The following is the from an email sent by Steve Smith to the Roanoke Red Cross Directors and others. Steve wrote:
I am hopeful, with the issuance of the following clarifying guidance from NHQ (see red below) that we will be able to clear up many of the misunderstandings regarding the background check of Disaster volunteers - regular, spontaneous, partners, etc. If you have any further questions, please ask!
Thanks for your on-going patience!
Distributed to: Chapter Executives, Chairs; All Service Area Staff; Biomedical Services Division VPs, Blood Services Region CEOs; AFES Station Managers; All NHQ/BHQ Staff.
Subject: Background Check Program Clarifies Position on Spontaneous Volunteers and Partners
The following message is from Joe Becker, Senior Vice President, Preparedness and Response and Kate Forbes, National Chair of Volunteers:
Guidance was provided to the field on February 6 about the elimination of credit checks from the Red Cross background check consent form in addition to other changes to the program. At this time, we would like to provide clarification on another significant modification to the background check initiative related specifically to spontaneous volunteers and partner organizations.
Spontaneous Volunteers
The American Red Cross is committed to the utilization of spontaneous volunteers. Our programs cannot operate effectively without the help of individuals from the community who come forward for brief periods of time to help those in their community who are affected by disaster. These persons who give of themselves, whether by pitching in on a large disaster or by offering to translate for a neighbor who is the victim of a house fire, cannot be told that they must wait to help because our internal systems prevent them from providing immediate short term relief.
The modified policy as it related to background checks and spontaneous volunteers is as follows:
Spontaneous volunteers in disaster affected areas who desire to participate with the American Red Cross in disaster relief operations activities (individuals age 18 and over with no prior Red Cross affiliation) can do so for up to seven (7) days without a background check on any disaster relief operation. The intention is to accommodate individuals who participate for limited time periods to help those affected by disaster through the American Red Cross and have no intention of affiliating with the local Red Cross or taking on a long term volunteer commitment with the organization. All spontaneous volunteers must work under the supervision of a Red Cross -volunteer or employee and must not wear Red Cross identification or clothing until they register and clear a background check. Spontaneous volunteers who commit to volunteering for seven (7) days or more, on all sizes of disaster relief operations must successfully complete a Red Cross background check.
Partner Organizations
We respect our partner agencies and recognize that those persons affiliated with them are working in conjunction with us but under the rules and procedures established by their agency. There are times when a partner agency volunteer for a variety of reasons and circumstances and will identify themselves jointly as both a partner agency and a Red Cross volunteer, and wear the Symbol of the American Red Cross. If a partner agency volunteer wears or carries Red Cross identification then we as an organization have the right and the obligation to require compliance with our procedures.
Additionally, volunteers either loaned or working in cooperation with the Red Cross that wear Red Cross identification must have undergone and cleared background checks that meet or exceed the Red Cross minimum standards, i.e., a verification of the social security number and a search of the National Criminal File for the past 7 years.
Reminder - the deadline to complete your unit's background checks is March 31, 2007. Employees and volunteers who have not cleared a background check by this date will no longer be able to serve with the Red Cross until they do so. If you have questions, please contact the National Background Check Office [by sending email to backgroundchecks <at sign> usa.redcross.org] or (800) 507-3960.
a.. American Red Cross background checks may be completed at: https://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/ArcVts/