USA TRACK AND FIELD NEW JERSEY ASSOCIATION
BACKGROUND SCREENING PROGRAM

Background Info
USA Track & Field is following the lead of other youth-based organizations in implementing a criminal background screening program on youth coaches and volunteers.  In 2005, USA Track & Field voted to implement a voluntarily criminal background screening program on youth coaches and volunteers for the year of 2006.  In 2007 criminal background screening became mandatory for all youth coaches and volunteers who are members of USA Track & Field.
 
Purpose
USATF requires all Associations to implement and maintain a background screening program.  Background screening has been implemented by USATF to promote a safe, nurturing and supportive athletic environment in which youth athletes can pursue their athletic goals.  Moreover, to prevent the sport of track & field from becoming a hostile environment for those who would seek to harm youth athletes.  Please note that the screening is not intended to serve as a pre-employment background screening program.

Program Guidelines
The TC logiQ program is designed to:

  1. Protect the confidentiality of information and the privacy of USA Track & Field members.
  2. Review a members screening against the criteria established by USA Track & Field.
  3. Provide those members who have been screened with an opportunity to challenge incorrect information found in the screening process before a result is forwarded to USA Track & Field.
  4. Forward any results that fail to meet USATF background screening criteria and any action in those failed instances to USA Track & Field General Counsel for additional investigation and to be given a final decision.  

The background screening performed on the members is based on the members’ name, date of birth, address history and social security number.

Cost
The total cost for the background screen is $18.  However, the USATF National Office is providing a credit to all USATF members up to $10.  Therefore, the cost to USATF members is only $8.  This $8 fee will be paid to TC logiQ by the USATF member at the time that he/she goes online to initiate a background screen. TC logiQ will accept payment through the popular online payment service Authorized.Net.

Members Required to be Screened

    1. All USA Track & Field youth coach members, prospective youth coach members and volunteers.  

Screening Criteria for Membership Eligibility
The screening criteria that will be utilized to evaluate background screens are as follows:

  1. any crimes against children
  2. any sexual offenses
  3. drug convictions (within 5 years)
  4. weapons violations
  5. assaults, battery or any other crime of violence
  6. lewd conduct

Frequency of Screening
USA Track & Field members who are subject to screening will be required to be screened on an annual basis.   

Screening Provider
After conducting an extended search, USATF New Jersey Association selected TC logiQ, Inc. as its background screening provider. TC logiQ is a specialty consulting firm that provides professional employment services in the area of pre-employment and volunteer screening. More information about this Colorado Springs company is available on their website at www.tclogiq.com.  

Process

  1. The individual subject to screening must go online to USATF New Jersey Association website to initiate and pay for a USATF Background Screen. Upon entering USATF New Jersey Association website, the individual (hereinafter “Applicant”) will click on the background screening link to start the background screening process. This link will take the Applicant to a greeting page that outlines a few instructions for the Applicant before he/she begin the process.  Next, the Applicant will click on the “Click Here To Begin Background Screening Process” link.  Upon clicking on the link, the Applicant will be directed to the next page where he/she will be asked to create an account. This is the first step out of five steps (hereinafter the steps will be referred to as “Screen 1 - 5”).

“Screen 1” – The Applicant will create a username and password, and input his/her email address.  After the Applicant clicks on the save and continue button an email will be generated to the Applicant and the email will include his/her username and password in case the Applicant is unable to complete the screening application for some reason. Then, he/she can log back-in and return to the screen where he/she left-off.

“Screen 2” – On the second screen the Applicant will be directed to USATF New Jersey Association Screening Application. The Applicant will be asked to provide the following information:

    Legal First Name                                  Email Address
    Preferred First Name                            Club Name
    Middle Name                                       USATF Membership ID#
    Last Name                                           Birth Date
    Suffix                                                    U.S. Citizen (Yes/No)
    Maiden Name                                      Gender
    Street Address                                     Height
    City, State, Zip Code                            Eye Color
    Home Phone Number                           Race   
    Cell Phone Number                              Counties/States/Countries lived in
        since age of 18

The Applicant will also be asked to disclose any previous arrests or convictions.  In addition, the Applicant will receive another automatic email notification from TC logiQ.  In this email, the Applicant’s username and password will be displayed again so that he/she can check the status of the background screening through TC logiQ website. The email will also describe the process and other related information about the background screening.

“Screen 3” – On the third screen, the Applicant will be asked to verify the accuracy of the information that he/she inputted on the previous screen shot. If the information was inputted incorrectly, then, the Applicant can edit this information by clicking on the “make change button” located at the bottom on the screen.  

“Screen 4” – On this screen, the Applicant will enter his/her payment information.  TC logiQ uses Authorize.net as a third-party vendor to transfer electronic payments securely.   After the Applicant submits his/her credit card information, the Applicant is asked to verify the information before proceeding to the next page. 

“Screen 5” – On the fifth screen, the Applicant will be asked to execute the credit card payment and initiate the background screening search by clicking the button below the page.  This page will also display the Applicant credit card information along with his/her personal information.  There are instructions listed on this page describing the timeline for the background screening process. After the Applicant clicks on the button to execute his/her payment and initiate the background screening he/she will be directed to a thank you page. 

If a member is uncomfortable with submitting their credit card information over the internet there is a manual screening process that has been established for this purpose.  However, there will be an additional cost involved with this manual screening process.  Please Click here for more information on the Manual Process.

“Screen 6” – The sixth and final screen displays what the Applicant’s web-interface will look like.  Only the Applicant has access to this interface, unless the Applicant gives his/her username and password to someone.  This screen allows the Applicant an opportunity to check the status of his/her screening.


Review & Appeals Process
In the event that a background screening returns information that the member believes is not accurate, he or she will have the opportunity to dispute that information with “TC logiQ.” To protect the member confidentiality and allow due process, this opportunity will precede any communication of information to USA Track & Field.

In addition, there will be a hearing process available before a national review panel should the member choose to challenge a negative finding on his/her screening.

Information Management and Exchange
This program places the responsibility for information management and retention on the screening provider.  Except in those few instances where a member’s background screen returns information that makes him or her ineligible for approval and he/she then chooses to appeal the decision, USA Track & Field will not be privy to or store the information returned in a members’ background screen.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and participation in the USATF Background Screening Program. Please remember that you must complete the screening process prior to any track meet after February 15th, 2007.  To facilitate the process and allow enough time, we strongly advise you to initiate the screening as soon as possible. 

Please direct any questions that you might have about the program to janehp3@msn.com. Best wishes for a very successful 2008 track and field year!