Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Protect Children Using New ChoicePoint® VolunteerSelect

Boys & Girls Club of America
Monday, 22 April 2002

New Web-based service provides nonprofit organizations a low-cost way to screen volunteers who work with at-risk populations

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (B&GCA) announced it will make ChoicePoint VolunteerSelect, a Web-based background screening service, available to Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Boys & Girls Clubs in 25 cities participated in a pilot project to refine the service prior to making it widely available.

ChoicePoint (NYSE: CPS), the nation's leading provider of pre-employment and background checking services, developed VolunteerSelect to address the growing need to screen individuals who have access to vulnerable populations, such as children and the disabled. During the pilot, Boys & Girls Club pilot sites used the service to verify the backgrounds of more than 800 applicants before entrusting them with the care and mentorship of young people.

"Our partnership with ChoicePoint will provide local Boys & Girls Clubs fast access via computer to a number of databases, conducting exhaustive background checks to ensure every staff and volunteer is qualified to work with the children we serve," said Robbie Callaway, senior vice president, Government Relations. "We are committed to the safety and well being of Boys & Girls Club members and this partnership gives us state-of-the-art technology that can make a real difference."

"Screening volunteers is one of the most effective ways we can protect our children and others," explained Derek V. Smith, CEO and chairman of ChoicePoint. "We strongly believe that we have a duty to ensure information is used responsibly to help make society a safer place. Making sure nonprofit organizations have access to background screening tools is one of the ways we put that commitment into action."

Endorsed by the National Assembly of Health and Human Service Organizations, VolunteerSelect provides reasonably priced background screening to 501(c)(3) organizations that use volunteers to perform key tasks or work with children, frail seniors, and the physically or mentally disabled. Using VolunteerSelect nonprofit organizations can verify social security numbers to ensure applicants are who they claim to be, search ChoicePoint's proprietary National Criminal File for prior criminal convictions, and search sex offender registries in states where they are available. Motor vehicle records and county courthouse searches are also available as an optional search. The cost to screen each volunteer ranges from $1.50 to $6.50, depending on which public records are accessed in each state. Eligible organizations can learn about the program at www.volunteerselect.com.

About BGCA

Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 3,000 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 3.5 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," Clubs provide guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children six to 18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key programs emphasize character and leadership development, educational enhancement, career preparation, health and life skills, the arts, and sports, fitness and recreation. National headquarters is located in Atlanta.

About ChoicePoint

ChoicePoint (NYSE:CPS) is the leading provider of credential verification and identification services for making smarter decisions in today's fast-paced world, serving the information needs of business, government and individuals. ChoicePoint is committed to protecting personal privacy and promoting the responsible use of information to help create a safer world. For more information about ChoicePoint, visit the Company's Web site at www.choicepoint.net.

For more information, or to contact Boys & Girls Club of America, see their website at: www.bgca.org