Youth Protection Policy

[rwanttaja]

Ron, all of your questions are covered in the policy. eaa.org/youthprotection Simply stated above is the fact that sexual molestation is not the only bad thing to happen to kids, so we are looking for things like felony battery charges in addition to sexual molestation. That kind of information would not show up on the sexual predator list, you need to do a criminal history check.

I realize you're on vacation, but maybe some of those still in the office can give us the specifics.

I downloaded the new policy and looked at it. For those interested, the parameters for disqualification are on Page 3.

http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/aviation-e...05f48e0d2.ashx

I noted that if one is rejected, you have the right to dispute the report.

This covers a couple of the items I brought up, thank you.

However, I'd still like to know what, exactly is provided to EAA by the company performing the investigation. I notice the updated policy states that the background check is "a criminal and employment history report."

Employment History Report? The only thing I see in the Disqualifying Criteria list related to employment is, "Were previously terminated from a paid or volunteer position because of misconduct with a youth." Seems reasonable...but not something a previous employers tend talk about, without a definitive legal case to point at.

A little more disquieting, I did a Google search for "Employment History Report", and found this definition:

"An Employment History Check is an attempt to contact previous employers to verify job title, dates of employment, salary, and eligibility for rehire."

Does the investigating company gather that information? Is our salary information provided to EAA as part of the Employment History Report? If the company hired by EAA is doing a "standard" employment history check, they would be getting that data.

Again, the YPP doesn't tell us what is collected. It lists the criteria that would lead to rejection, but nothing says the data gathered is limited to those factors. I'm not asking EAA to confirm or deny that salary data is included in the Employment History Report, I want EAA to tell us everything that they get in both the criminal and employment investigations.

The YPP still doesn't address how our information is protected. How many people have access to it? If someone receives a letter from EAA requesting a donation, how can they be sure the letter was random instead of triggered by salary history information in the Employment History Check?

The YPP allows rejected applicants to view the information gathered about them. Nothing is said about letting ANYone access the information gathered about them. ALL members should be allowed to see all information EAA has collected about them....and its source.

And, again: What is EAA's PII Protection Policy, and how does it cover material gathered as part of the background checks?

Ron Wanttaja

[Janine Diana]

Ron,

The reference in the policy on "a criminal and employment history report" references the definition of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I apologize if that was confusing. We do no employment check.

The background check includes ONLY a nationwide criminal check and multi-state sex and violent offender report. We would be more than happy to send you a copy of your completed report. You can request this through EAA and/or AmericanChecked, our provider. The human resources department maintains all records.

I would be more than happy to address any additional questions you may have regarding the background check. Please feel free to give me a call at EAA.

[TedK]

The YPP still doesn't address how our information is protected. How many people have access to it?
...
And, again: What is EAA's PII Protection Policy, and how does it cover material gathered as part of the background checks?

Ron Wanttaja

Thank you Ron for being the calm, rational and persistant advocate for those of us who understand the pain associated with Identity Theft or dissemination of information we would rather keep in ancient history.

ted

[rwanttaja]

Ron,

The reference in the policy on "a criminal and employment history report" references the definition of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. I apologize if that was confusing. We do no employment check.

Thank you, Janine. It is indeed confusing wording, as it follows the reference to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by disassociating itself with it: "However, please note that this is not a credit report – it is a criminal and employment history report."

I trust this will be clarified in the next iteration.

Speaking updating the document, EAA needs to add document configuration management to the YPP update process. The first page needs to include the release date or a Revision Number to help know what's the most current version. Yes, there's a date code buried on the second and later pages ("160224") but how about putting a clear indication right up front.

Also, when a new version comes out, most of us are primarily interested in the changes. I am wise in the ways of the force and can do a version comparison between PDF documents, but a lot of folks can't and would still like to compare them. I'm presuming EAA is managing this using Microsoft Word, which has a dandy "compare documents" mode that marks the changes. How about ALSO releasing the marked version (as a PDF) so we can instantly see what the changes are?

