Volunteer Screening - High School Students

[Andrew]

We're approaching implmentation of our Volunteer Screening and there is a glaring question which has not really been discussed. It has been mentioned on one of the many other Volunteer Screening threads.

From the Youth Protection Act of 2004

To ensure success of critical mentor relationships, FIRST requires that all adults who plan to participate as a FIRST Team Mentor in the United States and work with the children on the team, complete and submit an "Adult Registration/Informed Consent Form for FIRST Programs" to the Team Leader using the form on the following page. The form is only required of adults who plan to participate on the team (Team Mentors). An adult is defined as any individual who is eighteen years of age or older.

From the Youth Protection FAQ which helps "clarify" this issue:

Who must be screened?
All Team Mentors must be screened. A Mentor is an adult (any individual eighteen years of age or older) who is an active member of the team and works frequently with the students. The Team Leader must screen her/himself and any parents/guardians acting as Mentors.

Parents/guardians or other adults who plan only on cheering the team at an event do not need to go through the background screening process. An adult who attends a single meeting with the team to share a skill, or present to the team, does not require screening.

Now, as I read this, any high school student who has reached the age of 18 must be screened. They have contact with children (the non-18 year old team members) both at high school and at FIRST activities.

Even though these students are probably in the "being mentored" category, by FIRST's definition and clarification, they must be considered "mentors" and should be screened.

Any one else have an opinion on this subject?