Not to be Confused with Background Checks
Become a Champion for Children
While many, even most volunteers have good intentions, the fact is that some do not. And without background checks and supervision, those few adults who should not have trusted access to our children, are provided with all the opportunity they could hope for.
Over the past 7 years I have had cause to request meetings with coaches, association directors, high school principals, athletic directors and the RCMP. Going to youth basketball events is a source of inner turmoil for me. I want my kids to enjoy the sport, and I want them to be accepted in the community. But, I also want them to be safe and unfortunately,
basketball in Nova Scotia is not safe.
That’s a bold statement. And when I make a statement like that, I want to be sure that it is true.
When I spoke with University of Kings College journalism student, Alix Bruch, I knew that I would be leaving it up to her to convey my message accurately. I regretted that I rambled and vented so much, with a focus on gender inequality. Having had so many frustrating interactions through basketball in Nova Scotia, I found it difficult to focus on one particular element.
Fortunately, Bruch was able to cut through my list of concerns and complaints to hone in on the critical fact that needs to be exposed: background checks are not enforced in basketball in Nova Scotia.
I was thrilled to read her article when it was published on January 17, 2020. Despite my misdirected rambling, she cut to the critical issue, and I discovered that other adults are also concerned.
When I read Bruch’s headline, I felt satisfied. It is encouraging to see other adults alerting the community to gaps in safety. But when I finished scanning the article I thought to myself, “Oh no. (insert mild stomach drop). Was I quoted saying something that is not entirely true?”
I was thinking of the quote that Bruch attributed to me about local basketball associations,
A memory flashed in my mind. I overheard the coach of my daughter’s Acadia Minor team telling a newly volunteered dad that he should bring in his police record check and child abuse registry paperwork.
And suddenly I was filled with uncertainty. Does this mean that I do know of an association that requires a background check? Was my statement true?
My partner and fact checker noticed the same sentence and asked me about it.
‘Is that really true?’
We’ve had our kids involved in 6 different basketball associations over the years. Was I really certain that I don’t know of any association that requires background checks?
What could I do about this anyway? Nothing really, so I only let my concern fester a little bit until I read through the article again, more thoroughly, and realized my mistake.
It's not what you might think.
My statement is true.
I have not seen evidence that any local basketball associations are conducting background checks.
So why was I feeling uncertain about my certainty?
Because I made a mistake that can easily be made.
For a moment, while reading Bruch’s article,
I confused Police Record Checks with Background Checks.
They are not the same thing. Even though I know this, I still blurred them together on my first read through the article.
A Police Record Check (PRC) is one small piece of a background check. In addition to the PRC and Child Abuse Registry check (CAR), a background check includes an application, contacting references, and an interview. And presumably it would start with a job description.
A police record check should be mandatory, but it cannot stand alone as a background check. Not if you want to protect children from sexual abuse.
This glitch in my thinking made me wonder, how many other people make the same mistake I made?
And do they know that they are blurring two separate things into one?
When you think of an organization that insists on police record checks, would you have called that a background check?
Do you work or volunteer with an organization that only requires police record checks?
Or, are you part of an organization that does complete background checks including reference checks and interviews?
Proper screening and complete background checks helps to prevent known offenders from accessing children through your organization. Complete background checks send a message to potential perpetrators that lets them know that you are prepared to protect children.
Is your screening process up to date with current best practices? Schedule a Walk the Talk with Priority Kids and we will work with you to implement or improve your organization’s child protective practices.
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If the content of this article causes you distress or discomfort, please seek support.
Where to get help in Nova Scotia
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868