E. Determining who needs a background check

People who have care, control, and custody of youth, work in some research projects or in some other assignments that involve security sensitive equipment or data will need to have a finger-print-based background check before they can be appointed as a volunteer.

In general, if the volunteer will do any of these things, they will need a background check:

Work with youth or other vulnerable populations without supervision
Handle cash on behalf of The University of Arizona
Participate in some research projects
Have access to University records or systems with confidential information

Master Gardeners who work at school gardens are required to provide the complete background check packet.

This matrix, from the Arizona 4-H Policy and Procedure Manual, will help determine which 4-H adults need a background check.

	Certified 4-H Volunteers: University of Arizona Authorized Adults	Adults Providing Support: Adults who must be accompanied by at least one University of Arizona Authorized Adult at all times when in the presence of 4-H youth
Job Titles Possible	Club leader, Project Leader, Resource Participant	Accompanying Adults	Guest Presenters
Function	Leader: Club, Project	Parents, guardians, grandparents, siblings	Presenter, speaker, demonstrator, facilitator for a single presentation
Amount of Participation	Regular and consistent participation	Varies	Single time within a 4-H year
Level of Authority and Responsibility	Care, custody, and control of youth, line-of-sight supervision	Always accompanied by a UA Authorized Adult when in the presence of youth	Always accompanied by a UA Authorized Adult when in the presence of youth
Level of Insurance Coverage	Limited Liability Coverage and Accident Insurance	None	None
Check National Sex Offender Registry for Clearance	Prior to background check	Prior to attending	Prior to attending
Fingerprint-based Background Check	Prior to certification	No	No
Complete Designated Campus Colleague (DCC) Process	Yes	No	No
Trainings	University and 4-H	None	None
Registration in 4HOnline	Yes, with leadership role	Yes, without leadership role	Register on club attendance sheet and notify the UACE volunteer systems manager
Review	County faculty or program coordinator, at least annually	No	County and state staff at least annually to determine appropriate service/role/future registration and training
Annual Report	Submit	No	No

Detailed instructions for obtaining background checks are available for volunteers. Counties have access to funds to pay these fees.

An overview of the background check process in its entirety is available to staff and potential volunteers at one of these two sites:

4-H: https://extension.arizona.edu/become-4-h-volunteer, Step 2.
Master gardeners: https://extension.arizona.edu/become-master-gardener-volunteer-arizona Step 6.

Determining when an alternative to the DPS background check is permissible

Potential Volunteers who will work with youth and who live or work less than 30 miles from a Gemalto office will be required to get an Arizona Department of Public Safety Identity Verified Prints Level One Fingerprint card.

For Potential Volunteers who will work with youth and who live or work more than 30 miles from a FieldPrint office, provide them with two alternatives:

Travel to the Gemalto office and receive a background check card

Use the background check system of The University of Arizona which does not provide a card for use in other situations
Direct questions about alternatives to the DPS to gblumanhourst@arizona.edu.