Even as summer weather is delayed in many areas in the USA parents are already thinking about what to do with their children once school ends in June. Across the country thousands of children will be thrust into the void that can be summer break. Certainly weeks long family vacations can fill parts of the summer void but desperate parents, especially those with two-income families, will look to various kinds of camps to keep the little ones occupied.
For many families in the US that means time for summer camps. During the summer break children across the country will participate in a wide variety of activities in away-from-home destinations. Some camps are day time only while others include sleep overs. Such camps and programs can be great experiences for kids and a time to learn more about themselves and how to get along with others. However, whenever there is an occasion where adults spend unsupervised private time with children the threat of abuse exists.
Summer camps are filled with a wide variety of activities, locations, and possibilities. From weeklong sleepaway camps to localized day camps, children of all ages will find something to do.
In light of all the good aspects of summer camps the concern of child abuse at such a location is very real. It is difficult enough for a parent to let go of their child for any extended stay away from the family, but the concern of an adult abusing their child is of even greater concern. This is why parents should demand that the individuals working at an organization or camp their child is going to be attending go through a thorough and reliable background check. This first line of defense is critical to a parent and must be met before entrusting their child to such individuals. This background screening criteria also needs to include all volunteers as well. When it comes to the safety of children volunteer background checks are just as important as performing background checks on full time staff and employees.
Parents need assurance that the individuals who interact with their children are not criminals or sex offenders or exhibit other malfeasant tendencies. It is also important to note that many camps rely heavily on volunteers who prove invaluable to the successful operation of a summer camp. Overlooking background check requirements on these people would be a huge oversight and a big mistake.
Any person that works with an at-risk individual, either youth or elderly, should be background checked, regardless if it is a volunteer or paid position.
In Massachusetts local government is facing pressure to expand background screening for volunteers and has developed plans to implement expansion.
From the Eagle Tribune (Apr. 12, 18):
Workers at summer camps, preschools and day care centers that get federal grants may soon need to be fingerprinted and subjected to national criminal background checks.
A plan filed by Gov. Charlie Baker expands background check procedures for the Department of Early Education and Care to comply with new federal rules, which require a check on the National Sex Offender Registry. eagletribune.com/news/state-under-pressure-to-expand-background-checks/article_83c3c960-0c9b-56ae-8a63-047e27ce4124.html
Background screening is an invaluable tool to assist Camp Program managers in protecting children from potential predators.
Often a well-defined and well-publicized pre-volunteer or employment background check can prove a first line of defense against predators.
Organizations that take the extra step with a thorough volunteer background check are providing that line in the sand against potential malfeasance. Often understanding that a camp performs background checks on its volunteers is enough of a deterrent to give a predator pause before pursuing a volunteer role.
From the American Camp Association’s website:
Performing criminal background checks on the people who will be working with the children in your care is not only a standard of the American Camp Association (ACA); it is your obligation to the families that have entrusted you with their kids. acacamps.org/resource-library/campline/criminal-background-checks-staff-volunteers
Ultimately a best practice remains for all summer camps and related organizations to conduct thorough pre-volunteer or pre-employment background checks. A background check can potentially act as a first line of defense against would-be predators. Further, organizations should work with a well-qualified third-party background screening agency to develop screening options.
It is essential that parents ask the summer camp or organization they are leaving their children with about the background screening program in place and demand thorough criminal background checks and other essential background checks on not just full time staff and employees but volunteers as well. Children are considered an at-risk population and making sure due diligence is performed helps protect the youth from malfeasant individuals.
To read more about why volunteer background checks should be a must in summer camp programs and how a thorough and reliable background screening program can help thwart malfeasant individuals from getting unsupervised access to children read recent CriminalBackgroundRecords.com press release: Avoid Summertime Blues and Conduct Volunteer Background Checks