WI FACETS POLICY

Title or Subject: Management Policy – Parent Leader/Volunteer Criminal Background Checks

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Date Effective: 1/7/06 Revised: 1/29/10, 6/24/10, 5/16/11 Page 1of 2
MANAGEMENT POLICY
Parent Leader/Volunteer
Criminal Background Checks
The following policy pertains to the WI Board of Directors, prospective and current WI FACETS
Parent Leaders, and any other WI FACETS volunteer who will have ‘direct contact’ with parents,
children, or families. ‘Direct contact’ includes answering the telephone, attending school meetings,
reviewing student/family records, staffing exhibit tables, or otherwise providing support for families
and others in association with WI FACETS. Volunteers providing services for WI FACETS which
do not include the provision of support for families (as, putting together mailings, doing library
inventory, etc.) are exempted from this policy.
PURPOSE: Initial national and annual Wisconsin criminal background checks are to be routinely
performed on all individuals who desire to become part of, or who are currently part of, the WI
FACETS Parent Leader Program and those individuals who wish to volunteer their time for WI
FACETS in some other capacity. Because WI FACETS’ volunteers are routinely privy to sensitive,
confidential information about children and often have direct contact with children, background
checks are essential to protect, to the greatest extent possible, the safety and security of the families
and children that work with WI FACETS.

PROSPECTIVE PARENT LEADERS & APPLICABLE VOLUNTEERS: Those individuals

who wish to be trained as WI FACETS Parent Leaders or who wish to volunteer in some other
capacity, must undergo a criminal background check prior to attending any type of volunteer training
or orientation, and prior to receiving assignments. Failure to undergo or to pass (in accordance with
terms laid out in this policy) a criminal background check will disqualify that individual from being
offered the opportunity to volunteer for WI FACETS.

CURRENT PARENT LEADERS & APPLICABLE VOLUNTEERS: A criminal background

check will be performed annually on all current (active status) Parent Leaders, and any other agency
volunteers. Failure to undergo or to pass (in accordance with terms laid out in this policy) a criminal
background check will impact that individual’s future volunteer opportunities with WI FACETS.

TIME SPENT OUTSIDE THE STATE OF WISCONSIN: If a person lived outside of WI

within the prior 3 years, WI FACETS must make a good faith effort to get a background check from
the previous state of residence. If unable to do so, WI FACETS should document efforts made and
place in the personnel or volunteer file. If the individual is a Wraparound Provider, WI FACETS
must follow up on charges without dispositions (Milwaukee County Clerks’ Office – Milwaukee
County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI) and report connection to Wraparound Office.

CONFIDENTIALITY: All records related to criminal background checks will be kept confidential
and will only be reviewed by WI FACETS administrators. A copy of each person’s background
check will be maintained in their WI FACETS volunteer file.
Wisconsin FACETS * 2714 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive * Milwaukee, WI 53212 * Voice (414) 374-4645
TTY (414) 374-4635 * Toll-free (877) 374-0511 * Fax (414) 374-4655 * Web site: www.wifacets.org
 WI FACETS POLICY
Title or Subject: Management Policy – Parent Leader/Volunteer Criminal Background Checks
Date Effective: 1/7/06 Revised: 1/29/10, 6/24/10, 5/16/11 Page 2of 2

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FITNESS DETERMINATION: If an individual possesses any one of the five criterion offenses
(detailed below) in their criminal background check, that person will be deemed disqualified for the
volunteer position in which they are seeking consideration. If an individual is disqualified based on
their criminal background check, that individual will be notified of this decision within 30 days.

CRITERION OFFENSES: A criterion offense is one in which WI FACETS deems inappropriate

for any of their volunteers to possess due to extensive contact they may have with children. The
following offenses have been determined by WI FACETS to be criterion offenses:

1. Any felony conviction (defined as any crime punishable by 1 year or more in jail,
even if the individual was actually sentenced to a lesser crime).
2. Any lesser crime in which sexual relations is an element (including pornography and
prostitution).
3. Any lesser crime involving force or threat of force against another where the victim
was a minor.
4. Any conviction for an offense delineated under Chapter 948 – Crimes Against
Children – of the Wisconsin Statutes;
5. Three or more arrests, regardless of disposition, for crimes against a minor.

DISPUTES OVER BACKGROUND CHECK CONTENT: If an individual is disqualified based on

their criminal background check, that individual has the right to review their background check. If
an individual asserts that their criminal record is inaccurate, they must take this up with the
appropriate authorities. WI FACETS has no role in amending criminal background checks. If an
individual has their criminal record corrected, they may request that WI FACETS re-run the check.

RECORD RETENTION: All background check records will be retained for a period of no less
than 5 years.

THIS POLICY SHALL BE REVIEWED AT LEAST ANNUALLY BY THE BOARD.

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Wisconsin FACETS * 2714 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive * Milwaukee, WI 53212 * Voice (414) 374-4645
TTY (414) 374-4635 * Toll-free (877) 374-0511 * Fax (414) 374-4655 * Web site: www.wifacets.org