Swearer Center for Public Service
Unaffiliated Swearer Center Students
All students engaging with the Rhode Island community must complete specific requirements prior to engagement and send their completed paperwork to their site supervisor/leader.
- For students working with Providence Public Schools (PPSD), please refer to the section below labeled "Background & Clearance Checks for PPSD."
- For students working with minors, but not with Providence Public Schools (PPSD), please refer to the section below labeled “General Requirements for Working with Minors.”
Background & Clearance Checks for PPSD
| Placement | Considerations | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| RI State Background Check Investigation | Any student over 18 engaging with minors or vulnerable populations must have a state background check (BCI). Students under 18, and/or do not have a government ID cannot receive the RI state background check. | The best way to obtain a RI State Background Check is to visit the Attorney General's Office at 4 Howard Avenue (in the Pastore Complex), Cranston, RI 02920. Please be sure to bring your government-issued ID (license, state ID, passport, etc.). The AG office can conduct your RI State BCI for ~$5.00 (processing fees bring it up to around $5.60), which can be paid by debit/credit card. They do not accept cash. |
| Mandated Reporter Training & Acknowledgment | All students engaging with minors must complete the training. PPSD requires volunteers engaging with minors to sign a form acknowledging their role under this state law. For the training to be considered complete, a score of 6 must be achieved. | Sign up for a student account on TopHat by using your Brown SSO credentials, and then complete the virtual Mandated Reporter training by scrolling through the PPT slides and answering questions. For the training to be considered complete, a score of 6 must be achieved. |
| PPSD Confidentiality Agreement | Review and signature of these agreement forms are required of students engaging with PPSD. | Sign and email the agreement forms to your site supervisor/site leader. |
| DCYF (Department of Children, Youth & Families) Clearance Check | Required by PPSD for all school volunteering (tutoring, etc.) | You can complete and pay for your DCYF Clearance request online here. |
General Requirements for Working with Minors
| Types of Clearance | Considerations | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| RI State Background Check Investigation | Any student over 18 engaging with minors or vulnerable populations must have a state background check (BCI). Students under 18, and/or do not have a government ID cannot receive the RI state background check. | The best way to obtain a RI State Background Check is to visit the Attorney General's Office at 4 Howard Avenue (in the Pastore Complex), Cranston, RI 02920. Please be sure to bring your government-issued ID (license, state ID, passport, etc.). The AG office can conduct your RI State BCI for ~$5.00 (processing fees bring it up to around $5.60), which can be paid by debit/credit card. They do not accept cash. |
| Mandated Reporter Training | All students engaging with minors must complete this training to understand their required Mandated Reporter role under state law. | Sign up for a student account on TopHat by using your Brown SSO credentials, and then complete the virtual Mandated Reporter training by scrolling through the PPT slides and answering question. For the training to be considered complete, a score of 6 must be achieved. |
Contact us
We are here to help with any questions you may have about this process. Contact swearer-operations@brown.edu with any questions.