Procedures for obtaining criminal and child abuse clearances, prior to working with children.
If you will be working with children, many schools and agencies require us to be sure that you do not have a background that would put children at risk when they are with you. It can take 4-6 weeks to complete this process so please start as soon as possible. The Gelfand Center will cover the cost of these background checks and will process the paperwork.
- The Criminal Clearance is obtained through the Pennsylvania State Police. The form to request a Criminal Clearance can be found at sp4164.doc.
Please print and complete the form. - We must also request a Child Abuse Clearance, and the form for this can be found at DPWchildabuse.pdf.
Again, print and complete the form. - Gelfand Center payment request form, on which you must specify the educational outreach activity(ies) in which you will participate, at Clearance Payment Request Form.pdf.
For each form make sure that you use your local (Pennsylvania) address (SMC or apartment); the Department of Child Welfare will not process them if you use an address that is not in Pennsylvania. Also, be sure to sign and date the Child Abuse Clearance form.
To deliver both of these forms for processing, The Gelfand Center is located under the sororities and across the street from the white food vendor trucks on Margaret Morrison Street. You will receive an envelope in the mail from the PA Department of Public Welfare in the next month. Be sure the KEEP the certificate that is mailed to you since you will need to show this to the school or agency where you volunteer.