The background check includes ONLY a nationwide criminal check and multi-state sex and violent offender report. We would be more than happy to send you a copy of your completed report. You can request this through EAA and/or AmericanChecked, our provider. The human resources department maintains all records.

And what offenses are included in the national criminal check? Misdemeanors? Crimes as a minor? Traffic violations (uh-oh)? Are crimes for which the convictions have been reversed included? Crimes for which one has been pardoned?

EAA has put itself in the business of collecting and managing its members'...excuse me, its paying customers'...criminal records. This seems...well, a bit of a reach, considering the purpose of the organization.

It's good to know that this data is being managed by EAA's HR department; that's the right place for it. However, the bigger question is still there: How does HR protect our PII? Is it on the same server as everything else? Do folder permissions deny access to anyone but HR personnel? Does it take a special password to access? When the "EAA Vice President" receives records to review, how is he or she given access?

Now, normally, EAA could just tell me to jump in the lake...how EAA Corporate handles its HR processes is none of my business. But now that EAA has started maintaining criminal records on its members, I think it is.

I am glad to know that EAA will give me access to my records, though. But where is this policy formally documented? Say I show up at the front desk at Headquarters Monday morning and ask to see an HR representative. If I hand the HR person my driver's license and say, "I want to see all EAA records related to me," will the HR rep say, "Yes, sir,"...or "Huh?"?

Please document in the YPP the process for obtaining our own records, whether or not we are rejected.

I would be more than happy to address any additional questions you may have regarding the background check. Please feel free to give me a call at EAA.

Ah, well, the problem with that, is that I don't believe I'm the only member with these questions. If that's the case, it's best to do it out in the open.

Ron Wanttaja

[rwanttaja]

Thank you Ron for being the calm, rational and persistant advocate for those of us who understand the pain associated with Identity Theft or dissemination of information we would rather keep in ancient history.

Thank you, Ted. I'm one of the millions caught up in the OPB data breech last year, and am still really torqued off by it. And not just because I had to write up two separate SF86 submissions due to the change in vendor.

It's ironic that the EAA redoes the background check ever three years. If you've got a Top Secret clearance (definition: given access to data which, if exposed, will cause grave harm to the security of the United States), the US Government only re-checks you every five years.

Ron "another squirrel" Wanttaja

[rwanttaja]

Speaking updating the document, EAA needs to add document configuration management to the YPP update process. The first page needs to include the release date or a Revision Number to help know what's the most current version. Yes, there's a date code buried on the second and later pages ("160224") but how about putting a clear indication right up front.

Oh, and while it's on my mind: Might I gently suggest that such revisions be first released to the membership as drafts, for review prior to them becoming ironclad EAA policy?

Ron Wanttaja

[combahee]

As most of you who read these forums I have been a very vocal critic of the roll out of the program.
I had a long, real long conversation with a staffer at hdqtrs. I firmly explained each of my concerns. Instead of hiding behind corporate gobble gook he explained the program and we discussed options and recommendations.
He reiterated what I heard in the webinar, that they screwed up but good on the roll out and formation of the policy. That some of the EAA Chapter members they consulted with may have been more friendly than critical of the program.
SO.....
They are looking at a change to AmericanChecked boilerplate authorization if possible.
Only criminal history is looked at. See the post above for some details, or read the whole policy.
The background check is here to stay.
EAA's HR dept has the information and is basically a pass or fail on the criminal check. The vendor already has your information and doesn't have to go outside to do a check! So they are merely checking their databases.
Most of the "bad" parts of the program have already been changed. The one area I am concerned about is the need for two deep at a rally but not a single ride deal. I did make a suggestion to EAA on this, so we'll see what happens.
The information needs to be disseminated but EAA will back the volunteer and pilot if there is a civil action. There is no insurance for a criminal action (doesn't exist). So if you are actually arrested it's your dime. But a strictly civil action we are covered same as Chapter officers are covered for errors and omissions.
The Chapter officers are not required to check credentials, but it is possible for them to do so.

