August 2020 - Parks & Recreation - 17

Member Beneﬁt:
Background Screening
Best Practices
BIB and NRPA's partnership was created to help park
and recreation agencies do background screenings better. Here are a few things to keep in mind to help prevent risk:
How healthy is your data? Most information received by states is through county records. Ideally, the
information would be correct and complete; however,
in many cases the records are either missing data or
inaccurate. You'll need to assess what screening methods you are using to get the best data from every state
relevant to your applicants.
What is your background check costing you? Budgets are already lean, and not all background checks
are the same. Selecting background checks based on
the lowest cost can lead to a low-quality screen. The
best approach is to ask, " Are we getting the best quality screen for a fair price? " Also, NRPA members receive exclusive pricing on BIB's Secure Volunteer background screenings!
Are you getting the full story? Inaccuracies in reports can't provide the details you need when making
a hiring decision or preventing a dangerous person
from becoming a volunteer. When records are missing
or pertinent information from a record is lost, such as
final dispositions, it becomes challenging to make effective hiring decisions. Making sure you're getting the
best data possible from as many sources as possible ensures you're getting the full story.
What is the turnaround time? While the majority of
quality background checks are completed in less than 72
hours, most delays experienced are related to jurisdictions
being searched. For example, a court runner is physically
going to a courthouse. While this is a highly effective process, it can lead to longer turnaround times due to court
access hours, staff or technology available. It's important
for you to know of any jurisdictions you may be accessing
regularly that could drive common delays.
If you'd like more information on how your agency
can develop the best background screening methodology, visit www.bib.com. NRPA members will gain immediate peace of mind knowing that volunteers and
employees are well-vetted using some of the most powerful and advanced background checks available.

COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR
PARKS AND RECREATION

YOU are a HERO - Thank You
for Serving Your Communities
Park and recreation professionals everywhere
have stepped up to serve their communities
in unprecedented ways during the COVID-19
pandemic. NRPA is here to support you and
provide the most up-to-date resources related
to the COVID-19 pandemic. In our dedicated
resource center you can ﬁnd:
*

Printable infographics on how to use parks
safely

Continually updated guidance for parks and
recreation

Public policy updates and action alerts around
key legislation aﬀecting the ﬁeld

Examples of how park and recreation agencies
are responding to the pandemic

Guidance for managing a positive case of
COVID-19

Find all these resources at:
nrpa.org/Coronavirus

PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | AU G U S T 2 02 0 |

Parks & Recreation

August 2020 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2020 - Parks & Recreation