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After much positioning, the American Camp Association (ACA) has been
given an unparalleled opportunity by being selected to participate in
the PROTECT Act pilot criminal background check program. This program
allows direct access to the FBI criminal database for camp volunteers.
The pilot program allows participating camps to submit fingerprints of
their volunteers to the FBI. The FBI sends the criminal records report
to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). NCMEC
reviews the records and makes a determination of whether the volunteer
meets the criteria of the pilot to serve as a volunteer. Camps then use
the determination to make their decision to use a volunteer or not. The
cost is $18 per volunteer and the turn-around time is one week or less.
Participation in the program is very important not only for camps but
also for ACA. Camps that work with volunteers should be strongly encouraged
to take advantage of this opportunity. This program bypasses state access
barriers and allows direct access to the FBI. This is otherwise not allowed
in most states. It places ACA in a program that has the support and the
ear of Congress. It recognizes ACA as a player in the youth development
field. As we build the number of our checks processed, it will establish
credibility for us as an organization and help us determine any specific
issues related to our "industry." It positions us to influence
the expansion of the program and be the first in line when the barriers
to staff participation have been removed.
For more information on PROTECTScreen, go to: www.ACAcamps.org/publicpolicy.
Originally published in the 2007 Winter issue
of The CampLine.
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