All registered leaders, junior leaders, committee members, and merit badge counselors in our Troop need to complete the clearances. We are also asking that at least one parent from each family complete the clearances. If both or all parents/guardians can complete the clearances that's even better. The parent who is most likely to drive Scouts somewhere or help out at an event would be the best one to complete the clearances if only one parent is able to get this done.

There are 3 items that we need as detailed below. Note that the FBI clearance is not necessary if you have lived in PA for the past 10 years. If that is the case we would need the Disclosure Statement from you in place of the FBI clearance.

Volunteers must provide the following clearances

• Report of Criminal History from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), 10-15 minutes: epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
• Child Abuse History Clearance from the Department of Human Services, 20-30 minutes: www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
• Fingerprint based FBI criminal history clearance submitted through the Department of Human Services, $27.50, 5-10 minutes online and 10-15 minutes at the fingerprinting location: www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpwNew.htm
• Volunteers who have resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years can submit a Disclosure Statement for Volunteers in lieu of the Fingerprint based FBI Clearance: keepkidssafe.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/document/c_160267.pdf

Full information about the law and requirements is available on the Cradle of Liberty website at the link below.

http://www.colbsa.org/news-and-information/news-and-information/pa-child-protective-services-law.html