Obtaining Clearances
Clearances for Persons who Provide Child Care Services and for School Employees
Child care agencies are prohibited from employing any person who will have direct contact with children if the individual was convicted of certain criminal offenses or was named as a perpetrator of a founded report of child abuse within five years preceding the request for a clearance.
The CPSL requires prospective child care service and school employees to obtain child abuse clearances from the department to ensure they are not a known perpetrator of child abuse or student abuse.
Child care employees are also required to obtain clearance from the Pennsylvania State Police to determine whether they have been convicted of any of the following crimes at the time of the background clearance:
- Criminal homicide
- Aggravated assault
- Harassment and stalking
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful restraint
- Rape
- Statutory sexual assault
- Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated indecent assault
- Indecent Assault
- Indecent exposure
- Incest
- Concealing the death of a child
- Endangering the welfare of children
- Dealing with infant children
- Prostitution and related offenses
- Pornography
- Corruption of minors
- Sexual abuse of children
- A felony offense under the Act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64), known as the Controlled Substance,
- Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, committed within the five-year period immediately preceding verification under this section.
Act 127 of 1998 also prohibits hire if the applicant has been convicted of an equivalent crime listed above under the law of another state, or the "attempt, solicitation or conspiracy" to commit those offenses.
- "Child care services" include:
- Child care centers
- Group and family child care homes
- Foster Family Homes
- Adoptive parents
- Residential programs
- Juvenile detention services
- Programs for delinquent/dependent children
- Mental health/mental retardation services
- Early intervention and drug/alcohol services
- Any child care services, which are provided by or subject to approval, licensure, registration or certification by DPW or a county social agency.
- Any child care services, which are provided under contract with DPW or a county social service agency
An applicant for school employment includes:
- Individuals who apply for a position as a school employee
- Individuals who transfer from one position to another
- Contractors for schools
The CPSL prohibits school administrators from employing anyone who has been convicted of certain criminal offenses, named as the perpetrator of a founded report of child abuse (at any time) or named as the individual responsible for a founded report of student abuse.
Federal criminal history record clearances by the FBI are also required for out-of-state residents who are applying for employment or approval for the following positions in Pennsylvania:
- Child care services
- Public or private schools
- Foster Parents
- Adoptive parents
At any time, a person can request voluntary certification to prove that he or she is not on file as a perpetrator of a child or student abuse.
The purpose of requiring clearances is to protect children from abuse at school and at child care settings.
To obtain Child Abuse History Clearances go to PA Department of Human Services