Contact all references, preferably in writing. Note information you tried to secure but could not verify or obtain. Be sure to maintain confidentiality of all applications and records. Restrict access to these files to only a few individuals who legitimately need the information. When you interview the applicant, ask an associate to participate, to give you additional opinions on the candidate.
Many states now require a criminal records check on all child care workers.
Often these checks cover records only within a particular state, however. Or contact a local day-care center to find out who handles its background checks. In most cases you need a person's consent before you can conduct a criminal records search, so include an authorization form in the application process. If an applicant has a criminal record for sexual or physical abuse, you might still allow him or her to work in some church ministry, but don't permit work with youth or children. A person's conversion is not a defensible position in the courts.