We covered a number of other things. The long and short of it is I did the online course( still think it needs a lot of work) and the background check. I'm not sure when I'll fly YE's. My Chapter needs to get on board. But I see light at the end of the tunnel.

I want to thank the EAA staffer for his time and dedication and reaching out to me. For those still on the fence or with concerns, lets see if we can get things worked out. I believe EAA still has a way to go to get the program 100% back on track, but believe it can be done with all of us working constructively together. Keep in mind there will probably be more changes but it takes some time.

Finally, I was told, without any details, that a number of members that did the background check failed, and not for little stuff. I was not given any details but the staffer and I was very surprised they would even go ahead with the process.

No I haven't gone over to the "dark side" GRIN, just want to fly kids.

[nesincg]

As a former YE chairman, it was so damn hard as it was to get volunteers to fly. Now with the additional hassle, so many fewer are going to do it. I'm also not going to coordinate the additional hassle of making sure two volunteers are roaming around watching kids who should have parents with them while also being sure two volunteers are confirmed at each aircraft not touching any bathing suit areas.

Perhaps this society has come to this, but it isn't something I want to be a part of. Good luck to those who continue.

[rwanttaja]

We covered a number of other things. The long and short of it is I did the online course( still think it needs a lot of work) and the background check.

Good, hope it works out for you.

Finally, I was told, without any details, that a number of members that did the background check failed, and not for little stuff. I was not given any details but the staffer and I was very surprised they would even go ahead with the process.

Perhaps some of those applicants didn't realize that non-youth-related offenses were included in the evaluation...shoot, I didn't know that, either. A lot of the "YPP Deadly Sins" have the statement, "Regardless of date of conviction." Seems as if something like buying beer for your underage buddies ("Contributing to the delinquency of a minor") shouldn't matter fifty years later, but it apparently does, to EAA.

Sure, they could appeal. But they're probably highly offended to be rejected in the first place. Why beg for forgiveness just so you can burn your own money and time on an organization that's already told you they don't want your help?

I'm guessing that many of these people were currently active Young Eagle pilots (vs. someone starting from scratch). Wonder how many kids they'd flown over the past ~24 years, without a single complaint?

Ron Wanttaja

[cub builder]

Perhaps some of those applicants didn't realize that non-youth-related offenses were included in the evaluation...shoot, I didn't know that, either. A lot of the "YPP Deadly Sins" have the statement, "Regardless of date of conviction." Seems as if something like buying beer for your underage buddies ("Contributing to the delinquency of a minor") shouldn't matter fifty years later, but it apparently does, to EAA.

Sure, they could appeal. But they're probably highly offended to be rejected in the first place. Why beg for forgiveness just so you can burn your own money and time on an organization that's already told you they don't want your help?

I'm guessing that many of these people were currently active Young Eagle pilots (vs. someone starting from scratch). Wonder how many kids they'd flown over the past ~24 years, without a single complaint?

Ron Wanttaja

That's one of the problems. Anyone with youthful mistakes in their past is going to get caught up in the EAA's "dragnet". Yep, that 19 year old that thought he was in love with his 16 year old girlfriend is a registered sex offender. That 21 year old that got caught up in a bar fight and won when he was in the service is a violent offender. That 18 year old that was dumb enough to look at child porn on the internet is a sex offender. A lot of people have youthful mistakes in their past. They are no longer pure enough for the EAA.

The EAA called it a near miss when a sex offender was a member of a chapter, but didn't participate in youth activities. I'd call it the SO Registry working as designed.

IMHO, this is a politically blessed witch hunt that's all about appearance. One needs to remember that our legal system is not about right and wrong or innocence and justice. It's about building a case and making numbers without regard to justice. Right or wrong, those that get caught up in the legal system get labeled for life. Many should be. Many should not. But to the EAA, they are all unpure.

-Cub Builder