Back DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN POLICY ON VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECKS Effective October 1, 2004 Criminal background checks are required for all individuals who are reasonably expected to come intocontact with children, including but not limited to, the following volunteer positions: CCD/PREP Directors, Coordinators and Teachers                   CYO Coaches Day Care, Pre-school & Extended Care Staff                           Youth Ministers Boy Scout Leaders and Staff                                                    Youth Group Advisors Cafeteria Workers                                                                                              School & Teacher Assistants       Those individuals whose background checks indicate a conviction for the following crimes will be barred from further employment or volunteer activity: Criminal homicide Indecent assault Aggravated assault                                                                    Indecent exposure Kidnapping Corruption of minors                                                     Unlawful restraint                                                                      Prostitution Rape                                                                                           Obscenity or pornography Statutory rape                                                                            Sexual abuse of children or child abuse as defined in the Child Protective Services Law Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse                                      Dealing in infant children Concealing the death of a child born out of wedlock   Endangering the welfare of children A felony under the "Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act."         In the event a DUI (Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol arrest) is revealed in a background check within the previous ten (10) years, the pastor/principal/administrator will be notified in order to limit the volunteer’s driving his/her vehicle or a diocesan vehicle for parish/school purposes. Any questionable issues will be reviewed by the Diocese of Allentown’s Human Resources Department in consultation with the Pastor, Principal or Administrator of the location.  The judgment on the suitability of the candidate for a volunteer position made by the Diocese of Allentown will be final.       A private company will be used to do the background checks. The form on page 18 will be used to gather basic information and provide permission for the background checks to be completed. Pastors/Principals/Administrators will retain this form for their volunteer files. This form can also be found and printed out by going to www.allentowndiocese.org and clicking on “Protection of Youth”, and then on “Background Check Form” under the heading “Background Checks.”       The parish/school/diocesan location will process the background check using a diocesan-approved reference checking company.  All results indicating criminal activity will be directed to the Diocese’s Human Resources Department for handling. Information provided by the volunteer and revealed through processing will be kept in the strictest confidence.       All volunteers who are reasonably expected to come intocontact with children will be required to have a background check completed periodically at an interval to be determined by the Diocese of Allentown.             Questions regarding this policy or any procedures should be forwarded to the Human Resources Department at the Temporal Affairs office for the Diocese of Allentown at 610-871-5200, extension 201. Post Office Box F  •  Allentown, PA  •  18105-1538 Copyright 2003 The Catholic Diocese of Allentown Disclaimer and Terms of Use