NEW Volunteer Clearance Policy

Policy for Manna volunteers

The Pennsylvania Act 153 Volunteer Compliance Policy applies to all adults (age 18 and older) applying for or holding an unpaid position as a volunteer at Manna on Main Street.

According to Pennsylvania Act 153, as of Aug. 25, 2015, all adult volunteers at Manna on Main Street are required to obtain the certifications listed prior to commencement of service.

Certifications apply to all current and/or potential volunteers having direct contact with minors because they provide care, supervision, guidance or control of children, or have routine interaction with minors at our facility or in Manna sponsored programs, activities or services at a different location and engaged in volunteer-based company business.

Examples of direct contact or routine interaction include, but are not limited to, training and/or working with volunteers under age 18, assisting with programs for children, supervision of minors during receptionist duty, etc.

Mandated by Pennsylvania Act 153, volunteers must renew all certifications every 60 months (5 years).

Please note that volunteer accounts will not be activated until all required clearances have been received. If you have sent in all three documents and have not been activated within 5-7 business days, please contact our Volunteer Director at meg@mannaonmain.org. 

Mandatory clearances

Prior to volunteering at Manna, please complete the following clearances.

1. Child Abuse History Clearance
2. PA State Police Criminal Background Check
3. FBI Clearance, select one of the following:
   1. If a PA resident for last 10 consecutive years, complete a Signed Affidavit swearing no record of disqualifying offences
   2. If a PA resident for less than 10 consecutive years, complete a FBI Fingerprint criminal history (Cost of FBI Fingerprint paid to Identogo is $21.25 and the Service Code is 1KG6ZJ)
4. Send all documents as attachments (preferably PDFs) by email to clearances@mannaonmain.org or fax to 215-855-8241. Manna cannot receive links to clearance documents.

NOTE: If you have trouble navigating any of the sites above, please contact that specific agency’s help desk for assistance.

Expectations of all volunteers

Under no circumstances will any volunteer who does not or refuses to comply with the PA Act 153 Volunteer Policy be permitted to volunteer at Manna.

Any volunteer whose clearances indicate status of conviction or named perpetrator of child abuse or any disqualifying offenses under 23 Pa.C.S.A. §6344(b), or Title 18 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes or equivalent crime in another state, territory or commonwealth or foreign nation will be immediately dismissed from volunteer service at Manna.

If, at any time during volunteer service at Manna, a volunteer is arrested for, convicted of, or named as perpetrator in a founded or indicated report of any aforementioned disqualifying offenses, he or she must provide the Volunteer Director and Work Skills Coordinator (or in his/her absence, the Executive Director) with written notice no later than 72 hours after the arrest, conviction or notification. Failure to do so within the required time is grounds for immediate dismissal from volunteer service.