Volunteer Management Services
Operation TLC2Making Communities Safe
Totally Liveable Communities through Tender Loving Care
Each year millions of volunteers support the great work of park, recreation, and conservation nationwide. Increasingly, there is public concern regarding the qualifications and backgrounds of volunteers working in public settings with children, youth, people with disabilities, and the elderly. This has resulted in greater attention to risk management practices, quality assurance, and training.
Until now the definition of what a comprehensive nationwide screening and criminal background check should include has proven problematic. Therefore, the National Recreation and Park Association developed Operation TLC² Making Communities Safe to provide the NRPA Recommended Guidelines for Credentialing Volunteers supported by effective, affordable resources to screen, and prepare staff and volunteers for public service.
NRPA advocates that its members exercise extreme due diligence and never grant the privilege of working with our most vulnerable populations without first qualifying through a comprehensive national criminal background check system. In our research we found that:
Over 13% of all crimes are found outside the state of current residence.
Approximately 5% of volunteers cannot pass a criminal background check conducted in accordance with the NRPA Recommended Guidelines.
The NRPA Recommended Guidelines for Credentialing Volunteers defines a recommended policy that addresses:
NRPA VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT SERVICES
NRPA is committed to assisting in your efforts to attract the best, most qualified staff and volunteers.
The Goal of Operation TLC² Making Communities Safe is to enact a consistent volunteer management practice across the park, recreation, and conservation landscape that will:
Qualify, Identify, and Educate to properly prepare for meaningful public service
Build a solid base of advocacy in demand for quality Park, Recreation, and Conservation programs and facilities
Magnify the prestige of being qualified and accepted into our paid and unpaid workforce
Build a solid base of advocacy dedicated to support every level of Park, Recreation and Conservation services
Provide leadership and proven guidelines that demonstrates due diligent efforts that make Park, Recreation and Conservation programs a safe and positive experience
With NRPA Operation TLC² Making Communities Safe, participating agencies receive:
The Safe Tool Kit - FREE for NRPA members (with 50 prepaid background checks). Non-members may purchase the Tool Kit for $995.
Background checks at a preferred price of $18.50 each, which includes all full time, part time, seasonal staff, and volunteers, and is extended to all the other departments/divisions as well as all youth leagues, tutors, mentors, and groups authorized to use the public facilities under the control of the agency.
Access to purchase Operation TLC² Online Training.
Do you consider your park and recreation department a leader in your community?
If so, NRPA invites you to join with us in Operation TLC² Making Communities Safe. Click here for member benefit qualification criteria.
Make your community more livable, healthy, and safe by ensuring that only the most qualified staff/volunteers represent your agency through programs and services or at parks and recreation facilities.
To take advantage of this member benefit, visit the NRPA Store or for more information, contact NRPA at 800-626-6772.
Operation TLC2 Making Communities Safe Partners Southeastern Security Consultants, Inc. (SSCI), a leading expert in qualifying volunteers through comprehensive background checks and screenings brings a wealth of knowledge to assist park and recreation agencies "clear through the clutter" of reducing risk by effectively qualifying volunteers before they engage in volunteer experiences.
DMP Consulting, Inc. brings over 30 years of experience working with parks and recreation to effectively train volunteers for public service and President Mike Pfahl serves as the founder of Operation TLC².