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    Grantees and Sponsors

              National Service Criminal History Checks
      Grantees and SponsorsCriminal History ChecksEvidence Readiness ResourcesScaling Checklists: Assessing Your Level of Evidence and Readiness (SCALER)MonitoringNational Performance Measurement Core Curriculum
                National Service Criminal History Checks (NSCHC) is a baseline screening requirement established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service.

NSCHC is required under the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended by the Serve America Act (SAA). The statutory requirement at 42 U.S.C. § 12645g is supplemented by regulatory requirements at 45 CFR §2540.200 through §2540.207 as well as the terms and conditions of AmeriCorps grants.

Quick Links

NSCHC Federal Regulations
	Required Annual NSCHC eCourse Training & NSCHC Learning Path in Litmos
	New staff start here! Getting Started with NSCHC Resources (created 9/28/23)
	Common Findings of NSCHC Noncompliance (created 9/28/23)
	Email AmeriCorps to request a waiver to NSCHC provisions
	Review the NSCHC Waiver Request form questions **(Updated 10/19/2022)**
	AmeriCorps Approved NSOPW and State Vendor, Truescreen
	Sign up for a Truescreen Account or login to MyTruescreen Account
		Need help with Truescreen? Email CNCShelp@truescreen.com or call Customer Service: 800-803-9042
	AmeriCorps Approved FBI vendor, Fieldprint
	Sign up for a Fieldprint Account or login to MyFieldprint Account Login
		Need help with Fieldprint?
			For assistance with grant recipient account-related issues, email the Account Management Team at customerservice@myfieldprint.com or call 888-472-8918 x 2440
				For assistance with fingerprint scheduling and appointments, email the Applicant Call Center at customerservice@fieldprint.com or call 877-614-4364

                    Upcoming Training

**RESCHEDULED: Reporting Subrecipient NSCHC Disallowance**: Process Review for Prime Grant Recipients. AmeriCorps staff will review the updated process for prime grant recipients to report NSCHC cost-based disallowance enforced for subrecipients, which now includes offsetting disallowed costs. This session is applicable for AmeriCorps prime grant recipients with subrecipients. This session was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 28.**Rescheduled to March 7**, 2:30-3:30 PM ET: Register

**Quarterly NSCHC Tour for New Recipient Staff**: Whether you are a first-time grant recipient or a new staff member on an existing project, join Office of Monitoring staff for a "tour" of resources and common noncompliance related to NSCHC. You MUST complete the NSCHC Required Annual eCourse in Litmos prior to attending this session. This session will be repeated quarterly. A recording of the most recent session is available in the Litmos NSCHC Learning Path.

Wednesday, April 10, 2-3 p.m. ET: Register
	Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2-3 p.m. ET: Register

                    


    Recorded Training
  Toggle
  Thank you for attending trainings on NSCHC. You can access the slide deck and recording of the most recent training in Litmos:

Quarterly NSCHC Tour for New Recipient Staff (most recent session)
	Truescreen Records Retention Updates (Sept. 6, 2023)
	Reporting NSCHC Disallowance: Process Review for Prime Grant Recipients (July 13, 2023)
	Truescreen Platform Updates (May 12 and 26, 2022)
	AmeriCorps Approved Vendors Truescreen (Feb 23, 2022) and Fieldprint (Feb. 24, 2022; UPDATED April 1, 2022)
	NSCHC Training: ASN, AC Seniors, VISTA/DOS, and All Grantee sessions (March 2022)

                    


    NSCHC Rule Quick Summary
  Toggle
  Please refer to the NSCHC Manual for complete information on NSCHC and its compliance requirements.

What grants are required to comply with NSCHC?

Organizations that receive one of the following grants, as a recipient or subrecipient, must conduct NSCHCs:

Operational grants provided by AmeriCorps State and National
	Foster Grandparent Program Grants
	Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Grants
	Senior Companion Program Grants
	Senior Demonstration Program Grants that receive funding from CNCS
	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Grants
	September 11th Day of Service Grants
	Social Innovation Fund Grants
	Volunteer Generation Fund Grants
	AmeriCorps VISTA Program Grants
	AmeriCorps VISTA Support GrantsWhat individuals are required to comply with NSCHC?

The following individuals who work/serve on a grant specified above must comply with NSCHC:

AmeriCorps members serving in State and National programs
	AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers serving in the Foster Grandparent program who receive a stipend;
	AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers serving in the Senior Companion who receive a stipend; or
	If staff, individuals in positions in which they will receive a salary, directly or reflected as match, under a cost reimbursement grant.NSCHC is **not required** for individuals who are under the age of 18 on the first day of work or service and for individuals whose activity is entirely included in the grant recipient's indirect cost rate or cost allocation plan.

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving in the RSVP program and AmeriCorps members serving in the VISTA program are not required to comply with NSCHC. AmeriCorps members serving in the VISTA program will undergo a separate criminal history check process managed by the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Grant recipients may choose to conduct criminal history checks on AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving in the RSVP program.

Who is ineligible to serve/work?

For AmeriCorps grant awards that require NSCHC, please refer to 45 CFR § 2540.202 for the list of individuals who shall be ineligible to serve or work.

What checks are required?

Three checks are required for individuals required to comply with NSCHC:

National Sex Offender Public Website nationwide check;
	state of residence and state of service criminal history check(s); and
	FBI fingerprint-based check.When must NSCHC be completed?

