• A National Sex Offender Public Registry check
• EITHER a state criminal registry check OR an FBI fingerprint check
• After October 2011, programs must conduct all three checks on individuals serving vulnerable populations

Check with your program officer for CNCS current policy. You can learn more official information online:

• National Service Criminal History Checks
• VISTA-specific information

In a national service environment, it is helpful to let recruits know about the history checks ahead of time, as this will discourage "red flag" prospects from following through on their applications.

While VISTA conducts checks on candidates, it is often the responsibility of AmeriCorps state and national programs to run checks on their recruits. For programs running sex offender, state, and national checks, it is important to know:

• The process
• The timeframe
• What to expect and what you'll get
• Things that can go wrong

A resource on conducting criminal history checks is available to download as a Word document. The resource covers the four items listed above.

AmeriCorps state and national programs have additional considerations.

Also check out the Staff Screening Toolkit [PDF] developed by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. This toolkit provides a practical approach to screening paid and volunteer staff.

Go on to Making Decisions

• Develop a Recruitment Plan
• Identify Your Recruitment Needs
• Advertise and Market Your Position
• Screen and Place New Members
  • Screening Applicants
  • Interviewing Applicants
  • Checking References
  • Conducting Background Checks
  • Making Decisions
• Prepare for New Members

A volunteer placement form allows volunteers, volunteer coordinators, and school staff to know the details and contact information of everyone involved in the recruitment and placement process. When developing your form consider how volunteer roles and responsibilities differ from member positions. This will help ensure clarity about positions within your organization. Volunteers may not be displaced by members.

This volunteer tool was contributed by Schools of Hope project (Madison, WI), a VISTA program that trains and coordinates academic tutors for low-income students and students of color in the primary grades to improve academic achievement.

A volunteer application allows you to secure the best volunteers for your program. You, members, and potential volunteers know exactly what is expected of them. When developing your application consider how volunteer roles and responsibilities differ from member positions. This will help ensure clarity about positions within your organization. Volunteers may not be displaced by members. This sample application will give you an understanding of a clear, well designed volunteer description. It includes confidentiality statements.

This volunteer tool was contributed by Schools of Hope project (Madison, WI), a VISTA program that trains and coordinates academic tutors for low-income students and students of color in the primary grades to improve academic achievement.

This easy-to-understand survey can be used as the springboard for discussions with departing members. It also is a way to track what members' plans are after service.

It was contributed by Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (Taos, NM), an AmeriCorps program that recognizes and engages the strengths and potential of youth through team service in the schools, the communities, and the landscapes of northern New Mexico.

Look at these resources for ideas on prompting reflection:

• Introduction to reflection
• Reflection activities
• End of year project
• Group reflection: The Council Process
• Group reflection: Group Reading
• Group reflection: Youth Resumes

Click play to hear Laura Firtel of Notre Dame AmeriCorps (Apopka, FL) discuss how reflection can impact retention and encourage members to serve another term.