Policy for Criminal background Checks of
NEYM Youth Programs Staff


Youth Programs Committee has approved that criminal background checks should be conducted for all current staff who work with children in programs sponsored by New England Yearly Meeting. This includes coordinators, people who staff retreats, and people who staff any of the youth programs at Sessions. The coordinators and staff of the Afternoon Choices program and the Childcare program at Sessions will also have background checks.

Not included are resource people who volunteer for a few hours at a time, working under the supervision of the coordinator of the particular program. These people are primarily in Afternoon Choices and Childcare at Sessions, but may also include people who come in to do or assist with programs on retreats. The background check will screen for convictions of violent or sexual crimes toward adults or children. Reports of prior convictions of this nature rule a person out from staffing. Reports of other criminal convictions may rule a person out.

Should the coordinator wish to still consider having the applicant on his/her staff despite such a report, they must consult with the clerk of YPC. If a person is ruled out, he or she is entitled to view the report that is the basis of the decision.

Going forward, new staff will be asked to agree to a criminal background check in addition to the other application requirements already in place. It is our policy that every staff and volunteer will be checked prior to hiring. Repeat checks may be conducted at the coordinator’s/staff’s discretion.

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