Safeguarding our young people is paramount for mentoring organizations. Beginning August 15, mentor screening will reach a new level of security with the launch of the SafetyNET Pilot Program. SafetyNET will give many mentoring organizations an opportunity, for the first time, to access FBI fingerprint background checks for prospective mentors. For those mentoring organizations that already have access, it should prove to be a faster, cheaper and easier way to obtain more thorough background checks.

"The launching of the SafetyNET pilot is extremely good news for mentoring organizations everywhere," notes Dr. Susan Weinberger, a member of MENTOR's Board of Directors and chair of MENTOR's Public Policy Council, which comprises 70 organizations involved in advocating for the mentoring movement. "Until now, mentoring organizations have had limited access to national background checks and often have had to rely on less comprehensive statewide checks. By making national background checks more accessible to mentoring organizations, and by streamlining the process, we can better protect our children by ensuring we connect them with safe, responsible, caring adults."

Sen. Biden (DE), Sen. Hatch (UT) and Rep. Sensenbrenner (WI) led the effort to include the pilot program as a key provision in the PROTECT Act, a child protection law that President Bush signed in May 2003. The program allots MENTOR, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the National Council of Youth Sports 33,333 national background checks each to distribute to their affiliate or member organizations. Mentoring programs from across the country can apply online to take part in the program. See the information at the bottom of the page about where to apply.

Through SafetyNET, mentoring organizations can request FBI fingerprint background checks on prospective mentors to determine whether those individuals have a criminal background. The FBI will send the criminal histories of prospective mentors to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for a "fitness determination." For more on the fitness determination, see the fact sheet and SafetyNET Manual available by clicking here.

The Department of Justice will use the results of the pilot program to study the weaknesses of the current national background check system and make recommendations for a workable, permanent solution.

Until a permanent solution is found, the pilot program represents a significant step forward in making national background checks available and affordable for all human service organizations – no matter in which state they are located. MENTOR will continue to move the issue forward until it is resolved. To apply to this program, or for the latest information, click here or email safetynet@mentoring.org.