Title
Head Start Birth to Five Background Screening Policy
Description
Request the Community and Cultural Investment Subcommittee, which serves as the City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five Governing Board, to approve the Head Start Birth to Five Background Screening Policy.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
The Head Start Birth to Five Program has been mandated to establish a written policy identifying the process of documenting background screenings dates that must be approved by the Governing Board. This mandate is a result of an area of noncompliance identified during the Office of Head Start's program monitoring in January 2022.
The area of noncompliance stems from improper documentation of the initial date of the employee's background screening. In 2016, the Office of Head Start monitored the Head Start Birth to Five Program for initial background screening dates. All employees had documentation of the initial date in paper personnel files. In 2019, the Head Start Birth to Five Program adopted an electronic system for personnel files. When transferring information from the paper files to the electronic system, the initial background screening dates were not captured.
The Head Start Birth to Five Background Screening Policy (Attachment A) outlines how the initial background screening dates will be acquired, entry into the electronic system, and how the dates will be preserved.
The Head Start Birth to Five Program follows the City of Phoenix Human Resources Department's process for conducting background screenings, ensuring all candidates have a cleared background screening before being hired. The Head Start Birth to Five Quality Assurance team collaborated with the Human Resources Department to obtain all City of Phoenix Head Start Birth to Five employee's initial background screening dates, which have been entered into the electronic system.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Head Start Birth to Five Policy Council unanimously approved this item at its Oct. 17, 2022, meeting.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Gina Montes and the Human Services Department.