Safe Sanctuaries Background Checks
The North Alabama Conference Safe Sanctuaries Policy mandates that staff and volunteers who work with minors undergo a background check prior to serving and at least every three years after. For the purposes of Safe Sanctuary policy, background checks include a social security trace, a state background check, a national criminal check and sex offender check (instant criminal). To facilitate this process at both the Conference and the local church level, the North Alabama Conference has established an agreement with Global HR Research, formerly ESS, a Birmingham-located provider of background checks.
GHRR Branch Accounts for Churches/Ministries
The required method for churches to process background checks is using a branch account, which are available to any church or ministry in the North Alabama Conference at no additional cost. Branch accounts feature Conference pricing ($12.96 per background check for most individuals) and include the required background checks according to Safe Sanctuary policy. Churches with branch accounts receive their own login to GHRR's system, which can be used to send requests for background checks to applicants, manually enter details from paper forms, and receive and store the results of checks run on the branch account. In addition, branch accounts allow churches to consolidate billing for background checks by allowing individuals to pay for their own using a credit card or by billing the church on a monthly basis.
Please allow up to 3 business days (Monday through Thursday) for your account to be created.
For more information, or for questions about branch accounts, contact the Connectional Ministries Office at (205) 226-7963.
Changes to Branch Account Users
We will gladly process changes to users listed on a branch account. Please note that requested changes must be received from either an individual currently listed on the branch account as an administrator (using the email address listed in their user profile on the branch account) or clergy currently appointed to the church from their North Alabama Conference email address.
Did you know? Users on new branch accounts are set up as administrators for the branch and can add or edit users without contacting the Conference! To add or edit a user, log in to GHRR and visit the "User Info" section under the "My Account" tab.
Changes to Services on Branch Accounts
New branch accounts, by default, have access to the standard North Alabama Conference screening package, which includes a social security trace, State of Alabama criminal check, and national/multijurisdictional criminal check (including sex offender registries). However, additional checks, including credit and MVR checks, can be requested on a branch by contacting GHRR.
Submitting Background Check Consent Forms
All background check consent forms should be submitted directly to GHRR. Consent forms and other related items sent to the Conference office will not be accepted.
Processing Background Checks on Conference Account
The required method for completing background checks is to use a branch account. There is no charge for churches to establish a branch account, and doing so allows for faster and easier processing of background checks. Additionally, establishing a branch account ensures that results of checks are routed correctly and in a timely manner. Please see above for more details on establishing a branch account.
In limited circumstances, it may be possible to process a check using the master Conference account. If for some reason you are unable to establish a branch account, please contact Rev. John Fleischauer at john.fleischauer@umcna.org or (205) 226-7963. Note that a surcharge may be assessed for checks processed using the Conference account.
About GHRR
For many years, background checks have been provided for the Conference by Employment Screening Services (ESS), and that relationship has continued since their acquisition by Global HR Research in 2021. For more details, visit GHRR's website.