Background Clearance Portal

Why is this so involved?

Because you may be interpreting for children and youth in ACS's care (including foster-care settings and detention facilities), ACS is legally required to screen everyone in direct contact with their clients. The forms below are comprehensive because they feed multiple state and federal screening systems — not just a single background check.

Two clearances are available

• SCR clearance — required for everyone. It's a NY State Central Register database check for indicated reports of child abuse or maltreatment. No fingerprinting, no SSN. Covers VRI and most off-site assignments.
• Fingerprint clearance — only required if you'll be on-site at ACS facilities that house youth (DYFJ detention centers Crossroads or Horizon, or the ACS Children's Center), or regularly on-site at ACS offices. Adds a fingerprint-based criminal history check through NY DCJS and the FBI, plus a PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) attestation.

Everyone starts with SCR. You'll be asked about fingerprinting afterward.

Who reviews your answers

• ASLI staff first, to confirm the form is complete and readable
• NYC ACS Office of Human Resources, Compliance Division (Lauren McSwain, Director of Immigrant Services and Language Affairs)
• NY State Central Register, for the SCR check
• If fingerprinted: NY State DCJS, the FBI, and the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs

Your privacy

If you complete the fingerprint forms, your SSN is written onto the Justice Center consent form and immediately discarded — it is never saved to our database. All forms are emailed to interpreters@asli.com for internal review before being forwarded to ACS.

No cost to you. Only ASLI staff and the government agencies named above see your submission.