What type of background checks are required for agency staff and volunteers working with children, and what is the consequence of a failed check?

• A. No checks required.
• B. Fingerprint-based national and state background checks; individuals with disqualifying offenses cannot work; only cleared individuals may be employed or placed with children.
• C. Verbal reference checks; failure results in re-interview.
• D. Criminal background checks only; failing leads to probation.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that protecting children requires a rigorous background screening process. For agency staff and volunteers who will work with children, the standard is fingerprint-based checks that cover both state and national records. This dual-screening helps catch offenses that might not show up on a simple background check and ensures a more complete safety net.

Because the checks are fingerprint-based and comprehensive, anyone with disqualifying offenses is not allowed to work with or be placed with children. Only individuals who clear both the state and national checks may be employed or placed with children. This makes the consequence of a failed check clear: disqualification from roles involving direct work with children.

Verbal reference checks are not sufficient for this purpose, as they do not reliably reveal disqualifying offenses or provide the level of verification that fingerprint checks offer. A criminal background check alone is incomplete because it typically does not guarantee coverage of all relevant records that fingerprints can access, and the result is still that a failed check leads to prohibition from placement with children, not merely probation.