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The Connecticut-based Auditors of Public Accounts are concerned that current screening policies could allow people with serious criminal records to work with children.

The Auditors Concern

A recent article in the New Haven Register boldly begins with: "Could a felon look after your child at day care?" It quickly admits that is unlikely, but the message is clear. There is deep concern about the background screening process for daycare workers in Connecticut.

This article was prompted by the results of an audit on screening policies at child care facilities. The audit revealed that applicants are screened, but the background check process takes 150 days on average. State law allows for people to start working before their reports are completed.

Because of this law, people have been hired to work with children before anyone learned whether or not they had criminal convictions. Some individuals were employed for a few months before their report was available.

What the Auditors Recommend

John Geragosian is a State Auditor who reviewed the screening policies at Connecticut-based daycare centers. He believes that applicants should have to wait until their background reports are reviewed and approved before they're authorized to work with children. Geragosian expressed concern that people with serious criminal histories could have unsupervised time with minors.

The recent audit wasn't the first time these concerns were voiced. Geragosian wrote about this several times following previous audits. This situation was also brought up in the Annual Reports to the Connecticut General Assembly and even referenced in proposed legislation.

A recent bill included this statement: "No such prospective employee shall have unsupervised access to children in the childcare center or group child care home until such comprehensive background is completed and the Commissioner of Early Childhood permits such prospective employee to work in such childcare center or group childcare home." That bill, however, did not pass.

The Need for Workers

Catherine Ferraro runs a childcare center in Connecticut. She was surprised by the length of time it takes to complete a background investigation on potential workers. Ferraro also discussed an ongoing need for workers in that industry.

According to Ferraro, new workers are needed immediately. The people who run these facilities cannot wait more than 100 days for a background check to be processed. Which prompts the question - why do these screenings take so long?

A potential explanation is that the Connecticut childcare system does not have a standardized method for screening candidates. Applicants go through three different screenings that are conducted by separate agencies. Collecting and compiling the results of all three, it seems, can be a lengthy process.

Potential Solutions

The people who run daycare centers in CT are trying to create internal solutions. One option is to have each facility run a criminal background check on potential employees. This would allow them to see if an applicant has a relevant conviction before making a final hiring decision.

The state might be able to help as well. A recently proposed bill includes language that says no person will be allowed to have unsupervised access to children at any daycare of similar facility until their background check is reviewed. People could still be hired at locations that provide child care, but hey would not be left alone with minors until they were screened and cleared.

Another section of the bill calls for ongoing screenings for all daycare workers. Anyone who works at a facility would be asked to approve a background investigation every five years. This would allow facility managers to find out if someone who works for them incurs a new criminal conviction of which they should be aware.

The Background Screening Process

Most background checks take 3 to 5 days to complete. These reports show employers if an applicant has reportable criminal convictions and contain facts that help hiring manager make informed decisions. Annual or recurring screenings are useful for existing employees. They are used to confirm whether or not current staff members remain eligible for employment.

If you have questions about background checks or the screening process, please contact us for assistance. We're here Monday – Friday from 5am to 5pm PT and ready to help.