Streamlining Church Management: A Guide to Planning Center Background Checks
Hey There, Church Leaders!
Let’s talk about something super important but not always fun - background checks. Yep, whether it's for that superstar volunteer who always shows up early or the behind-the-scenes crew that keeps things running, knowing who’s on your team is key. And let’s face it, paperwork isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a good time.
That's where Planning Center comes in. Think of it as your go-to buddy for all things church management, making those necessary checks a breeze. And with Checkr in the mix, you’re clicking a few buttons instead of drowning in forms.
But hey, we get it, sometimes you have to go old school with third-party checks. No sweat—Planning Center has room for that, too. You can punch in that info and keep everything tidy in one spot.
In this chat, we're gonna dive into how you can get all this done within Planning Center without pulling your hair out. I’ll throw in some pro tips from my playbook—I’m the guy who helps churches get their heads around Planning Center, after all.
Ready to make background checks a piece of cake? Let’s get rolling!
Why Background Checks are a Must-Do for Your Church
Alright, team, let's cut to the chase. Background checks? Non-negotiable. And it's not just about ticking off a checklist. It's about keeping your congregation safe and sound, from the kiddos in the nursery to the seniors at Bible study.
No Compromises on Safety
First up, safety is the name of the game. You wouldn't hand over the keys to your car without knowing if the person can drive, right? Same deal here. Knowing who's hanging around your church folks, especially the little ones, is just smart.
It's the Law, Folks (And About Covering Your Back)
Also, let’s talk about the legal side. Depending on your location, the law might require background checks. But even if it doesn’t, doing them is a solid way to protect your church from some serious liability headaches. Because let's face it, no one wants to deal with the mess of legal issues, and it's way better to be safe than sorry.
Peace of Mind for Everyone
And here’s the kicker - everyone sleeps better at night knowing that the community is in good hands. Volunteers know they're part of a safe squad; parents breathe easier, and you? You get to lead a community that trusts each other. Win-win.
Keeping it Real
We've all heard those horror stories, right? One bad apple can cause a whole lot of trouble. Regular checks help you spot any potential issues before they become headlines.
So, What’s Next? We're gonna walk through how Planning Center can make this whole process smoother than your morning latte. Plus, we'll talk about how to add those checks into the system, even if you’re using a different service. Stay tuned!
Planning Center: Your Background Check Sidekick
Picture this
You've got a ton of folks to manage at church. Volunteers, staff, the works. Now, you could go old-school with spreadsheets or level up with the tools already available within Planning Center. Here's why it's a game-changer.
Easy-Peasy Process
Firstly, Planning Center turns what used to be a headache into a few clicks. Seriously, it's that easy. No more piles of paper or manual entries unless you want to (we'll get to that). This is all about streamlining, folks.
Who's In? Who's Out?
Keeping track of who’s cleared and who’s not is a cinch. Planning Center lets you see who’s good to go and who’s still waiting for the green light or green shield, actually. Plus, you can set reminders (with the help of a list) so no one's background check goes out of date. This is a great place for a 30-day background refresh Workflow. More on that in an upcoming article.
Checkr
Now, let's chat about Checkr. It's like the peanut butter to Planning Center’s jelly. With Checkr, background checks are not just thorough but also quick. We're talking accuracy and efficiency that could make your finance team jealous.
For the DIYers
Got your own way of doing things? Cool. Planning Center won’t cramp your style. You can input data from other background check services, no sweat. It’s all about options and keeping you in the driver’s seat. There are plenty of background check services that work with Planning Center as well. You can find a list of those other services here.
Firing Up Checkr with Planning Center
Here’s a step-by-step guide for setting up Checkr within your Planning Center account.
Switching On Checkr in Planning Center
Log into Planning Center and click on 'Account Settings.' This is where all of your integrations and now Add-ons (more about those in an upcoming article) will be found. You can use this shortcut link: Account Settings Page to jump to your Account Settings page immediately. It’s like the control room for your entire Planning Center universe.
When looking at the Account Settings page, you'll see a tab labeled 'Integrations.' That's your destination. Click it to find all the potential partner integrations the Planning Center offers.
Sign Up with Checkr
Before you can take advantage of this dynamic duo, you'll need an account with Checkr Don't have one yet? No sweat. Signing up is easy, and you'll be walking through their digital doors in no time. You can find out more about Checkr here.
Better Pricing?
Yes, Please! Here's a sweetener. By using Checkr through Planning Center, you're getting a better deal—think of it as the friends and family discount. Planning Center has haggled some sweet rates on your behalf because, well, you're worth it. You can read about that pricing here
Seal the Deal
Once your Checkr account is ready to go, it's just a matter of connecting the dots. Follow the prompts in the 'Integrations' tab to link your Checkr account to Planning Center. It's like setting up a coffee date between two friends.
Navigating Third-Party Background Checks in Planning Center
Got your own trusted background check provider? No problem. Planning Center is all about flexibility. Here’s how you can keep everything in line, even if you’re taking the third-party route.
Gather your info before anything else, make sure you have all the details from your third-party background check. You want the full picture: who, what, when, and the results.
Head to the Right Spot in Planning Center
Find the person who you need the background check for. A quick search, a click, and you're in their profile. Now all you have to do is click on the shield icon and choose “add background check”. Follow the prompts and choose one of the three packages that Checkr offers.
Manually Enter the Details
While viewing a profile, you'll find a section for background checks under the Shield Icon. This is where you get to play data entry hero. Enter all the details of the manual entry background check – the date, the results, any notes you need to remember. You might want to add your name in the notes section as well incase someone
Step 1 for entering a manual background check
Step 2 for entering a manual background check
Step 3 for entering a manual background check
Keep It Up-to-Date
Remember, this isn’t a ‘set it and forget it’ thing. Keep an eye on when these checks need to be renewed and update them as necessary. Think of it as part of your routine garden care – it needs regular attention. And for a sneak peek into how to make this process even smoother, check out our Background Refresh Workflow coming in a follow-up article.
Background Check Dashboard
Got more people? Just rinse and repeat. But take advantage of the Background Check Dashboard, where you will find details about whose background check is about to expire or has already expired. You can also check on all of those invitations sent out or any background checks that might need some research because they came back with a consider designation.
Wrapping It Up
So, there you have it – everything you need to know about running background checks with Planning Center. Whether integrating the slick Checkr system or going the manual route with third-party checks, you've got options that keep your church safe without the headache.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Safe
Remember, the goal here is to make sure your church is a safe space for everyone. Planning Center is here to help you do just that, in a way that’s as painless as possible.
And hey, things change, right? New volunteers come in, laws get updated, and technology gets smarter. Keep up with it all by making background checks a regular part of your church management routine.
Need a Hand?
If all this talk about background checks and Planning Center has your head spinning, don’t sweat it. We’re here to help. At Threefold Solutions, we’re all about making church management easy. We've got the experience and know-how to help you navigate these waters as well as some new ways to use Planning Center.
Let's Chat
Ready to dive deeper or need a hand getting things set up? Drop by our website at Threefold Solutions and let’s talk about how we can help you get more out of Planning Center. We’re talking about custom solutions, training, and all the support you need to make your church the best it can be.