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KEEP YOUR MINISTRY SAFE AND SECURE WITH
Shepherd’s Watch Background ChecksTM
In today’s challenging environment, it’s critical to take steps to protect those in your church’s care. Properly screening your staff and volunteers is an important step in that process!
With your Shepherd’s Watch® Membership, you and your entire team have access to:
- Discounted pricing on reliable, federally approved church background checks— starting at only $12!
- Safety training videos, helpful forms and articles, plus more church security resources
- Insightful monthly church safety newsletter
- Convenient and secure online E-Invite system
- Great customer service
Thank you for considering Group's Shepherd’s Watch Background ChecksTM for your church background check needs. We love the local church and have specialized in serving ministries such as yours for over 44 years. We understand the unique challenges that churches are facing today, and look forward to partnering with you in keeping your church safe.
About
With Shepherd’s Watch®
You Can Count On:
Federally Compliant background checks (FCRA) from a trusted source.
Free Reverification on all criminal records.
Free E-Invite
permission form.
Integration with church management systems.
Automatic Invoicing for reports ordered. (You can choose to be invoiced or pay with a credit card!)
No Hidden Fees Check out our packages below for pricing.
Customer Service representatives familiar with church volunteer screening.
Our background check provider will re-verify (double-check) any criminal record hits from the national database AT NO COST before a report is sent to you, ensuring you are compliant with FCRA (Federal Credit Report Act). This is done with each hit found on a background check, but is not an ongoing process.
We got rid of the hassle of filling out paper forms, doing data entry, and the headache of storing paper consent forms in a secure place. You can now send your prospects and volunteers an easy electronic invite that includes an online consent form. This allows for volunteers to submit their own information and e-sign the release form, avoiding unnecessary personal data exposure and making it easier on you.
Shepherd’s Watch allows you to integrate your background check reports in your church management system, keeping all important information in one place. (Currently integrated with Fellowship Technologies/Active Network, and CCB.)
You can choose to be invoiced or pay with a credit card!
It’s easy to get started:
Purchase your Shepherd’s Watch® Lifetime Membership — one-time fee; no annual costs!
Activate your Shepherd’s Watch® account with our expert background check partner, Clear Investigative Advantage.
Choose from the background check packages below for each person you're screening. Use the E-Invite permissions form to keep the process confidential and secure.
Background checks are usually available to view online within 24 to 48 hours during the business week.
Program Options
Choose the Shepherd’s Watch® Membership that’s right for you
Fees are a one-time setup cost. No annual fees.
Church
$29.99
(One-Time Fee)
-
Monthly Safety Newsletter
Covering topics such as...how to avoid and spot child sexual abuse and safety basics for children, youth, and at-risk adults. -
Videos for Volunteer Safety Training
Send these videos out to your team! -
Articles and Forms
Use these articles and forms for your staff and volunteers. -
Special Pricing on Expert Background Checks
Background checks not included in membership fee. -
Convenient online E-Invite system
Keeps information confidential and paperless at no added cost.
Premium
$79.99
(One-Time Fee)
-
Monthly Safety Newsletter
Covering topics such as...how to avoid and spot child sexual abuse and safety basics for children, youth, and at-risk adults. -
Videos for Volunteer Safety Training
Send these videos out to your team! -
Articles and Forms
Use these articles and forms for your staff and volunteers. -
Special Pricing on Expert Background Checks
Background checks not included in membership fee. -
Convenient online E-Invite system
Keeps information confidential and paperless at no added cost. -
Spiritual Gifts Discovery Tool Online Gifts Discovery
This easy-to-use online assessment tool allows your entire church to discover their own spiritual gifts and better understand how God has uniquely wired them to serve. learn more »
Questions?
Whether you are considering Shepherd’s Watch or are already an existing member contact us at info@group.com or call 1-800-447-1070
Reliable, Affordable, and Easy to Use
Background Check Packages
Report Options |
Basic Starter$12 |
Basic Plus$26 |
Vehicle Plus$26 |
All-Inclusive$39 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
?Identity Verification |
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?Criminal Database Search |
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?Sex Offender Registry Search |
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?One County Court Record Search* |
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?Motor Vehicle Record* |
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| Sample | Sample | Sample | Sample |
*MVR not available in PA.
*New York charges a $95 fee for a county court search.
Our background check partner takes steps to ensure the confidentiality and security of the personal data submitted by applicants, including encryption methods.
Questions?
Whether you are considering Shepherd’s Watch or are already an existing member contact us at info@group.com or call 1-800-447-1070
Identity Verification
Our background check partner verifies personal identifying information provided on an application such as name, current address, Social Security Number, and previous addresses or aliases in order to establish a person’s unique identity and to help ensure the applicant represents him or herself truthfully. Our background check provider facilitates comprehensive criminal record searches by automatically matching the applicant’s current and previous addresses with the appropriate counties and federal jurisdictions.
Criminal Database Search
The national criminal database search comprises a search of the Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, Administrative Office of the Courts, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Department of Criminal Justice files and records, where available. Criminal records surfaced from the data search are verified for accuracy.
Sex Offender Registry Search
Our background checks go a step further with a review and check of the list of registered sex offenders.
One County Court Record Search
The county criminal court check uncovers court records at the county level, including felony and misdemeanor records from the upper and lower courts if both are located at the same address.
Motor Vehicle Record
Check to see if your candidate has a valid driver’s license and a clean driving history. (This report is not available in PA.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Background checks can reveal red flags for behaviors you need to know about. And should any sort of litigation ever emerge against your organization, you must show your due diligence in screening candidates, employees, and volunteers with church background checks.
A number of industries—especially those that require the handling of other people’s personal and private information—require background screenings. These include the home healthcare, financial, and education industries among others. But even if your organization does not operate in or provide services to these industries, there are still enough crucial reasons to run them. Many insurance companies do require that church background checks be performed when dealing with children, youth, and at-risk adults regardless of the law.
Yes, you do. If you want to order and review any kind of church background check in order to determine somebody’s eligibility, you must ask their permission. We make this easy with an electronic consent/order form. We also provide a version you can print out.
You need the candidate’s full legal name (first name, middle names, and last name), full date of birth, and Social Security number. The Social Security number is used to verify the identity of the person being checked. A driver’s license number is needed to run a motor vehicle report.
The best option is to run a comprehensive background screening on your employees and volunteers at the point of hire and check annually after that. Hiring someone doesn’t mean that he or she won’t commit a crime in the future. Without a periodic check, you have no way of knowing if someone has been convicted unless the information is volunteered. It is important to check with your insurance company to see what they require.
If you intend to decline an employment applicant based on what was found in the church background screening, you need to provide the applicant with at least two notifications, commonly known as the pre-adverse and adverse action letter. For more information on the pre-adverse and adverse action letter CLICK HERE.
There are no monthly minimums, but we do ask churches to order at least one church background check a year in order to keep their account active.
It all depends on what type of report you run. In general, results can be received within 24 hours if the background check is clear. If a record is found, it will be verified before being reported to you. The verification process can take 1-3 business days.
Shepherd’s Watch: Safe and Secure Church Kit
Protect your congregation with a compassionate approach to church safety and security.
Your church doesn’t need to seem like an armed fortress to be safe. This comprehensive, ministry-focused kit helps you recruit, train, and equip a safety and security team that both protects and serves your congregation. Be ready for anything—from a medical problem to a catastrophic active-shooter situation.
Learn More