PA recently passed a law relating to protecting children from child abuse and mandating what needs to be reported and by whom. As part of that law, staff and adult volunteers (age 18 and older), who volunteer/serve in ministries related to children and youth, are required to provide evidence of background checks and clearances.

All volunteers are required to provide the following 3 background checks before serving in Children's or Student Ministries. A current list is held securely in our church office.

• PA State Police Criminal Clearance - FREE for Volunteers epatch.state.pa.us
• PA Child Abuse Clearance - FREE for Volunteers compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
  – NOTE: Choose “Volunteer” from the option list on the form
• FBI - Federal Criminal Clearance - $22 (Department of Human Services) uenroll.identogo.com/ USE CODE: 1KG6ZJ
   OR– If you have been a resident of Pennsylvania for more than 10 years, you can sign (in the presence of a Children’s Ministry leader) this document instead of being fingerprinted.
• Mandated Reporting training is optional: reportabusepa.pitt.edu/

Clearances are valid for 5 years and are transferable from places of employment.

Please provide your reports to Leah Villagra or Cathy Muscara (or their designee) so LHCC can maintain a copy of your reports. You must keep your original copies.

We value each of our children and youth as well as our wonderful volunteers who serve in ministry! We all desire to keep Living Hope Community Church a safe place where people can learn that Jesus loves them!

Please contact our Office Administrator, Leah Villagra with any questions.