What Does A Child Abuse And Neglect Background Check Consist Of For Employment

Location:
Kid Abuse; CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DEPT.; CRIMINAL RECORDS;

OLR Research Report

DCF BACKGROUND CHECKS

Past: Katherine M. Dwyer, Associate Analyst

QUESTIONS Nether what circumstances does the Department of Children and Families (DCF) perform groundwork checks? How many employees perform the checks and how many are performed per year? What is the process for a batch file?

SUMMARY

Past law, DCF maintains a confidential key registry of substantiated perpetrators of kid corruption and neglect. DCF uses the registry to perform background checks for prospective employers, licensing authorities, and other public agencies permitted by law to request such checks. (This is different from criminal history background checks, which are conducted by law enforcement.) The registry background check request must be accompanied by an "Say-so for Release of Information for DCF CPS Search" signed by the subject of the check. The law requires individuals applying for certain specified positions and licenses to submit to a groundwork check from the registry.

Co-ordinate to DCF, in 2013 the section ' s Groundwork Bank check Unit (BCU) processed 135,000 background checks. There are currently half dozen processing technicians in the BCU that perform such checks.

According to DCF, the department currently has memoranda of understanding with four state agencies to run batch files (i.east., automated runs): the departments of Education, Motor Vehicles, Public Health, and Social Services. Depending on the bureau, the frequency of the runs varies from one time a calendar week to in one case a month. The process, outlined below, generally takes DCF ane week to complete.

MANDATORY REGISTRY BACKGROUND CHECKS

By law, a person must submit to a groundwork check from the child abuse and neglect registry when applying:

1. for a public school position or issuance or renewal of a Country Board of Education document, authorization, or permit ( CGS � ten-221d );

2. for a student transportation vehicle operator ' s license ( CGS � 14-44 );

iii. for a license to conduct a drivers ' school or give driving instruction (CGS �� 14-69 , 14- 7 3 );

iv. for employment with DCF ( CGS � 17a-6a );

5. to be a licensed foster parent (anyone age sixteen or older living in the bidder ' due south household must also submit to a groundwork check)( CGS � 17a-114 );

half-dozen. for employment or a volunteer positions with Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services ( CGS � 17a-450c ); and

vii. to work at a child day care middle, grouping mean solar day care home, or family day care abode in a position that requires child intendance provision ( CGS � � 19a- 80 , 19a- 87b ).

The law also permits the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) commissioner to require registry background checks of anyone seeking employment with DDS or with a provider licensed or funded past the section. Co-ordinate to DDS, in exercise, it currently does not require such checks ( CGS � 17a-227b ).

Additionally, inside available appropriations, the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) must crave anyone, other than a relative, who provides child care services in the child ' s dwelling house and receives a kid care subsidy from OEC to submit to registry background checks ( CGS � 17b-749k , as amended past PA 14-39 ).

Automatic RUNS

According to DCF, the process for automated runs is every bit follows:

1. DCF receives through Microsoft Outlook a batch in the form of an Excel document with 100 to 500 applicant names, addresses, birthdates, and social security numbers. The document goes direct into the batch system and DCF receives the results, including "hits" and "possible hits," the next day.

ii. DCF submits the hits and possible hits into the background check information base to confirm the status of the hits. For each hit, the department conducts a more extensive search in the LINK system (DCF ' s instance database), including to verify the applicant ' s identity. In rare circumstances, this may include requesting an old hard re-create of records for the department ' s storage facility.

three. If at that place is insufficient documentation virtually one of the hits in the section ' s electronic records (i.east., a "fail"), the technician documents the neglect in the "fail log" and takes computer snapshots of the fail in instance information technology is questioned.

4. The department sends the batch dorsum to the requesting agency with information most the confirmed hits.

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