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Why is Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland doing background checks?
The safety of the girl is the most important consideration in the appointment of a volunteer or employee. In order to safeguard the girls in our care, Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland , Inc. (GSKH) has joined with Girl Scouts of the USA to develop a system for conducting criminal background checks on volunteers and all paid staff.

What is the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) position on background checks of volunteers?
In 2004, GSUSA issued "Screening Guidelines for Volunteers and Employees," including recommendations that councils have an application, references and criminal background checks on employees, troop and group leaders and assistant leaders, camp volunteers, product sale and program consultants, service team members, travel chaperones and board/committee members.

What is required and how will the information be used?
The applicant must provide their name, address, date of birth, and Social Security Number. GSGPC has selected IntelliCorp, a GSKH recommended vendor, to process the background check. IntelliCorp will use the information to report on the criminal and sex offender history of the individual. This report is used to determine eligibility for a volunteer or employed position with GSKH , or its successor organization. The social security number on the criminal history records check shall be used for NO other purpose than to make the process for conducting a background search more accurate.

Who is IntelliCorp?
IntelliCorp is a leading provider of innovative decision-support products for employment and background checks. They maintain criminal and/or sex offender records in all 50 states and the District of Columbia-consisting of public criminal records from individual county courts as well as statewide sources such as the Department of Corrections. Combined with Sex Offender records, IntelliCorp is continually expanding and building this national database on a daily basis. Additionally, as an affiliate of the Insurance Services Offices (ISO), IntelliCorp has strengthened its position in the marketplace and its ability to serve the needs of every law enforcement and reporting agency in the Country. Their web site is: www2.intellicorp.net. They are Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) compliant.

What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
FCRA is the law, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, designed to promote accuracy and ensure the privacy of the information used in consumer reports, including those that verify criminal or sex offender history.

What information is included in the background check?
This background check includes criminal records searches of conviction, arrests, court records, inmate records, and sex offender registries. It does not include credit checks or motor vehicle records checks.

What if GSKH receives criminal history results that indicate that I have a criminal record?
If a criminal record is found, the applicant will be contacted and asked to respond to the information. GSKH shall review each applicant's record on a case-by-case basis. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, the nature and severity of the crime, and the length of time since the criminal conduct occurred. The decision to exclude or limit an individual's participation as a volunteer or paid staff member is solely within the discretion of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland.

Why can't I be a troop volunteer if my spouse or someone living with me is a registered sex offender?
Even if troop meetings are held elsewhere, records containing personal information necessary for girl participation are usually kept in a troop volunteer's home.

What if GSKH receives criminal history results that I believe are incorrect?
According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the applicant has the right to obtain a free copy of any consumer report from IntelliCorp within 60 days of the day when any adverse action is taken against him/her based on the report. The applicant also has 30 days to report and dispute the results he/she believes to be incorrect or incomplete to IntelliCorp, who is the reporting source. GSKH will rely upon the information contained in the criminal history report until a corrected report has been provided. The Human Resources (HR) Director will provide the contact information for the IntelliCorp representative who will assist with this process.

How will my authorization form be stored?
Forms will be stored in a secured file with access limited to the HR Department and the CEO.

Why are Criminal Background Checks being used now and not before?
With new technologies and the availability of information, this is becoming part of the screening guidelines used by organizations serving youth.

What else can I do to help safeguard the girls?
Please observe the rules in Safety-Wise , a handbook of guidelines, standards and policies that is published by GSUSA. Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland supplies a Safety-Wise book for every troop.

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