AYSO Safe Haven
Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate
 OnlineSafe Haven
Certification Child and Volunteer Protection course - required for
all Coaches, Referees, Team Parents, & All Volunteers - can now be taken
from home from this
CBT!
|
Training located at 
The child protection aspect is intended to stop child abuse, educate or remove its perpetrators, and screen out predators before they get into the program. It includes proactive steps which provide a medium for positive, healthy child development, precluding the outbreak of child abuse in a weak, unfocused, nonempowering environment.
Volunteer protection comes in to play as a result of volunteer training, certification and continuing education. The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 provides certain legal protections for volunteers who have been trained and certified, and act in accordance with a written job description. Safe Haven has these three elements, giving volunteers the highest degree of protection available under the law.
We encourage you
to contact, for any reason, our Regional Child & Volunteer Protection Advocate To view the responsibilities
& duities please follow this link.
A reprint from AYSO Corporate at www.soccer.org:
AYSO Criminal
Background Check Policy
September, 2004
Since January 1, 2001, all
American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) regions, areas, and sections are
required to comply with the AYSO policy on criminal background checks.
1.
The following AYSO positions shall be subject to a criminal background check:
* All coaches of sports teams
* All assistant coaches of sports
teams
* All officers, board members, and staff who lead or organize
children's activities
* All referees
2. Any person volunteering in
AYSO must complete and sign an AYSO volunteer application form each year. The
application form includes a Criminal Background Check Release.
3. The
Safe Haven Department at the NSTC shall act as the criminal background
requesting entity unless specific arrangements have been approved in writing by
the AYSO National Executive Director. Criminal background checks are performed
on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The responses on the AYSO Volunteer
Application Form may target certain individuals for automatic background
checks.
4. Each Region shall designate at least one person as the Child
and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA) who will act as the liaison between the
Region and AYSO for purposes of enacting this policy.
5. The results of
the criminal background checks will be kept strictly confidential. The AYSO Safe
Haven staff members at the National Support & Training Center in Hawthorne,
CA are the only people authorized to review or have access to the reports. The
Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record process will be initiated by AYSO.
These reports shall be kept in a locked, secure location, for a period as
indicated by applicable law or until the person is no longer a volunteer,
whichever is later.
6. When a negative determination is made, a copy of
the criminal conviction report received by AYSO is sent to that volunteer
applicant, in an envelope marked “Confidential – to be opened by addressee
only,” along with the Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record cover letter
which is attached to this policy.
7. The CVPA or Regional Commissioner
(RC) will be immediately notified of any issues related to the criminal
background check of members of their region.
8. If a background check
discloses a criminal conviction, AYSO Safe Haven Staff shall consult the Table
of Convictions below and advise the region. Each situation will be considered
on a case-by-case basis using the following guidelines:
* Persons
convicted of a violent crime or crime against a person (including sex offenses)
within the prior 20 years should be disqualified from any position listed in
policy paragraph #1 above.
* Persons convicted of a theft related
crime or fraud within the prior 15 years should be disqualified from any
position involving the handling of funds or property.
* Persons
convicted of a substance abuse crime within the past 10 years should be
disqualified from any coaching position or any position that leads children's
activities.
* Discretion shall be exercised in a uniform manner, so
that similar convictions and circumstances result in similar treatment.
* Felony convictions of any nature are serious offenses and will be viewed with
extreme caution. Misdemeanor convictions, particularly where remote in time, may
be viewed with more leeway where the applicant’s conduct since the conviction
indicates rehabilitation or lack of risk to the children and the program.
