Background Checks

Criminal Background Checks

All long-term care facilities and providers licensed by the West Virginia Department of Human Services are required to conduct employee background checks.

Click here to view the WV CARES website
 

APS/CPS Background Checks

What is a protective services (APS and CPS) background check?

It is a request to check child and adult protective services records held with the Bureau for Social Services to determine if an individual has a record of substantiated maltreatment of a child or adult.

Who needs a protective services background check?

  • All potential adoptive parents, foster parents and their adult household members
  • An employee, volunteer or household member of the following agencies:
  • Licensed child care centers
    • Title 78 Legislative Rule-formerly under DHHR, now under DoHS, Series 1: Child Care Centers Licensing §78-1-8.4d
    • "A center shall ensure that each staff member and volunteer has a completed, signed, and dated Authorization and Release for Protective Services Record Check.  The release shall be on file no later than the date of hire."
  • Licensed child placing agencies
    • Title 78 Legislative - Rule formerly under DHHR, now under DoHS, Series 2: Child Placing Agencies Licensure §78-2-6.6c.10
    • "Each record for an employee shall include a completed Statement of Child Abuse or Neglect History form."
  • Licensed group residential facilities
    • Title 78 Legislative Rule - formerly DHHR now DoHS, Series 3 Minimum Licensing Requirements for Residential Child Care and Treatment Facilities for Child and Transitioning Adults in West Virginia §78-3-10.2.j
    • "The organization shall submit a request for Protective Service (Adult and Child) background check on each applicant to the Department. Documentation of the results of the check  shall be maintained with the personnel file of the applicant."
  • West Virginia family daycare facility regulations
    • Title 78 Legislative Rule-formerly under DHHR, now under DoHS, Series 18: Family Child Care Facility License, §78-18-16-1.b       
    • "At the time of application and renewal for the certificate of registration, a facility owner/operator, staff, volunteers eighteen (18) years of age and over, and each household member shall sign a consent to check Department records for child and adult abuse and neglect."
  • West Virginia family daycare home registration requirements
    • Title 78 Legislative Rule formerly under DHHR, now under DoHS, Series 19: Family Child Care Home Registration Requirements §78-19-6.4a.2
    • "At the time of application and renewal for a certificate of registration, a caregiver and each adult household member shall sign a statement of criminal record."
  • Other family services agencies required by state law, licensing regulations, or DoHS​​ policy or contract language to complete protective services background checks on potential/current employees or volunteers.
  • Other states and agencies as required by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006.

Note: Those individuals seeking information about Nurse Aides, please go to the Nurse Aide Registry at ohflac.wvdhhr.org

How do I request a protective services background check?

DoHS Bureau for Social Services will begin a slow phased roll-out of the new background check system WV VeriCheck on September 8, 2026. The effective roll-out dates are as follows: 

September 9, 2026              ECE/Family Child Care

September 21, 2026            State Run Hospitals

October 1, 2026                   Socially Necessary Services (SNS/ASO)

October 15, 2026                 Child Placing Agencies

October 15, 2026                 Behavioral Health

October 15, 2026                 Child Advocacy Centers

October 15, 2026                 CASA

October 15, 2026                 Residential, Shelter, and School-Based Providers

November 2, 2026               Early Care and Education Child Care Centers

November 16, 2026             Community Organizations and Providers  (Senior Centers, Adult Residential, Domestic Violence Shelters)

December 7, 2026               Out-of-State Providers, Organizations, Social Service Agencies, etc.

Until such time as your agency gains access to the WV VeriCheck system, the following forms will continue to be used. These forms will no longer be accepted as of January 1, 2026. 

Authorization for Release of Release of Protective Services Records Checks Kinship/Relative

Authorization for Release of Protective Services Records Checks Employment

To assist you in signing up for and using the new WV VeriCheck system, please see the following desk guides. 

Agencies can register here: https://agency.wvvericheck.wv.gov/

Applicant sign in page: https://forms.wvvericheck.wv.gov/applicant 

VeriCheck Applicant Desk Guide

VeriCheck Screen Desk Guide

 

Where does the agency/provider send the orginal copy of the completed form?

               APS/CPS Background Check Unit
               350 Capitol Street, Room B-18
               Charleston, WV 25301

Note: Completed forms will be processed by the Bureau and returned to the employing agency as soon as possible.

For questions call 1-304-352-4429