Sunday, March 14, 2004

How to keep your child safe

The Detroit News

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What to look for

* Does the organization conduct criminal background checks on coaches? If so, what information do the checks provide? Can parents conduct or request additional checks?

* Do coaches conduct meetings for parents to explain their program, teaching philosophy, team goals and safety procedures?

* Are coaches certified in first aid or CPR?

* Do coaches attend sexual-abuse awareness classes?

What to do

* Go to practices.

* Take your turn chaperoning away games and traveling with teams.

* Be alert to any unusual relationships between coaches and players. Don’t play detective — report any concerns to league officials.

* Talk frequently to your child about experiences and relationships with coaches.

Background checks

* The Michigan Public Sex Offender Registry of people convicted after October 1995; free to public; online at www.mipsor.state.mi.us.

* The Michigan Department of Corrections’ database of all active offenders; free to public at www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2.

* I-CHAT: The Michigan State Police database of felony convictions to 1929; open to public for $10 fee per search; online at mi-mall.michigan.gov/ichat.

* Rapsheets.com: Not available to general public; multistate searches for $1.50 for Little League and Pop Warner; $3-$4 for other youth leagues; no monthly fee for youth leagues; online at www.rapsheets.com.

* FBI: Not available to public; requires fingerprints from subject; must be forwarded through local police agency; can cost as much as $70 per check; online at www.fbi.gov.