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4 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />CITY OF ELK RIVER <br />BACKGROUND SCREENING POLICY <br /> <br />Adopted March 4, 2013 <br />Effective January 1, 2014 <br /> <br /> <br />Background Screening: An Exercise of Reasonable Care <br />The saying that a "bad volunteer is better than no volunteer" is untrue and dangerous, and <br />should never be considered appropriate when selecting volunteers and employees, <br />especially those who will work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. While <br />municipal parks and recreation departments and youth organizations across the country <br />depend on volunteerism, failing to take reasonable steps to screen employees and/or <br />volunteers for risk factors related to the roles they will play leaves such organizations, their <br />volunteers and employees, and most importantly, their participants at unacceptable risk. <br /> <br />While no background screening process can be absolutely comprehensive, and none can <br />offer a guarantee of safety, the City of Elk River hopes that by implementing a strong <br />policy and procedures will enhance public safety, engender public confidence, and reduce <br />the risk of exposure to liability associated with failing to conduct reasonable background <br />checks. The City believes that a thorough background screening process will assist the City <br />and the community to provide quality programming in which safety is always the top <br />priority. <br /> <br />Policy Coverage <br />This Background Screening Policy shall apply to: <br /> All volunteers and applicants for volunteer positions with the City of Elk River who <br />will be, or who reasonably may expected to be, working directly with children, youth or <br />vulnerable adults. <br /> All applicants, employees and volunteers of City Field & Facility Use Permit holders <br />(referred to throughout this policy as “Permit Holders”) who are18 years of age and <br />above and who will be, or who reasonably may expected to be, working directly with <br />children, youth or vulnerable adults in connection with performing services for the <br />Permit Holder. <br /> To the extent permitted under City ordinance, to all applicants for, and employees in, <br />paid positions with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department who will or might have <br />such contact. <br /> <br />Policy Purpose <br />To protect the safety and well-being of children, youth, and vulnerable adults participating <br />in Parks and Recreation programs of the City of Elk River as well as such persons <br />participating in programs administered by Permit Holders, the City of Elk River considers <br />thorough background screening to be an exercise of reasonable care, and has therefore <br />adopted the following policy.