57% of Denver child-welfare workers can't prove they passed background checks

More than half of Denver child-welfare caseworkers (57%) could not prove they had passed required background checks during a recent review.

This information was revealed in an audit report, published just this month.

“Those who protect our smallest citizens and our aging loved ones must be held to high standards, and that includes proof of background checks,” City Auditor Timothy O’Brien said.

In 2014, Congress voted to update the federal law for child care, the ‘Child Care and Development Block Grant’. This requires comprehensive background checks for child care providers.

According to that legislation, a comprehensive background check includes:

• State and federal criminal history check using the individual’s name
• State and federal criminal history check using the individual’s fingerprints
• Child abuse registry check (this may also be known as the Child Protection Index)
• Sex offender registry check

According to the Denver auditor’s report, there was confusion about who was responsible for making sure that new hires and promotions meet the requirements. There was also no clear policy about how and when these documents should be saved.

Denver Human Services director Don Mares said he is confident all caseworkers have passed a background check and these processes meet all federal and state requirements.

Officials have plans to improve background check documentation and staff training.