Clearances for Volunteers – Messiah Lutheran Church

VOLUNTEERS: WHAT CLEARANCES ARE NEEDED AND WHO NEEDS THEM?

Adult volunteers who are responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or control, or have routine interaction with a child will need clearances. Following is a page of FAQ that will answer everything you need to know about who needs clearances as well as which ones:

https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dhs/documents/keepkidssafe/clearances/documents/kks-volunteers-faq_2024-08-23.pdf

WHAT IS THE COST TO APPLY FOR VOLUNTEER CLEARANCES?

Pennsylvania State Police Background Checks are FREE for Volunteers.
Volunteers can apply for Child Abuse Clearances once every 57 months FREE OF CHARGE.

Clearances are valid for 5 years.

WHAT CLEARANCES ARE NEEDED?

1. PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE (PSP) CLEARANCES

APPLY ONLINE: https://epatch.pa.gov/home
PRINT A PAPER FORM: https://epatch.pa.gov/assets/documents/SP4-164A.pdf

2. CHILD ABUSE CLEARANCES (CY113)

FILE OR RENEW AN APPLICATION ONLINE: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home

*** If you prefer a paper form, please contact the church office. ***

3. VOLUNTEER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT OR FBI FINGERPRINTS*

In addition to the above clearances, any volunteer who has been a resident of Pennsylvania during the entirety of the previous ten-year period is required to sign the following disclosure statement.*

Disclosure Statement for Volunteers

*For volunteers who have lived outside of the state of Pennsylvania at any time in the previous ten years, FBI Fingerprints are required. Please contact the church office for information and/or assistance.

IF YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING FOR AN ACTIVITY AT MESSIAH WHICH INVOLVES CHILDREN, CLEARANCES MUST BE ON RECORD IN THE CHURCH OFFICE.

Contact the church office at (570) 326-9171 or messiahoffice@comcast.net for more information or for assistance in applying for clearances. Be sure to take your clearances to the office once you receive them so that they can be kept on file.