If you are providing care for a family receiving subsidy assistance, please review the following questions and answers regarding fingerprint and background check requirements.
- Who must clear a background check and register with TrustLine?
- Home-based, license-exempt child care providers (including nannies, family, friends or neighbors) must clear a background check. If you provide child care for a family receiving subsidy assistance, you must clear a background check before you can begin receiving payment.
- As determined by the Department of Social Services, the child’s direct grandparent, aunt, or uncle (biologically or through marriage), does not have to get fingerprinted or clear a background check. This is the only exception.
- If a provider has any other relationship to the child (i.e., sibling, parent’s cousin, great grandparent, God parent, etc.), they must get fingerprinted and clear a background check.
- What is TrustLine?
- TrustLine is a database of in-home child care providers that have cleared criminal background checks in California. It is the only authorized screening program of in-home caregivers in the state with access to records at the California Department of Justice and the FBI.
- Why must providers register with TrustLine?
- The California Legislature created Trustline in 1987 to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing. All providers registered with TrustLine have cleared a background check. This means that they have no disqualifying criminal convictions or substantiated child abuse reports in California.
- What does TrustLine check for?
- TrustLine checks to see if an applicant has criminal convictions or substantiated child abuse reports in California
- Records from the CA Department of Justice, the Child Abuse Central Index of CA, and FBI Criminal History System will be reviewed.
- Are Live Scan, California Department of Social Services (CDSS), TrustLine, and Children’s Council of San Francisco all the same organization?
- No, each organization is separate and plays an individual role in the background check process and issuing of child care subsidy payment.
- Live Scan completes digital fingerprinting services.
- The applicant’s fingerprints are securely transmitted to CDSS – the government organization that oversees the background check investigation.
- TrustLine is the database that stores providers’ cleared background check information.
- Finally, Children’s Council enrolls providers, who have cleared background checks, into the subsidy system and issues monthly payments.
- Where can I get fingerprinted?
- Children’s Council has partnered with ID Solutions – Live Scan Fingerprinting located at 1315 17th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122 (between Irving St. & Judah St.). We strongly encourage providers to visit this location.
- Please call 1-888-585-3665 as soon as possible to schedule your fingerprinting appointment.
- I live outside of San Francisco, can I go to a different location?
- If you live outside of San Francisco, you can find your nearest fingerprinting location here. Call 1-800-315-4507 to schedule an appointment at a location that is convenient for you.
- What documents should I take to my fingerprinting appointment?
- Please bring your California ID, Driver’s License from any US state or territory, OR Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) and the TrustLine application to your appointment.
- Note: Passports are not accepted.
- I got fingerprinted, what is the next step?
- Please email your complete TrustLine/Livescan application to your assigned subsidy provider coordinator. This is a requirement.
- How long it will take to receive my background check results?
- Processing times vary for everyone. Receiving your results can range from 2 weeks to several months. Children’s Council does not have control over processing speed and does not have access to view background check details.
- If you have questions about the status of your background check, please call TrustLine at 1-800-822-8490. Be prepared to provide your California ID/Driver’s License number.
- What happens after my background check clears?
- Children’s Council will receive your result letter from TrustLine. If you already submitted all of the required documents, your assigned subsidy provider coordinator will finalize your approval.
- My background check result is “denied” or “closed”, what should I do?
- Children’s Council cannot pay providers if the result is “denied” or “closed” even if you have already started providing child care.
- If you agree with the “denied” or “closed” result, we will close your case and you will be ineligible for payment. If you disagree with the result, and want to appeal, please call 1-800-822-8490.
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