| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
American Camp Association
Public Relations
765-349-3317
pr@ACAcamps.org
www.ACAcamps.org
MARTINSVILLE, IN (July 7, 2008) — The
American Camp Association® (ACA) was
recently quoted in a Wall
Street Journal article that called attention to screening
practices at summer camps. ACA supports
the Wall Street Journal’s effort
to address this important issue. We urge
continued movement toward our position
on a critical matter: the need for government
to change its policies regarding Criminal
Background Checks for employees and volunteers
of youth serving organizations.
Currently, camps and other youth organizations
have virtually no access to the FBI’s
criminal database, the only truly national
biometric-based criminal background check
available. Organizations in 37
states are not able to access this vital
resource…and those that do often
have to wait too long for results.
ACA, in concert with other national organizations,
has consistently promoted the need for
a comprehensive federal biometric-based
criminal background checking system that
is reasonable in cost, timely in response,
uniform in availability to camps across
the country regardless of sponsorship,
and consistent in the information provided. The
WSJ article continues to move forward the
dialogue about these issues.
The American Camp Association works to
preserve, promote, and enhance the camp
experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp
programs ensure that children are provided
with a diversity of educational and developmentally
challenging learning opportunities. There
are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps that
meet up to 300 health and safety standards.
For more information about staff and
volunteer screening in the camp environment,
visit www.ACAcamps.org/publicpolicy or
contact ACA at pr@ACAcamps.org.
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