To ensure the safety of all participants in our program, background checks are required for all adults who volunteer with SVYFCA. These checks help us verify that no volunteer has been convicted of serious felonies, sex-related offenses, or been identified as a perpetrator in a confirmed child abuse case. Per 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344(c)(3), anyone with a drug-related conviction within the last five years is also ineligible to work with children.
All volunteers who will have direct contact with players or cheerleaders must have the following clearances on file with SVYFCA:
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PA State Police Criminal History Report (PATCH)
Apply online at: https://epatch.pa.gov
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Child Abuse History Clearance (PA Dept. of Human Services)
Apply at: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Clearances must be renewed every 60 months (5 years). If renewing all at once, use the oldest clearance date as your renewal timeline.
If you already have current clearances from another organization (like a school or different sports league), you may submit copies to SVYFCA—no need to duplicate the process.
Until all documents are submitted and on file, volunteers are not permitted to interact directly with players or cheerleaders. This is a legal requirement, and violations may result in a third-degree misdemeanor. Even if you've applied for clearances, we must wait until they're received.