Growing Together: Open Forum

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  • 1.  Volunteer Development with Security Constraints

    Posted 6 days ago

    We are seeing more and more schools require background checks/screenings for people to come into schools to volunteer. This is an unexpected cost that neither the garden clubs, school systems, nor the volunteers are wanting to take on (which is understandable in all cases). 

    We've had multiple schools report issues with volunteer recruitment because of these constraints-- they have people willing to do the work but can't get them into the school because of this financial/time barrier for the volunteers.

    Are there any groups in here who have overcome issues such as this? If so, what have been your successful workarounds/compromises for getting not-school-employee adult volunteers safely into schools while also being compliant with school/district security policies? 



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    Tyne Bankester
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  • 2.  RE: Volunteer Development with Security Constraints

    Posted 5 days ago

    I volunteer in many capacities in NW MO-hospice, Special Olympics, the Red Cross, and two schools (gardening). Every activity has involved a different background check-Protecting God's Children classes, background checks, mandated reporter training, fingerprinting. The school reimburses volunteers for the fingerprinting and there was no cost to me for any of the rest through all these varied places.   I'm wondering if you ask about reimbursement or having a volunteer school account etc, if that would help.  So far I've had zero cost so hopefully if you ask for a work around, they will help you out. 



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    Susan Grispino
    MO
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Volunteer Development with Security Constraints

    Posted 5 days ago

    Could the school allow volunteers to bring in their background checks from their jobs or other volunteer positions?  If someone just had one run a year or two ago for a different organization, would that be sufficient?  (At my organization our policy is to have them run every 5 years).  https://public.courts.in.gov/mycase/#/vw/Search is an example of a state's search engine for court cases.  It can be searched for free and will tell you a lot.  Could a combination of a background check from within the last 5 years with a search on the state's court case site be an option?  If the My Case (for example) search resulted in something concerning, a more up-to-date background check could be run before a decision was made to allow the volunteer on school property.



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    Sarah Morbitzer
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Volunteer Development with Security Constraints

    Posted 2 days ago

    As a Master Gardener working with youth, we have to have a background check every 5 years. I agree with Sarah that the organizations should accept another organizations background check with the proper documentation.  However, it seems every organization has developed their own rules.  I worked at a Daycare and had to have a background check every 3 years that satisfied the Division of Youth & Family Services in NJ. This was sufficient for the Extension office as a Master Gardener and the schools when a photo ID was presented.  But the Girl Scout Council required their own background check and finger printing to be a leader, and I had to get fingerprinted and checked again to be a soccer coach with our recreation league. While the Rec league made it easy & paid for everything, the GS Council had us go to a central location and wanted us to pay for it. Many leaders quit before they worked out an arrangement.

    To work with children there should be a centralized process (at least within a state) accepted by all organizations.



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    Judy Pfister
    Delaware Master Gardener
    Millsboro, DE
    Judy
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    Original Message


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