Swearer Center for Public Service

Unaffiliated Swearer Center Students

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Unaffiliated Swearer Center Students

Engaging in the Rhode Island community? Review the information below that corresponds to your community site work.

All students engaging with the Rhode Island community must complete specific requirements. Please find the instructions for your situation below.

  • 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."

You can complete this process on your own by following the instructions provided in your specific section.

Background & Clearance Checksfor PPSD

PlacementConsiderationsInstructions
RI State Background Check InvestigationAny 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 & AcknowledgmentAll 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 CheckRequired by PPSD for all school volunteering (tutoring, etc.)You can complete and pay for your DCYF Clearance request online here. 
What is the RI State Background Check?What does it look for?
  1. The RI State background check is a criminal history check performed using a person’s name and date of birth.
  2. The scope of the check is only in the state of Rhode Island. It will not indicate if a person has an out-of-state criminal offense.
  • Jurisdiction where record is recorded
  • Case number
  • Defendant
  • Charge
  • Filing date
  • Degree of offense (ex. misdemeanor)
  • Disposition and date
  • Sentence

Rhode Island State Background Checks are required for students who will engage with minors (under the age of 18) and/or vulnerable populations through organizations that require this type of check.

What is a Mandated Reporter?What do volunteers look for?
All persons in Rhode Island are required by law (RIGL §40-11-3) to report known or suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect to the Department of Children, Youth and Families within 24 hours of becoming aware of such abuse/neglect.
  • Physical Abuse
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Physical Endangerment
  • Improper ethical guidance
  • Lack of supervision
  • Medical abuse
  • Deprivation of basic needs
  • Educational neglect
  • Emotional conflict
  • Psychological neglect

Any individual engaging with minors under the age of 18 is required to complete a virtual Mandated Reporter training on TopHat, the Swearer Center's e-learning platform.

  • For the training to be considered complete, a score of 6 must be achieved.
  • The Swearer Center maintains a list of students who have completed this virtual training for compliance tracking purposes.
  • While we invite students to review the training each year, it must only be completed once during a student's tenure at Brown.

All students planning to engage with the Providence Public School District (PPSD) must review and sign these acknowledgment forms. The agreements dictate that volunteers will protect confidential student and employee information protected by, but not limited to, FERPA and HIPAA.
PPSD Policies and Acknowledgment Forms

What is the DCYF Clearance Check?What does it look for?
  1. The DCYF Clearance Check uses a person’s name, date of birth and address.
  2. The scope of the check is only through the RI DCYF database and records within the state of Rhode Island. It will not indicate if a person has an out-of-state criminal offense.
  • House of Child welfare check
  • Convictions of sex offense with children in RI
  • Child abuse
  • Child neglect 

General Requirements for Working with Minors

Types of ClearanceConsiderationsInstructions
RI State Background Check InvestigationAny 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 TrainingAll 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.

What is the RI State Background Check?What does it look for?
  1. The RI State background check is a criminal history check performed using a person’s name and date of birth.
  2. The scope of the check is only in the state of Rhode Island. It will not indicate if a person has an out-of-state criminal offense.
  • Jurisdiction where record is recorded
  • Case number
  • Defendant
  • Charge
  • Filing date
  • Degree of offense (ex. misdemeanor)
  • Disposition and date
  • Sentence

Rhode Island State Background Checks are required for students who will engage with minors (under the age of 18) and/or vulnerable populations through organizations that require this type of check.

What is a Mandated Reporter?What do volunteers look for?
All persons in Rhode Island are required by law (RIGL §40-11-3) to report known or suspected cases of child abuse and/or neglect to the Department of Children, Youth and Families within 24 hours of becoming aware of such abuse/neglect.
  • Physical Abuse
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Physical Endangerment
  • Improper ethical guidance
  • Lack of supervision
  • Medical abuse
  • Deprivation of basic needs
  • Educational neglect
  • Emotional conflict
  • Psychological neglect

Any individual engaging with minors under the age of 18 is required to complete a virtual Mandated Reporter training on TopHat, the Swearer Center's e-learning platform.

  • For the training to be considered complete, a score of 6 must be achieved.
  • The Swearer Center maintains a list of students who have completed this virtual training for compliance tracking purposes.
  • While we invite students to review the training each year, it must only be completed once during a student's tenure at Brown.

Contact us

We are here to help with any questions you may have about this process. Contact swearer-operations@brown.edu with any questions.