Hello,     I  have  agreed  to  take  on  the  role  of  Youth  Protection  Coordinator  for  Troop  90.  As   part  of  my  responsibilities  I  will  also  be  tracking  Adult  training  and  Compliance  with   the  PA  Child  Protective  Services  Law.     As  Youth  Protection  Coordinator,  I  plan  to  hold  a  YPT  class  during  a  meeting  in  June.   We  will  watch  a  video,  answer  some  questions,  and  submit  the  paperwork  to   complete  the  process.  This  will  take  no  more  than  1  hour.  All  adults  who  currently   are  not  trained  are  asked  to  attend.  I  will  advise  of  the  date  after  the  May  Troop   committee  meeting.     Some  of  you  may  have  heard  about  the  changes  in  documentation  required  by  the   State  of  PA  for  all  adults  in  direct  contact  with  youth  under  the  age  of  18.  This   includes  Registered  Adults,  Merit  Badge  Counselors,  and  adults  who  may  camp  with   the  Troop,  or  drive  Scouts  to  outings.       Any  Adult  who  is  considering  joining  the  Troop  as  a  registered  adult  is  advised  to  do   so  before  June  30th.  After  June  30th  you  must  be  PA  Compliant,  and  have  completed   Youth  Protection  before  becoming  registered.     If  you  already  have  some  of  the  required  documentation  for  other  agencies,  as  a   volunteer  they  can  also  be  submitted  to  the  BSA.     The  Troop  will  be  keeping  a  copy  of  these  forms  as  well.  Please  submit  a  copy  to  me,   along  with  a  copy  of  your  current  Youth  Protection  Form.  These  will  be  kept  in  a  file   at  FHPC.  These  clearances  must  be  renewed  /  re-­‐submitted  every  three  years.     I  am  here  to  help  you  with  this  process,  or  to  answer  any  questions.  I  am  at  most   meetings,  or  can  be  reached  via  email.  I  can  assist  you  in  uploading  your  forms,   using  the  PDF  converter,  or  give  you  direction  in  completing  the  forms.  I  have  a  Wi-­‐ Fi  hotspot  that  I  can  use  with  your  laptop  during  the  meetings,  so  we  can  go  online   to  complete  the  process.  I  suggest  using  the  Cute  PDF  as  your  converter,  as  I  am   familiar  with  that  product.       Following  is  information  from  the  Laurel  Highlands  Council  regarding  the  new   PA  Law       The  PA  Child  Protective  Services  Law  changed  effective  January  1,  2015.    This   change  requires  the  BSA  to  conduct  background  checks  through  provider   designated  by  PA  per  the  requirements  of  the  law.    The  BSA  will  continue  to  use  its   background  checking  system,  in  addition  to  the  checks  required  for  PA.   All  individuals  must  upload  the  required  documents  into  the  LHC  BSA  Online  Risk  

Management  System    (link  to  upload  forms  and  additional  info  at  the  bottom  of   the  page).       It  is  recommended  that  you  install  a  pdf  converter  to  allow  you  to  print  the  reports,   so  you  may  upload  them  to  the  LHC  BSA  Online  Risk  Management  System.    Free  .pdf   converters  are  available  from  CutePDF    and  Primopdf   .         Who  Is  Required  to  Comply  with  the  New  PA  Law?   In  order  to  assist  you  with  who  is  required  to  comply  with  the  new  PA  law,  Laurel   Highlands  Council  has  created  a  FAQ.    Please  note  that  the  requirements  of   compliance  are  considerably  broader  than  just  those  who  would  traditionally  be   considered  a  BSA  volunteer.    Accordingly,  we  strongly  urge  you  to  review  the  FAQ.     Timeline  to  provide  the  clearance  forms.   ▪ Any  new  volunteers  who  begin  their  volunteer  service  on  or  after  July  1,  2015,  the   council  must  receive  the  compliance  materials  before  the  volunteer   participates  in  any  activity  where  he  or  she  will  supervise  and/or  have  direct   contact  with  children  under  the  age  of  18.    It  is  the  responsibility  of  the   troop/pack/crew  committee  chair  and  chartering  organization   representative  to  ensure  that  compliance  is  handled  before  the  volunteer   starts.    Moreover,  a  new  volunteer  will  not  be  registered  until  the  council  has   evidence  of  compliance.   ▪ District  committee,  commissioners  and  merit  badge  counselors  will  need  to  be  in   compliance  prior  to  June  30,  2015.   All  current  volunteers,  except  for  those  listed  above,  must  be  in  compliance  before   re-­‐chartering  in  December  2015.     Volunteers  must  provide  the  following:   ▪ State  Police  Criminal  Record  CheckPA   ▪ Child  Abuse  History  Clearance   ▪ If  PA  resident  for  at  least  10  continuous  years:  a  completed  Laurel  Highlands   Council  Pennsylvania  Resident  Volunteer  Verification  Form.   If  PA  resident  for  less  than  10  continuous  years  and/or  a  resident  of  anywhere  other   than  PA:  FBI  Criminal  Background  Check       How  To  Obtain  Your  Background  Checks   PA  State  Police  Report:          PA  State  Police  Criminal  Record  Checks  cost  approximately  $10.00  and  can  be   obtained  online  by  visiting  the  State  Police  web  site  -­‐  Click  Here            This  clearance  will  display  on  your  computer  screen.    Be  sure  to   print  this  report  to  a  .pdf  or  print  and  scan  the  form  so  you  submit  it  to  the   council  digitally.  Free  .pdf  converters  are  available  for  download  from  the  web.         Child  Abuse  History  Report:  

       PA  Child  Abuse  History  Clearances  may  be  made  online  -­‐  Click  Here   .    The  cost   is  approximately  $10.00.     FBI  Criminal  Background  Check:          To  request  an  FBI  Fingerprint  Clearance  (approximate  cost  $27.50):  Click  Here.        Please  note:  This  link  will  take  you  to  the  page  managed  by  Cogent  for  the  state   of  PA  to  help  individuals  attain  an  FBI  clearance.    Please  select  the  Department  of   Human  Services  link  as  your  option.         Laurel  Highlands  Council  Pennsylvania  Resident  Volunteer  Verification  Form   (PDF):  Click  Here     How  To  Receive  Approval   LHC  BSA  volunteers  must  upload  copies  of  your  required  documents  to  the  LHC  BSA   Online  Risk  Management  System   .    In  order  to  ensure  that  your  files  are  properly   received  and  recorded,  please  secure  all  your  documentation  before  visiting  this  link   and  upload  your  files  at  the  same  time.       Please  contact  me  with  any  questions  or  comments.    Links  will  be  available  on  the   Troop  90  Web  Site  under  YPT/PA  Child  Protective  Services.       Yours  in  Scouting,     Pat  Costello