers. For live training, please refer to the calendar of events for upcoming workshops.

 

PLEASE NOTE: All forms and links for training and extensive details can be found at the new Altoona-Johnstown Diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection at    https://youthprotection.dioceseaj.org

 

 STEP ONE – PAPERWORK

  1. Application
  2. Code of Conduct
  3. YP Use of Technology
  4. Ministry Reference Form
  5. Child Protective Service Law (CPSL) Volunteer Disclosure
  6. Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form (Act 24)

 

STEP TWO – APPLY FOR CLEARANCES

Please complete the following clearances.  Direct links to these sites are found on the diocesan site at:  https://youthprotection.dioceseaj.org.  Hard copies of these two certificates are to be turned in.

I.)  Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check:

  1. Go to: https://epatch.state.pa.us (do not do in CHROME)
  2. Please choose according to your role:
    • Volunteers click on yellow box “New Record Check” (FREE for volunteers only)
    • Employees: click on the gray box “Submit a New Record Check” (Fee is $22.00 for ea. request & non-refundable)

Hint: When you get to the page that says “Record Check Details” scroll down and you will see      a link to a Certification Form. Click on that link, follow directions and print the actual certificate.

II.)  PA Department Child Abuse History Certification:

  1. Go to: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
  2. Click on “Create a New Account” and choose your role

      (Fees are waived for Volunteers; for employment purposes, fee is $13.00 per request & non-refundable)

  • You will create a “Keystone ID”- this is like a username – it is not a password

After you fill in the information requested, the state will send you a temporary password through your email. You will need to use the Keystone ID (username) and the temporary password to sign back in to the website to create your own password

  • You must log back in to the website using your username and your own password to apply for the clearance. Record your keystone ID and password and keep for future reference. Reports can be obtained both online and via USPS mail

 

III.)  FBI Fingerprint Clearances

  • A FBI clearance check is a requirement for ALLemployees regardless if they have lived in PA for 10+ years
  • A FBI background check is required for all volunteers who have NOThad the status of a resident in PA consistently 10 years (less than 10 years living in PA)
  • To arrange an appointment to obtain a FBI/Fingerprint clearance check you must register on-line:
    1. Go to https://uenroll.identogo.com/
    2. Please refer to “New FBI Helpful Hints” document
    3. Applicant will need to have a code (see chart below)

                        Example: Clergy, Diocesan, Parish employee: 1KG756; Parish volunteer: 1KG6ZJ

                        School employee: 1kG6TR; School volunteer: 1KG6Y3

 

STEP THREE – TRAININGS

All applicants (employees and volunteers) are required to complete two (2) trainings and are to be renewed every five (5) years.  Both trainings are available online or can be completed by attending a diocese workshop.  Please visit the events page for upcoming training sessions.

Online training options:

  1. Youth Protection Awareness Training – Virtus:  Protecting God’s Children 

If you are new to Virtus, you will need to register and create an account. You must visit the diocesan site at https://youthprotection.dioceseaj.org to access this training. All new applicants will be prompted to take a National Background check via Fastrax (Selection.com) at the beginning of registering in Virtus. This clearance check DOES NOT replace the PA Criminal, PA Child Abuse or FBI clearance.  .

 

            If you had a Virtus account before please do not create a new account. To reactivate your  account you previously had with Virtus, please contact Justin Kirkland at (814) 317-2620 or  jkirkland@dioceseaj.org.

 

 

  1. Mandated Reporting Training (Recognizing, Responding and Reporting Suspected Child Abuse)

You will need to register and create an account and send in certificate when completed:  This training link is on the diocesan site as well:  https://youthprotection.dioceseaj.org.  NOTE: this is a 3-hour training, once you start the training, you can save your work and restart.

 

Please turn in ALL paperwork, clearance letters and certificates, and training certificates to Mrs. Haris at St. Peter School to be copied and forwarded directly to the diocese.  Thank you for your time and willingness to volunteer at our school or parish!