Cost: FREE for volunteers!

Part One: Create a New Account and Get a Temporary Password

1. Go to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS/Public/Home.
2. On the website, under “Welcome to the Child Welfare Portal”, click “Create Individual Account.”
   Note: You will need an email address to create an account.
   Note: If you already have an account, click “Individual Login” to access your clearances or request updated clearances.
3. You will be taken to a new page titled “Create Keystone ID: General Information”. At the bottom of the page, click “Next.”
4. You will be taken to a page titled “Create Keystone ID: Profile Information”. You will be asked to create a “Keystone ID” which is your username. Complete all sections on this page, create your security questions and answer the question at the bottom of the page before clicking “Finish” at the bottom of the page.
5. An email with a temporary password will be sent to the email address you used to create an account.

Part Two: Create a Permanent Password for Your Account and Log In

1. Open your email inbox and locate the temporary password. Make sure to copy it
2. Return to https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS/Public/Home and under “Welcome to the Child Welfare Portal” click “Individual Login”.
3. Click “Access My Clearances.”
4. You will be taken to a page titled “Learn More” with information about using the website. At the bottom of the page, click “Continue” to move on.
5. You will be taken to a page with a login on the left side. Sign-in to your account by entering the Keystone ID (username) you created and the temporary password that was emailed to you.
   1. You will be asked to create a new password. This new password that you create will be your permanent password. Be sure to write it down!
6. You will be taken back to the Log-in page and asked to log-in again with your Keystone ID (username) and new permanent password. Log in using your Keystone ID (username) and the new permanent password you created.
7. Select “I have read, fully understand and agree to the My Child Welfare Account Terms and Conditions” and then click “Next.”

Part Three: Create and Complete an Application

1. Select “Create Clearance Application.”
2. On the “Application Purpose” page, select the first option, “Volunteer Having Contact with Children.”
   1. You will be prompted to choose a Volunteer Category from a dropdown menu. Choose “Other.”
   2. In “Agency Name,” write “School District of Philadelphia.”
3. Complete the application: fill in your personal information on the “Applicant Information” throughout the next several pages, clicking “Next” at the bottom of each page to continue forward.
4. On the “Application Summary” page, review your information to make sure it is correct, and then click “Next” at the bottom of the page.
5. On the “eSignature” page, select “no,” and then check off the box to affirm that the information you have included is correct. Write your name in the box that appears underneath the affirmation statement.
6. On the “Applicant Payment” page, select “no” and then click “Next” at the bottom of the page to submit your clearance application.
   Note: if you are still prompted to pay, this may be because you didn’t choose “Volunteer Having Contact with Children” in Step #14 or you have already received your child abuse clearance within the past 5 years.
7. You will receive an email confirming that your clearance application has been received. You will then receive an email notification of the clearance results within 14 days of this submission.

No Email? No Problem!

• Print and fill out a paper version of the clearance. Download here.
• Ask your Family Engagement Liaison for assistance.
• Come to our Parent and Family Resource Center at 440 N. Broad Street for assistance.

Questions? Need Assistance?

• For help with Child Abuse History Clearance, contact the Child Welfare Information Solution Help Center 1-877-343-0494

Cost: FREE for volunteers!
Access online: https://epatch.pa.gov

Directions:

1. Go to https://epatch.pa.gov
2. Click on “New Volunteer Record Check.”
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and check off the “Volunteer Acknowledgement Section” to indicate that you agree to the terms and conditions. Then click “Accept.”
4. Fill out the Personal Information section:
   1. For “Volunteer Organization Name,” write School District of Philadelphia.
   2. For “Volunteer Organization Telephone Number,” write 215-400-4180.
   3. Fill in the remaining boxes with your personal contact information. Once you finish, click “Next.”
5. Click “Proceed.”
6. Fill in the Record Check Request Form with your personal information. Please note: You are NOT required to include your Social Security Number, but doing so will allow you to receive your results more quickly.
7. Click “Enter This Request.”
8. Click “Finished.”
9. On the Record Check Request Review page, click “Submit.”
10. Once the page loads, click the number under “Control #” in order to retrieve a receipt of the Criminal History Clearance. It is recommended that you save or write down your ‘Control #’ for future reference and future access of your Criminal History Check.
11. Click the link that says “Certification Form.” Either print the form now or download it as a PDF by clicking “Save.”

