Scouting America and the Laurel Highlands Council require medical forms for all campers (adult and youth) and for some other non-camping activities. Medical forms are valid for one year but should be updated when needed. For most Pack activities, Parts A and B are sufficient. If Part C is required, advance notice will be provided. A copy of health insurance information is required for the Scouting America Annual Health and Medical Record to be considered complete. Please provide paper copies. Do not send confidential medical information via email.
Clearances and background checks are required for all Scouting America registered volunteers and for all adults before they can go camping overnight. They are not required just to attend meetings or to visit a family event such as Pinewood Derby. Additional background checks may be completed by Scouting America as part of the application process for registered adult leaders. Complete Safeguarding Youth Training before completing clearances and background checks.
Pennsylvania Act 153 of 2014 requires renewal of clearances and background checks every five years. Begin the renewal process no earlier than 3 months prior to expiration (or there may be a fee). Visit keepkidssafe.pa.gov for additional information. For more information about youth protection and clearances requirements from the Laurel Highlands Council of Scouting America, please visit https://lhcscouting.org/resources/youth-protection/.
You must submit four things to the Pack:
Safeguarding Youth Training certificate (formerly Youth Protection Training)
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
ONE of Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check OR Resident Volunteer Verification Form
Scouting America requires that all registered volunteers and all Cub Scout parents/guardians camping overnight must have up to date Safeguarding Youth Training (formerly Youth Protection Training, often abbreviated as SYT or YPT). SYT/YPT must be renewed yearly.
To take the training:
Sign in at my.Scouting.org
Click "Menu" then "My Training"
Click "Take Course" from your SYT status on the "My Training" page.
Complete all modules and associated quizzes. The total time to complete the training is approximately 90 minutes.
The system will email you your certificate within 24 hours of completion. Please send it to Pack 343 leadership. You can also obtain a copy of your certificate by visiting my.Scouting.org. Click “Menu” then “My Training.” Click on the printer icon on the right of the line indicating your SYT/YPT status. You can save or print the resulting certificate.
To find out more about Scouting America's Youth Protection policies and how to help Scouting keep your family safe, see the Parent’s Guide in any of the Cub Scouting or Scouts BSA handbooks, or go to https://www.scouting.org/training/youth-protection/.
Create an individual login ("Keystone ID") on the "Child Welfare Portal" at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home.
Answer the questions, including past addresses and household members.
Application Purpose: Volunteer Having Contact with Children
Agency Name: Boy Scouts - Laurel Highlands Council
Use your individual login (“Keystone ID”) to retrieve your certificate once you receive email notification that the review has completed. This could be within the same day of your submission, but may take up to two weeks.
Complete a “New Record Check” on the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website at https://epatch.pa.gov/.
Enter all required information.
Volunteer Organization Name: Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council
Volunteer Organization Telephone Number: 412-471-2927
Use the control number, your name, and the request date to “Check the status of a Record Check” and retrieve your certificate once you receive email notification that the review has completed. This could be within the same day of your submission, but may take up to six weeks.
If you have lived in Pennsylvania for at least the past 10 years:
Complete the Resident Volunteer Verification Form (https://lhcscouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/29204396_1_volunteer_verification-c3.pdf). You do not need to do the FBI check.
If you have lived somewhere other than Pennsylvania in the past 10 years:
Follow the instructions for the FBI check at the bottom of the Safeguarding Youth Resources page (https://lhcscouting.org/resources/safeguarding-youth/).
Expand the “PENNSYLVANIA CLEARANCES AND VERIFICATION FORMS” heading.
There is a fee associated with the FBI Criminal Background check that ranges between $25-$30.
You will need to submit fingerprints.
Results will come via postal mail. Please scan the results and submit to Pack leadership.
The FBI background check takes more time than the other clearances do. Please make sure to initiate the request well ahead of any activity that would require your FBI criminal background check results.