Are Criminal Background Checks Legally Required for Youth Ministry Workers? A California case shows why criminal background checks for youth ministry workers are advisable. Richard R. Hammar
Enhancing Church Reference Forms: Key Questions for Volunteer Screening Discover the critical questions every church reference form should include to assess volunteer suitability, spiritual commitment, and safety. Ashley G. Emmert
Avoiding Discrimination When Conducting Background Checks Conducting background checks for church employees is essential for safety but must be done responsibly to avoid discrimination and legal risks. Learn best practices, including timing, tailored policies, and compliance with federal and state laws. Frank Sommerville
Summer Camp Safety Summer camp safety is everyone's ideal. But risk management ensures it's a reality. The Editors
Tips: Screening Church Host Families Is our church required to perform background checks on families hosting our youth? Michael Allison
When A Sex Offender Wants to Serve in Children’s Ministry How to properly vet sex offenders who wish to serve. Frank Sommerville
Screening Volunteers for Church Visitation Ministries Do we need to do background checks on adults who will be visiting shut-ins? Michael Allison
Tips For Screening Underage Church Volunteers How can we adequately screen adolescents before recruiting them to work in our children's ministries? Richard R. Hammar
Church Liability and ‘Negligent Selection’ Is a church leader liable for not screening someone they know? Richard R. Hammar