No Email? No Problem!

• Print and fill out a paper version of the clearance. Download here.
• Ask your Family Engagement Liaison for assistance.
• Come to our Parent and Family Resource Center at 440 N. Broad Street for assistance.

Questions? Need Assistance?

• For help in completing the PA State Criminal History Check, contact the PATCH Helpdesk 1-888-783-7972

Choose ONE of the following based on whether you have lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 years:

1. If you have lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 years…
   • The volunteer must affirm their 10-year Pennsylvania residency by signing the Volunteer Affirmation sheet.
   • The FBI Criminal History Background Check is NOT required if the volunteer has been a resident of Pennsylvania for the past ten years and swears or affirms that they have not been convicted of a prohibited offense listed in existing law or a similar offense in another jurisdiction.
   • Download the Volunteer Affirmation sheet
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2. If you have NOT lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 years…

FBI Criminal History Background Check with Fingerprinting

Cost: $23.25

First, you are required to pre-enroll with IdentoGo. Before you go to an IdentoGo site to get your fingerprinting done, you must pre-enroll via their website.

To Pre-Enroll for your FBI Fingerprint Clearance on the IdentoGo website:

1. 1. Click here to go to the IdentoGo website.
   2. You will be prompted to enter a Service Code to get started. Enter code 1KG6ZJ, which indicates that you are being fingerprinted for volunteering in the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Click on “Schedule or Manage Appointment.”
   3. Click “Yes” to acknowledge that you are getting fingerprinted in order to volunteer and not for employment purposes.
   4. Fill in your Essential Information, Additional Information, Citizenship Information, Personal Questions, Personal Information, Mailing Address, and Documents.

Once you are done pre-enrolling, you must find an IdentoGo site and schedule a time to get your fingerprinting done.

1. 1. After you have finished successfully pre-enrolling, you must schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted at one of the IdentoGo sites. Click here to search for sites.
   2. For your appointment, make sure to bring the necessary identification to confirm your identity and a form of payment. IdentoGo locations accept business checks, money orders, or credit card.

For more information about the transition visit the Digital Fingerprint & Electronic Criminal Background Check Services Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

For more information about the registration and fingerprint process visit the PA Department of Education’s Federal Criminal History Background Check page.

Questions? Need Assistance?

The School District of Philadelphia is not involved in the fingerprinting process. If you have questions, please contact IdentoGo at (844) 321-2101 or the Pennsylvania Department of Education at (717) 783-3750.

On October 31, 2022, the Department of Human Services (DHS) began offering the ability for an applicant to receive their FBI results electronically. This opportunity is only available for applicants who are determined to be eligible and who do not have a record. Because of this process, modifications were made to the result letter. Specifically the acronym “FBI” and the reference to “fingerprint” were removed as dissemination of protected FBI information via email is prohibited. By removing these two items from the result letter it no longer contains any criminal justice information (CJI) which is protected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security policy. It is of utmost importance that an applicant’s CJI remains confidential and protected.

For more information Click Here.

1. Complete the Volunteer Orientation within 45 days of starting your volunteer work.
   Note: This requirement also applies to returning volunteers who have not previously completed an orientation.
2. Choose your orientation method(The orientation session lasts approximately 45 minutes):
   • Online: Participate in our virtual Volunteer Orientation webinar. – After watching the orientation video, click the provided button to take the quiz and affirm that you have watched the entire video before receiving your certificate.
   • In-person: Attend an orientation session provided at schools by Family Engagement Liaisons.
3. After the orientation, take a short quiz to assess your understanding.
4. Upon passing the quiz, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.