Volunteers Screening protects your agency by reducing risk and documenting that you did the best you could if something bad happens. There are several ways to screen possible volunteers and employees, each taking time and energy. You need to balance the screening and the potential risk with each position. For example, you may wonder about the sanity of ambitious adults who want to take a group of six year old kids on an all-day trip to the zoo. Driving records Psychological and medical tests Home visit by social worker When looking at criminal records, keep in mind that states don't share reports.
Some people worry that screening invades privacy or scares volunteers away.
The legalities can be checked by an attorney, but don't worry about scarring off people. Who wants a person who isn't supportive of a reasonable amount of screening when it is in the best interests of the organization. It is much cheaper to print extra copies once than to pay a second set-up fee. If you plan ahead, you can combine mailings. Put a flyer in your newsletter.