A century ago, background checks didn’t even exist. Today, the importance of, and necessity for, background checks can’t be overstated. Screening is simply the best defense you have against inviting a predator or otherwise suspect person into your fold as an employee, volunteer or church representative. How and why did background checks develop as a
Background Check Requirements for Volunteer Chaplains
Chaplains do important work. These faith-oriented individuals often work with hospitals, police departments, schools, prisons and other secular (non-religious) groups and provide a peaceful, nonjudgmental ear for employees to share their feelings with. They help in a variety of ways that often go beyond the scope of what an employer can provide to an employee:
How to Define Your Social Media Screening Policy
“Legal experts have one main thing to say to employers considering using social platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as an initial job-candidate screening tool: Don’t do it. According to a recent survey from Careerbuilder, more employers are turning to social networking sites to find information on potential candidates. And, CareerBuilder reports, 51 percent
Does Your Ministry Offer Traditional Housing? Here’s Some Background Check Policies You Need to Know About.
Ministries and faith-based organizations have long been committed to helping people recover and rehabilitate from bad choices. Perhaps they were an addict who now struggles to afford rent. Or perhaps they’re an ex-con who’d like to find a job closer to where his children live. Or maybe they’re a US military veteran who has struggled
What’s OK and What’s Not? Why Abuse Prevention Education is Needed in Every Church
An upstate New York church is rallying together after one of its former volunteer leaders was indicted on sex abuse charges. The youth ministry volunteer is accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with two teenage boys; the alleged incidents of sexual abuse happened at the man’s home and did not take place on church property
Three Key Elements to a Screening Policy
If you don’t already have an employee/volunteer screening policy, you need one. It’s non-negotiable. A thorough screening policy will not only help protect your religious organization and the people within it from psychopaths, it will safeguard your church against any legal action that might be taken should a predator/thief/fraudster/etc. slip through your ranks. But not
Why Accuracy Matters Most in Background Screening
There are a lot of reasons why companies want to run background checks on employees, volunteers and other staff. workplace safety liability honesty compliance protect confidential information There is an equal of amount of qualities companies look for when sourcing potential screening firms. quick results comprehensive searches paperless solutions cost effective programs accuracy This last
The Fair Credit Reporting Act and You: Protecting Your Credit Information
We’re going back to basics on Protect My Ministry this week. Our goal today is explaining some of the basic laws of background checks and what employees need to know about how ministries and their chosen screening agencies should be protecting their credit information. Who We Are By law, a company is a Consumer Reporting
Expect the Unexpected – Screen Clergy to Keep Your Congregation Safe
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15 You may have heard this saying, or something like it, before. The verse from Matthew is a prolific teaching tool among Bible study groups, but it’s also a recognizable fable from Aesop. The lesson, in
Improve the Safety of Your Vacation Bible School
Ministries across the country are becoming increasingly concerned with protecting the children they serve. Pennsylvania has really lead the charge because of a new state law overhauling its child protection policies. The new law expands the requirements for, and scope of, background checks for people who work or volunteer with children. The law demands that