Two Background Checks are Better Than One

The Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC) of the Mississippi Valley is in the hot seat today. In spite of her reassurances as to their serious approach to candidate pre-employment screening, a former program aide in Davenport, IA was arrested for alleged inappropriate physical contact with three children under the age of ten.

The Boys and Girls Clubs is a reputable nationwide organization, and the incident cannot be blamed on their oversight. Their hiring process is very stringent. Every candidate undergoes a background check, as well as a thorough training and orientation program that spells out what is expected of the employees who have direct daily contact with children.

Parents certainly agree with the hiring process that includes a routine background check for every counselor and teacher, but unfortunately everyone acknowledges that accidental oversights may happen. In many cases, the child predator may still be too young to have a criminal record or was careful not to get caught. At least, now that he will have a record, his career in child care is definitely over.

The branch of the BGC in question has been serving the Quad Cities for over 15 years. They've never had such an incident in the past, and are determined to make the scandal the last one ever. The statement from the Executive Director promises to tighten the hiring process wherever possible. Parents are also encouraged to support the efforts of child care providers and subject every new teacher or counselor to a private background check that is easy to perform online at home. Together, we may be more successful at weeding out all child predators.