Child Abuse Clearances | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Keep Kids Safe Get a Clearance Suspect Abuse? Report it! Call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call ChildLine. Mandatory reporters can report online through the Child Welfare Information Solution (CWIS) system. Make the Call Report Online The Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) requires certain individuals to submit clearances in order to be employed, be a resource parent (foster or adoptive), or be a volunteer with children. The purpose for requiring clearances is to provide employers and those selecting volunteers with information to use as a part of a larger decision-making process when determining whether to hire someone as an employee or select them as a volunteer. Clearances are required for an employee or unpaid volunteer at a minimum of every 60 months from the date of the oldest clearance. Clearances may be required more frequently based on licensure or employer requirements. Agencies and organizations must ensure that clearances are obtained in accordance with the CPSL. The required clearances may include: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance (required for all employees and some volunteers) Clearances from other states Only a requirement for any prospective foster or adoptive parent who has resided outside of Pennsylvania in the last five (5) years. Effective March 2022, prospective foster and adoptive parents required to obtain an Out-of-State Child Abuse clearance are no longer required to submit the clearance to the Clearance Verification Unit for interpretation, if the clearance shows no result (or no record). Out-of-State Child Abuse clearances with ANY result or record, are required to be submitted to ChildLine for interpretation. If you have questions regarding this update, please contact 1-877-371-5422 Out of State Clearances Certified Child Care Only Verification Only a requirement for employees and volunteers of child day-care centers, group day-care homes or family child-care homes. Note: All Megan’s Law registrant information is submitted to the National Sex Offender Registry and is covered by the National Sex Offender Registry Check. The Consolidated Eligibility Letter System (CELS) National Sex Offender Registry Verification Pennsylvania State Police's Megan's Law website Pennsylvania State Police Website For further assistance related to clearances, please call the Clearance Verification Unit (CVU) at 1-877-371-5422 . Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. Disclosure Statements Disclosure Statement for Volunteers Disclosure Statement for Child Care Volunteers Disclosure Statement for Employment Disclosure Statement for Child Care Employment Effective: February 1, 2025 Who Needs Child Abuse Clearances? Child Care Providers Employees Having Contact with Children Foster/Adoptive Parents School Employees Governed by the Public School Code Volunteers Additional Resources Report Abuse Trainings Media Providers & Licensing The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), which is in part comprised of the Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.