Sprouts Volunteer Requirements

If someone wishes to volunteer in the Child Care Center, they should be directed to The Director/Assistant Director of Sprouts. While the state of Pennsylvania does not require a file on persons spending less than 20 hours (lifetime total) with the children, our center's policy is to request it for the first day. Administration will converse with the volunteer regarding:

1. Basic orientation to a typical child care setting - including expectations, limitations, etc.
2. Interval of volunteering (weekly, monthly, etc.)
3. Time of day (to avoid times such as nap time, unless they want to help settle the children)
4. Length of Commitment (summer months, indefinitely, etc.)

Those 15 years old and under are considered "children" and can potentially count in ratios etc. There should be a child file similar to other enrolled children for them, including documentation for self check in/out signed by a parent/guardian. A contract should also be completed, with clear outlines that they are volunteering to help and tuition is waived. Those 16 and older can be considered "volunteers" - which means they should have all available documents that an adult volunteer would. Certain documents will be unavailable/unattainable for 16-17 year olds (such as the state police check).

If they wish to proceed with volunteering, they will need the following documentation, to be turned in to Administration either digitally or physically for their file. (Digital items will be printed by Administration for filing.) Sprouts volunteer files are kept with the other employee paper files. If they have any previous paperwork for church volunteering, it will be reviewed by Administration to ascertain if any of these documents have already been completed and are still valid. Once documentation is deemed complete/sufficient for a first day, they may speak with Administration regarding first day and expected "schedule." Volunteers will be encouraged to have a regular interval of attendance in order to best support the classroom (i.e. Wednesday and Friday afternoons, the first Monday of the month, etc.) so that staff can plan walking trips, special crafts, and other activities considering extra classroom support days.

Required before first day with children:

1. State Police Check
2. Child Abuse: You need to make a login first if you don't have one. If you have previously done this type of background check, you can use the same login, just make sure you chose the one for EMPLOYMENT for the new check. This is required even for volunteers in a child care center.
3. FBI Fingerprinting: You register and set up an appointment, then go get fingerprints. You are being fingerprinted under code: 1KG738
4. NSOR: The pdf application is a little ways down the page, and directions for emailing it in are on the form itself.
5. Health Report with TB test: This can be done with your PCP, Med Express, or anywhere that says they do "work physicals." TB test and can physical can technically be done separately, but sometimes doctors refuse to sign off on the physical without the TB first.
6. We need 2 non-family reference letters, which includes contact information on the person who wrote it. The letter should speak about how long they have known you, your character, and how you interact with children if they have seen it.
7. Proof of Age: This can be a copy of an ID, driver's license, birth certificate, etc.

Within 7 days of starting:

1. Emergency Plan Training: This is completed with an administrator (with a signature page attesting it has been reviewed), or via a Google Form.
2. Mandated Reporter Training: You need to make a login first if you don't have one. If you have previously done this training, you can use the same login.
3. Civil Rights Training: This is a printed, 2-part, slide deck with a signature page attesting that it has been reviewed. The slides are the required training for GPCFB and the USDA.

Other considerations:

1. There must be proof that background checks have been SENT before the first day. Final result is due before 60 days.
2. All checks, forms, etc. must be less than 12 months old at time of first day.
3. Renewal Intervals:
   1. All background checks must be renewed every 5 years. (FBI, Police, Child Abuse, NSOR)
   2. Mandated Reporter Training must be renewed every 5 years.
   3. Emergency Plan and Civil Rights must be reviewed annually.
   4. Health Report must be renewed every 2 years, BUT the TB test is only required the first time.