Beginning with the 2016 season, all volunteers involved in Little League Activities need to complete additional background checks and clearances in order to volunteer. What clearances you need to acquire will depend on how long you have lived in the state of Pennsylvania. Below you will find instructions for each clearance. Please retain your original, and give your league a copy. Once the league has a copy you will not need to renew these clearances for five years. This information is provided as an aid to all leagues in District 17. Volunteers should be sure that they speak with their local league to ensure they follow the league’s procedures.
Step 1: All volunteers need to fill out the Little League Volunteer Application so that the Little League Background Check can be completed.
Little League Returning Volunteer Application Download Link
Little League First Time Volunteer Application Download Link
Step 2: All volunteers will need to complete the Pennsylvania State Police Background Check. Follow the instructions below. The results are immediate and applying online is recommended because of the instant results.
1. Go to: https://epatch.state.pa.us//Home.jsp
2. Click on NEW RECORD CHECK – VOLUNTEERS ONLY
3. Read and Accept the Acknowledgement
4. Complete the form
5. Volunteer Organization – Little League
6. Organization Phone # – N/A
7. Print out the results of the Search.
Step 3: All volunteers will need to complete Child Abuse History Clearance from the PA Dept. of Public Welfare. Follow the instructions below.
Part 1: Obtain a Keystone ID:
1. Go to the Child Abuse History Clearance Online: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS
2. Click: Create an individual account
3. Follow steps to create you own Keystone ID which will be used to submit your clearance.
4. Temporary password will be sent to your Email.
Part 2: Electronic Submission of Clearance
1. Go to the Child Abuse History Clearance Online: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS
2. Click: Individual Login
3. Click: Access My Clearances
4. Scroll down, click continue on lower right of screen and proceed to login and you will be prompted to change your temporary password.
5. Once password changed, proceed to login with new password.
6. Accept the “Terms and Conditions:”, you will then advance, scroll down, click continue on lower right of screen.
7. You will then come to the “My PA Child Abuse History Clearances” screen. Click the “Create Clearance Application” button.
8. After you click the “Create Clearance Application” button”, the screen will advance. Scroll to the bottom and click “Begin”.
9. On the Application Purpose screen click the button that states: Volunteer Having Contact with Children: Applying for the purpose of volunteering as an adult for an unpaid position as a volunteer with a child-care service, a school or a program, activity or service, as a person responsible for the child’s welfare or having direct volunteer contact with children.
10. For Volunteer Category choose: Other from the drop down box. For Agency Name type: Central City Little League
11. Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen
12. On the Applicant Information Screen, enter all of your personal info including your social security number.
13. After info is entered, Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen.
14. On the Current Address screen, enter all of your info, Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen.
15. On the Previous Address scree, n, enter all of your info, Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen.
16. On the Household Members screen, enter all of your info, Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen.
17. On the Application Summary screen, review all information, Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen.
18. On eSignature screen, complete, Scroll down, click Next on lower right of screen.
19. On the Application Payment Screen to the question: Did the organization you are volunteering for provide a code for your application? A code is not required to submit your application? Click: No
20. Scroll down, click Submit Application on lower right of screen.
21. You will receive a clearance application # and an email regarding receiving your clearance.
22. Print our your clearance.
Step 4 – If you have lived in the state of Pennsylvania for the last ten (10) consecutive years you do not need an FBI Clearance. You are finished.
Step 5 – If you have not lived in the state of Pennsylvania for the last ten (10) consecutive years, you will need to complete the FBI Fingerprint clearance and background check.
1. Go to the Cogent Webiste. https://www.pa.cogentid.com/indexNew.htm
2. Select Department of Public Welfare
3. On the right of the screen select “Register Online.”
4. Check the box at the top of the page, and then click “Continue” at the bottom.
5. Fill out the Yellow Boxes on the form. For Reason select DHS Volunteer. Click “Next” when finished.
6. Verify your information and click “next”
7. Enter your payment information.
8. Click “Pay” at the bottom of the page.
9. Print out the registration receipt as it will have your registration ID number. Take this information to a fingerprint site.
10. When you arrive at the store state you need to be fingerprinted. The technician will walk you through the rest of the steps.
11. You will receive your clearance in the mail in a few weeks. Copy this clearance and submit it to your league.