Florida Jobs with the Vulnerable Get Background Check Review
State officials are making an effort to ensure that any workers with Florida jobs dealing with vulnerable people undergo background checks.
Gov. Charlie Crist recently announced his plan to convene some state agencies in charge of reviewing legal requirements for screening those who work in facilities that provide care to children, the elderly and those with disabilities.
Currently, only certain employees of some child daycare centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other residential care settings are required to pass criminal background checks before they are hired, leaving the chance that these places could potentially make costly and harmful hires.
"When it comes to the safety and security of Florida's vulnerable populations, we must make every effort to ensure that their professional caregivers do not have criminal histories," Crist said. "I want to thank the members of the media - and especially the South Florida Sun-Sentinel - for examining the current practice of background screening to ensure the safety of our most vulnerable individuals."
The selected agencies will get together to review the use of criminal background checks, the process for granting exemptions and the process that allows employees to begin working before a background check is completed.
The state agencies asked to participate include: