AAU background check finds 150 adult participants with "issues"

The findings came from a screening of 27,000 adults between Sept. 1 and Oct. 15, the AAU said in a statement. It is performing security reviews on more than 100,000 coaches, adult athletes, volunteers and support staff to help identify those who might be threats to child athletes, including pedophiles and people convicted of drug-related offenses. “The steps that we have taken will safeguard children participating in amateur sports across the country,” AAU National President Henry Forrest said in the response. “It is our expectation that those involved in AAU programming share that philosophy, and the background checks provide an additional safeguard for our youth athletes.” In June, the AAU announced that it would conduct background checks, ban one-on-one contact between adults and youths and require volunteers and staff to report any suspected child abuse to law enforcement and AAU officials. Are background checks relevant to your organization? There are many reasons as to why organizations or employers would run background checks, but there are certainly four key arguments for their implementation – federal and state requirements, protection of vulnerable parties, ascertaining false information and protection from liability. In this instance, the primary justification would be to protect children, who are one of the most vulnerable sections of society. Under the federal National Child Protection Act, public organizations are allowed, and often required, to run background checks on people who will be working closely with the children within their organization. This not only protects the children, but also protects the organization from potential litigation. If you’re considering performing background checks within your business or organization, contact us today for information on implementing a background screening program tailored to your needs.]]>