The AmeriCorps application process requires a National Service Criminal History Check to ensure that community members with whom we work are protected - particularly children, individuals with disabilities, and individuals over 60 years old.
We will investigate for past sexual offenses and violent crimes, or crimes that would have a direct bearing on the service position.
The following will immediately disqualify an applicant for AmeriCorps service: murder conviction, sex offender conviction, refusal to undergo the criminal history process, and/or intentional misrepresentation or omission of criminal history.
The following could potentially disqualify an applicant for a position with the Appalachia CARES program and/or the selected service site: criminal charges within one year of applying or criminal history that has a direct bearing on service activities (as deemed by the Appalachia CARES program or the service site partner).
The National Service Criminal History Check will entail a National Sex Offender Registry check, a state of service check (Tennessee is included in the FBI check), a state of residence check (for applicants residing out of state at the time of application), and a fingerprint-based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) check. Repositories or vendors used to conduct the checks may include: Identogo, Fieldprint, Truescreen, and NSOPR.gov. All instructions and requirements will be provided by the Appalachia CARES program during the enrollment process, and the applicant is responsible for completing all components of the criminal history check by the deadline given. Additional background check requirements and/or enrollment requirements, such as drug tests, may be required by the service site and will be communicated to the member during the enrollment process.
National Service Criminal History Check results will be reviewed and adjudicated by program staff, and if necessary, the selected service site. Selection for service is contingent upon review of National Service Criminal History check component results. Applicants will be given a reasonable opportunity to review and challenge the accuracy of the results, and/or provide further explanation and documentation to dispute results. All components (including completion of the checks, results received, adjudication, and any disputes or further review resolved) must be completed and on file PRIOR to the member being cleared to serve. Applicants and sites will be notified in writing (email) when they are clear to start.