CHILD PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

LutheranHANDS holds the safety and security of our volunteers as our highest priority.  As a not-for-profit incorporate in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we require all of our Adult Volunteers and Staff (ages 18 and older) to be fully compliant with Pennsylvania's Child Protection Laws.  All Adult Volunteers of age 18 and older MUST have proof of compliance uploaded to your volunteer profile at www.LutherHANDS.org to be permitted to volunteer with us.  This applies to ALL Adults Volunteers and Staff (ages 18 and older), no exceptions regardless of where we are volunteering, what state you live in, or what other state child protection laws you comply with. 

The following documents must be obtained and uploaded to your volunteer profile on our website (www.lutherHANDS.org):

  1.  PA State Criminal Record Check Results
  2. PA Child Abuse Clearance Results
  3. FBI Fingerprint Check Results OR Signed Disclosure Statement (indicates you have lived in the state of PA for the last 10 consecutive years)
  4. Signed Adult Covenent

To obtain the above clearances:

  • PA State Criminal Record Check: LutheranHANDS requires all volunteers to have up-to-date criminal background check results uploaded to your LutheranHANDS volunteer profile.  Visit https://epatch.pa.gov/home to obtain the results of a criminal background check.  Results are published electronically and mailed to you.  The easiest way to upload the results to your volunteer profile is to save the electronic results as a PDF.  Otherwise, you must scan the copy that is mailed to you and then upload it to your volunteer profile.
  • PA Child Abuse Clearance: LutheranHANDS requires all volunteers to have up-to-date child abuse clearance results uploaded to your LutheranHANDS volunteer profile.  You must create a keystone ID and login to complete the Child Abuse Clearance Results.  Go to https://www.compass.dhs.pa.gov/cwis.  Results are published electronically and mailed to you.  The easiest way to upload the results to your volunteer profile is to save the electronic results as a PDF.  Otherwise, you must scan the copy that is mailed to you and then upload it to your volunteer profile.
  • FBI Fingerprint Check: Start online at https://www.identogo.com/ - On this website you can find fingerprinting locations and sign up to get the fingerprinting completed.  Or, if you have lived in the state of PA for the last 10 consecutive years, submit a Signed Disclosure Statement instead of the FBI Fingerprint Check.
  • Adult Covenent: Every youth and adult is required to sign a covenant stating that you will follow our rules while volunteering and accept the consequences associated with breaking the rules.  For adults, this includes a commitment to upload the Child Protection Requirements.

To ensure that all documents are the most recent prior to volunteering, all documents attached to your volunteer profile will be removed at the end of each calendar year.  If your clearances have not yet expired, then simply upload the active documentation or obtain current documentation from the appropriate source.  For example, LutheranHANDS covenants and waivers expire annually while state generated background check results may be acceptable for multiple years.

Please note: LutheranHANDs requires all of the above documents to be on file with LutheranHANDS prior to you volunteering with us on a mission trip or any other LutheranHANDS sponsored volunteer event.  We will exercise the right to refuse you as a volunteer if you do not have these documents on file with us or if the results contain information where we are not legally allowed to permit you to volunteer around minors.

For more information from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please review the following links:

If you have any questions about our Child Protection Requirements, please email us at information@lutheranhands.org

 - I am a high school senior who happens to turn 18 before we leave for a mission trip.  Am I subject to these requirements?

- I am a college student, not an advisor or leader.  Am I subject to these requirements?

- What happens if I do not have one or more of the above items complete when it comes time to leave for the mission trip?

- When do these results and clearances expire?