Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community and help people in need.

This article will go over the importance of volunteer background checks in Texas.

Why Do Volunteer Background Checks Matter?

Meet Joan, who loves to help children learn to read. She volunteers at a local elementary school three days a week.

We’d also like to introduce you to Darian, who enjoys coaching baseball. He volunteers in recreational youth sports. Darian likes sharing his favorite athletic activity with other people.

Joan and Darian may be donating their time to causes they love, but they still needed to complete a background check before they got started. This is because volunteer screening helps to keep communities safe. The process involves checking a potential volunteer’s:

• Criminal history
• Employment history
• References
• Other key information

These checks are especially important for volunteers working with vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and the disabled. Proper screening will prevent incidents of neglect or abuse.

Background checks are also an ideal way to protect the organizations that rely on volunteers. Hiring a volunteer with a troubling criminal history can damage your team's reputation and lead to a loss of trust in your community.

Finally, background checks can help you identify the people who might not make good volunteers. Those with a history of violent or other problematic behavior shouldn’t be around the people you serve. Having this information right off the bat can help you make more informed decisions.

Volunteer Background Checks for Texas Schools

Schools are a common place for volunteers to offer their services. Just think of Joan, who you met at the beginning of this article. Many adults find meaning in helping kids—but background checks are still essential. Texas state law, in fact, requires schools to pre-screen all volunteers who have direct contact with students. These include chaperones, classroom assistants, and even coaches.

Volunteer Background Checks for Texas Churches

Churches rely on volunteers just like schools do. While Texas churches aren’t legally required to conduct background checks, we highly recommend that church leaders prescreen their volunteers anyway. This will help protect all of the people who attend the church—and continue to build faith and trust in the organization.

Volunteer Background Checks for Texas Hospitals

Volunteers are an integral part of the healthcare system. Visit a hospital anywhere in the state, and you’ll find plenty of kindhearted people giving their time to patients in need. It’s important to note, however, that hospitals in Texas must conduct background checks on all volunteers who work with patients. This includes those who provide direct care, oversee transportation, or handle medications.

Volunteer Background Checks for Youth Sports

Remember Darian? He is proof that youth sports organizations are also a popular outlet for volunteers. In Texas, these organizations have to conduct background checks on everyone who works directly with children—including coaches, referees, and team managers.

Volunteer background checks are an essential tool. Texas companies should work with a trusted partner to guarantee a safe and positive experience for everyone involved.

Volunteer Screening in Texas

You want to do right by the people you serve. This means that nonprofit leaders and volunteer coordinators like you need to screen your potential volunteers.

At Redstar Backgrounds and DrugScreenKits.com, our team will help you through every step of this process. No matter your industry, we’ll craft the exact volunteer screening solution you need. Our services are comprehensive, compliant, and perfect for organizations in all Texas cities: from San Antonio and Austin, to Corpus Christi and Dallas.

Please contact us for details, or to set up a free consultation. For more information on our screening services here in Texas, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.