All three checks must be conducted, reviewed, and an eligibility determination made by the grant recipient or subrecipient no later than the day before a person begins to work or serve on an NSCHC-required grant.

How can the checks be conducted?

Grantees can use the following sources:

NSOPW checks: NSOPW.gov or AmeriCorps approved vendor Truescreen
	State checks: AmeriCorps identified state repository or AmeriCorps approved vendor Truescreen
	FBI fingerprint checks: AmeriCorps identified state repository or AmeriCorps approved vendor FieldprintAmeriCorps Approved Vendor Information

Truescreen (NSOPW and State checks)

Sign up for a Truescreen Account
	MyTruescreen Account Login
	Need help with Truescreen?
	CNCShelp@truescreen.com
		Customer Service: 800-803-9042, dial 0
		Technical Issues:  800-803-9042, x2006Fieldprint (FBI fingerprint checks)

Sign up for a Fieldprint Account
	MyFieldprint Account Login
	Need help with Fieldprint?
	Grant Recipient Account Management Team: customerservice@myfieldprint.com  or call 888-472-8918 x 2440
		Applicant Call Center: customerservice@fieldprint.com or call 877-617-4364

                    NSCHC Guidance

NSCHC Rule Summary
	NSCHC  Manual **(Updated 5/13/22)**(This manual describes the requirements of the NSCHC rule)
	Previous NSCHC Change Logs
		Recommendations for Effective NSCHC Policies and Procedure **(Updated 1/26/22)** (This resources from the Office of Monitoring provides a checklist to assist grant recipients in developing effective NSCHC policy)
		NSCHC Steps Table (**Updated 4/1/2022**)
		NFF/Truescreen Waiver Table **(Updated 5/13/22)** (This table lists the required checks if grant recipients use the "Use of Truescreen for NSOPW and/or State Checks" and "National Fingerprint File States" Pre-Approved Waivers)
		Challenging A Not Cleared Recommendation**(Updated 1/31/23)**
		NSCHC Enforcement Tools (Refer to the NSCHC Manual for enforcement guidance)
		Awardee Guide to NSCHC Enforcement of Cost-Based Disallowance **(Updated 6/23/23)**
			NSCHC Disallowance Summary-Cost Reimbursement Grants (Created 6/23/2023)
			NSCHC Disallowance Summary-Fixed Cost Grants (Created 6/23/2023)
	NSCHC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) **(Updated 11/30/23)**
	NSCHC Learning Path in Litmos (Access the required annual eCourse and additional NSCHC trainings)

                    How to Conduct NSCHC

Using AmeriCorps Approved Vendors Truescreen and Fieldprint Manual **(Updated 9/28/23)**

	Truescreen and Fieldprint Prices and Average Turnaround Time (TAT) by State **(Updated 5/13/22)**
		These states do not allow certain forms of identification to be uploaded into Truescreen; instead of uploaded copies of identification, please use one of the following forms: Maine identification form and Wisconsin identification form
		Fieldprint and Truescreen Account Mapping Instructions (Created 6/23/2023)
	Using NSOPW and State Repositories Manual **(Updated 11/30/2023)** 
	FBI Memorandum to State Repositories Re: Serve America Act

                    


    GovDelivery Communication Center
  Toggle
  2024

Rescheduled NSCHC Training Opportunity: Reporting Subrecipient Cost-Based Disallowance (Feb. 22, 2024)
	NSCHC Training Opportunity: Reporting Subrecipient Cost-Based Disallowance (Feb. 15, 2024)
	NSCHC General and Vendor Updates: Review 2023 Notices; Offset Disallowed Subrecipient Costs; New Single Vendor Contract; Upcoming Training (Jan. 22, 2024)2023

NSCHC General and Vendor Updates: Compliance Reminders; Single Vendor; New Trainings (Nov. 30, 2023)
	NSCHC Update: Offset Disallowed Subrecipient Costs (Nov. 13, 2023)
	NSCHC Training and Resources Survey (Sept. 13, 2023)
	NSCHC Resources: Two New Resources; Fieldprint Adjudication; Vendor Records (Sept. 28, 2023)
	NSCHC Truescreen Vendor Update-Records Access; Name Documentation (August 9, 2023)
	NSCHC Resources: Reporting Disallowance, Vendor Mapping (June 27, 2023)
	NSCHC Truescreen Vendor Updates (Feb. 24, 2023)
	NSCHC FAQ Update (Jan. 31, 2023)

Looking for previous NSCHC GovDelivery messages? See the Archive below for all past messages.

2022 GovDelivery Communications

2021 GovDelivery Communications

2020 GovDelivery Communications

                    


    NSCHC Archive
  Toggle
  NSCHC Archive Materials (Archived zip files of guidance materials and resources dated after the May 1, 2021 NSCHC Rule)

Criminal History Guidance, archived 11/30/23
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 9/28/23
	Criminal History Enforcement Tools, archived 6/23/23
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 1/31/23
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 11/23/22
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 11/18/22
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 5/13/22
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 4/1/22
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 1/26/22
	Criminal History Guidance, archived 11/1/21Pre-May 1, 2021 NSCHC Archive Materials (Archived zip files of guidance materials and resources predating the May 1, 2021 NSCHC Rule)

Criminal History Guidance
	Enforcement Guidance
	Alternate Search Procedure (ASPs), Exemptions and Pre-Approved ASPs
	NSCHC Using Fieldprint and Truescreen
	NSCHC Using NSOPW and State Repositories
	GovDelivery Communication Center
	2018 Exemption Period
	2014 Assessment Period Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
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