CriminalBackgroundRecords.com States: With Summer Camp Season Around the Corner Counselor Background Checks Should Be Mandatory

CriminalBackgroundRecords.com States: With Summer Camp Season Around the Corner Counselor Background Checks Should Be Mandatory

With summer camp season just around the corner any individual interacting with children should be thoroughly background checked. Adam Almeida, President and CEO of CriminalBackgroundRecords.com states: "Every year summer camps remain a target for predators; fortunately volunteer background checks greatly assist in curtailing malfeasant intentions of those predators.

Summer is nearly here and parents across the country are seeking outlets of activity for their children. Each year thousands of children head out to a wide variety of summer camps which include urban settings as well as rural. With every summer camp one constant remains: Volunteers.

Volunteers are at the core of any summer camp. Without their work many summer camps would not exist. However, it is critical to protect at-risk populations, in this situation minor children under the age of 18.

Adam Almeida, President and CEO of CriminalBackgroundRecords.com states: "Summer camp can be enticing to predators and it is critical that any individual that works with a minor go through a thorough vetting process, one that includes a criminal background check."

In New Hampshire rules were recently put into effect, specifically regarding individuals working with youth.

From www.WMUR.com (Apr. 26, 15):

"Anyone who works with children at youth skills programs in New Hampshire must undergo a criminal background check under new rules in effect this year."

"...the rule applies to all volunteer and paid staff who will be working with children under the age of 18 for three consecutive days or more..." (1)

Parents should make every effort to ensure a camp conducts background checks.

A recent article from www.10TV.com (Apr. 30, 15) discusses several key points for parents regarding research into summer camp. One point discussed regards safety and background checks:

“One of our standards is a required background check of all staff on camp property,” ... “It includes a voluntary disclosure statement it includes a check or the national sex offender registry for those candidates and staff members on a year basis."

"Find out about the experience of the counselors have they done background checks on them if they're volunteers have they done background checks on them..." (2)

Background checks on volunteers is relatively quick and inexpensive. There are several public records reports one might include:

1. National and statewide sex offender registry review
2. Criminal history record review
3. Motor vehicle records review

Almeida states: "A reliable third-party background screening company should be able to provide a low-cost and efficient program for screening volunteers. Certainly cost should not be a factor when it comes to protecting at-risk populations."

Many organizations are on-board and understand the importance of volunteer background screening. The National Alliance of Youth Sports states:

"Volunteer screening and in-depth background checks are complex topics that every youth sports organization must address before volunteers are allowed to work with children. The National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) strongly encourages all youth sports organizations to perform background checks on their volunteers as part of the screening process." (3)

Almeida states: "In the end summer camps should be a safe and nurturing environment. Background screening is a significant tool to utilize in working towards protecting summer campers."

CriminalBackgroundRecords.com is a third party background screening company with a highly trained staff ready to assist volunteer organizations with low-cost, highly effective background screening programs.

Notes:

(1) wmur.com/news/new-rules-require-all-who-work-with-children-to-have-background-check/32580862
(2) 10tv.com/content/stories/2015/04/30/columbus-ohio-summer-camp-safety-check-questions-parents-need-to-ask.html (3) nays.org/resources/more/background-screening-in-youth-sports/

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