TABLE OF CONVICTIONS (a partial list)
Violent Crimes &
Crimes Against a Person:
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Battery
w/ Firearm
Armed Robbery
Arson
Assault
Attempted Murder
Battery
Blackmail
Child Abduction
Child Pornography
Domestic Battery
Endangering the
Life or Health of a
Child
Exploitation of a Child
Extortion
Harboring a Runaway
Hate Crime
Home Invasion
Intimidation
Involuntary Manslaughter
Kidnapping
Murder
Possession of explosives
Terrorism
Reckless Homicide
Robbery
Second Degree
Murder
Stalking
Solicitation for Murder
Tampering w/Food
or Drugs
Threatening Public Officials
Treason
Unlawful
Restraint
Vehicular Car Jacking
Vehicular Endangerment
Violation of Order of Protection
Sex Offenses:
Bigamy
Child Pornography
Criminal Sexual Abuse
Criminal Sexual
Assault
Criminal Transmission of HIV
Distribution/Sale of
Pornography
to a Minor
Indecent Solicitation of a Child
Keeping a Place of Prostitution
Obscenity
Pandering
Pimping
Prostitution
Public Indecency
Sex with a Minor
Sexual Exploitation of a Child
Solicitation of
a Sexual Act
Theft-related Crimes:
Bid Rigging
Bid
Rotating & Kickbacks
Bribery
Burglary
Check
Kiting
Interference with Public Contracts
Looting
Money
Laundering
Possession of Burglary Tools
Tax Evasion
Theft-related Crimes Continued:
Fencing of Stolen goods
Forgery
Industrial Espionage
Theft of Intellectual
Property
Ticket Scalping
Fraud:
Deceptive Sales
Fraudulent Advertisement
Insurance Fraud
Mail and Wire Fraud
Odometer Fraud
Public Aid Fraud
Substance Abuse
Crimes:
Abuse of Prescription Medicines
Criminal Drug
Conspiracy
Distribution of Alcohol to Minors
Illegal
Transportation of Controlled
Substances
Possession of Drug
Paraphernalia
Possession of Illegal Substances
Sale of Alcohol
to Minors
Sale or Manufacture of Illegal
Substances
Miscellaneous Crimes:
Aggravated Discharge of a
Firearm
Interference with Judicial
Proceeding
Computer Tampering
Interference with Penal Institution
Concealing or Aiding a Fugitive
Legislative Misconduct
Criminal
Damage to Property
Obscene Phone Calls
Criminal Fortification
of Building
Obstructing Justice
Criminal Trespass
Obstructing a Peace Officer
Discrimination in Sale of Real
Estate
Disorderly Conduct
Driving Under the Influence
of
Alcohol
Driving without a License
Driving without
Insurance
Eavesdropping
Environmental Crimes
Gunrunning
Harassment of Jurors or Witnesses
Illegal
Transportation of Controlled
Substances
Identity Switching
Illegal Gambling Unlawful Use, Sale, or Discharge of
a Metal
Piercing Bullet
Impersonating a Law Enforcement
Officer
Vandalism
Perjury
Reckless Conduct
Reckless
Driving
Repeated Traffic Offenses
Sale of Tobacco to
Minors
Tampering with Public Records
Unlawful Possession of
Weapons
Unlawful Sale of Firearms
Unlawful Use of Body
Armor
(The following letter is sent to any applicant, and only the
applicant, if there are convictions that fall under the above
criteria)
Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record
2004
October 13,
2004
Region 0000
Fist and Last Name
Street Address
City, State
Zip
Enclosed you will find a copy of your criminal history report
obtained by the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).
Pursuant to
the laws of many states and in your own self-interest, you should review the
record as soon as possible. Should you determine it is inaccurate or incomplete
you are required to notify AYSO of such discrepancy within seven working days of
your receipt of this letter.
For privacy protection, you should speak to
Ellisa Hall at the AYSO National Support & Training Center. You may contact
her during regular working hours, 8:00a.m.–5:00p.m. Pacific Time, Monday –
Friday at (800) 872-2976, e-mail her at ellisahall@ayso.org, or write her at
12501 S Isis, Hawthorne, CA 90250.
If the record is inaccurate, AYSO has
a procedure for you to follow with the reporting agency to correct the
information.
If the report is accurate, it is in the best interests of
this organization that you not volunteer. If we fail to hear from you within
seven days, we will contact your region with our final decision.
Ellisa
Hall
National Certification and
Advocacy Administrator
©
AYSO Area 65, Rancho Cucamonga, in partnership with Rancho Cucamonga
Parks 