Background Checks

This afternoon I have an interview for a therapeutic staff support position. It sounds like a really interesting gig, combining teaching (I have some experience in this field), special education (which I have peripheral experience in), and mental health (I have some experience in this field, too). Essentially, the position would entail my providing behavioral modification support to children who (from what I understand) have to cope with learning disabilities, ADHD/ADD, autism, etc. It's a contract position, which means no health insurance, and taxes aren't taken out of whatever I'd earn, nor are contracts guaranteed, but it sounds like interesting work that I could do well.

But this being an overlapping field of education, health care, and mental health, there are a lot of background checks involved. In order to complete my application packet, the following credentials are required:

• PA Criminal Clearance ($10)
• PA Child Abuse Clearance ($10)
• FBI Clearance - Cogent Fingerprint ($38.50) - must be Dept. of Education, not DPW
• CPR/FA - must be child and adult (if training is needed: cost $55)
• Training for TSS ($20)
• Physical/PPD
• Evaluated college degree and official transcripts
• References (3)

I guess one of the reasons one jumps through so many hoops is to filter out the folks who aren't as serious about this type of work. It's not that big a hassle to get the clearances - it just takes a bit of time - but I could see how people would be turned off on choosing a career in any of these fields, based on the necessary paperwork alone.