The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) runs a Background Record Check (BRC) for all individuals seeking an affiliation or employment with an EEC licensed, approved, or funded program. This process includes requesting, receiving, and evaluating information from agencies, including the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS); the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF); the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB); the National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR); state and national fingerprint databases; as well as all relevant state and national criminal history, child welfare and sex offender registries, databases and repositories.
You can find the Suitability Transfer of Background Record Checks policy here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Are Early Intervention (EI) staff eligible for a Suitability Transfer? Early Intervention (EI) is a statewide, integrated, developmental service available to families of children between birth and three years of age and overseen by the Department of Public Health (DPH). Early Intervention staff are not required to undergo an EEC Background Record Check and instead must undergo background record checks as specified in the Early Intervention Operational Standards (CORI and SORI) and as contractually required. As a result, EI staff are not eligible for a Suitability Transfer. For more information, see EEC policy, “Background Record Checks of Early Intervention Employees and Specialty Service Providers in Early Education and Care Settings.”
- I am a music teacher who works for multiple Group and School Age (GSA) programs as a contractor. Do I need to apply for separate Background Record Checks for each program? No, you do not. You are an “Affiliated Person,” (see “Definitions” section for more information). This means that your Suitability Determination will transfer between the GSA programs you contract for. Each program still needs to submit a BRC Consent Form to begin the Suitability Transfer process.
- I am a music teacher who works for different types of programs as a contractor. Do I need to apply for separate Background Record Checks for each program? It depends. If you are an "Affiliated Person" who works for different types of programs, please check the Suitability Transfer tables on the EEC website. Reference the "Change of Program Type" tables to see if a Suitability Transfer between the two program types is possible. For example: if you are contracted by a GSA and an FCC, a Suitability transfer is possible. If you are contracted by a GSA and a Residential Program, a Suitability transfer is not possible.
- I run an FCC Program; my daughter lives with me and is also planning to work as an assistant in my program. How should she handle the Background Record Check process? Your daughter will need to apply for two Background Record Checks: one as an FCC Household Member and one as an FCC Assistant. EEC recommends that she apply as an FCC Assistant first, and then as an FCC Household Member. She should apply in this order because the Suitability Determination is more likely to transfer from FCC Assistant to FCC Household Member than vice-versa.
- What is the timeframe of the questions in the Suitability Determination Survey? Please answer these questions for the period of the last time you submitted your EEC BRC until current day. For example, when answering the question, “To your knowledge, has EEC or the BRC Program Administrator discovered that you provided false, misleading, or incomplete information?,” you would answer whether EEC or a BRC Program Administrator discovered that you provided false, misleading, or incomplete information from the last time you submitted a BRC until the day you are filling out the Suitability Determination Survey.
Suitability Determination Survey
If the candidate has been determined suitable by EEC, they are required to answer a short survey of qualifying questions. EEC sends the candidate a link to the survey via e-mail.
Please keep in mind the following guidance as you complete the survey:
- For all questions: The timeframe is between when the candidate last submitted an EEC BRC until current day.
- For Question #1: This question has two parts. Answer “Yes” only if both parts are true.
- For Question #3: If you received a suitable EEC BRC within the last 180 days and were never affiliated/employed by an EEC licensed or funded program, answer ‘No’ as this is not a break in affiliation/employment.
- For Question #6: this includes any criminal activity, including allegations, charges, convictions, etc.
| Qualifier Questions | Response |
|---|---|
| Have you moved outside of Massachusetts since your last EEC BRC was completed AND had a break in employment or affiliation of thirty days or longer? (Note: Question 1 has two parts. Answer “Yes” only if both parts are true.) | Yes/No |
| To your knowledge, have you had any new criminal charges, child welfare investigations, or are you required to register or be classified as a sex offender in Massachusetts or any other state or territory? | Yes/No |
| Have you had a break in employment with an EEC Program for more than 180 days? (Note: If you received a suitable EEC BRC within the last 180 days and were never affiliated/employed by an EEC licensed or funded program, answer ‘No’ as this is not a break in affiliation/employment.) | Yes/No |
| To your knowledge, has EEC or the BRC Program Administrator discovered that you provided false, misleading, or incomplete information? | Yes/No |
| To your knowledge, are you being investigated by EEC, DCF, or law enforcement? | Yes/No |
| To your knowledge, do you have a pending criminal charge, sex offender status, or a child welfare investigation? | Yes/No |
Suitability Transfer for Family Child Care Programs (FCC)
Acronyms: FCC: Family Child Care program; GSA: Group and School Age program; R&P: Residential and Placement program.
Role Change within an FCC Program:
| Role A | Role B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| FCC Assistant | FCC Licensee | Yes |
| FCC Assistant | FCC Household Member / Regularly on the Premises | Yes |
| FCC Licensee | FCC Assistant | Yes |
| FCC Licensee | FCC Household Member / Regularly on the Premises | Yes |
| FCC Household Member / Regularly on the Premises | FCC Assistant | No |
| FCC Household Member / Regularly on the Premises | FCC Licensee | No |
Change of Program Type:
| Request Type for Program A | Request Type for Program B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| FCC Program | Affiliated Program | Yes |
| FCC Program | Funded Program | Yes |
| FCC Program | GSA Program | Yes |
| FCC Program | R&P Program | No |
| Affiliated Program | FCC Program | Yes |
| Funded Program | FCC Program | Yes |
| GSA Program | FCC Program | Yes |
| R&P Program | FCC Program | No |
Suitability Transfer for Group and School Age Programs (GSA)
Acronyms: FCC: Family Child Care program; GSA: Group and School Age program; R&P: Residential and Placement program; EVI: Employee/Volunteer/Intern
Role Change Within a GSA Program:
| Role A | Role B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Person in GSA | BRC Program Administrator in GSA | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in GSA | EVI in GSA | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in GSA | Licensee in GSA | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in GSA | Affiliated Person in GSA | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in GSA | EVI in GSA | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in GSA | Licensee in GSA | Yes |
| EVI in GSA | Affiliated Person in GSA | Yes |
| EVI in GSA | BRC Program Administrator in GSA | Yes |
| EVI in GSA | Licensee in GSA | Yes |
| Licensee in GSA | Affiliated Person in GSA | Yes |
| Licensee in GSA | BRC Program Administrator in GSA | Yes |
| Licensee in GSA | EVI in GSA | Yes |
Change of Program Type:
| Request Type for Program A | Request Type for Program B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| GSA Program | Affiliated Program | Yes |
| GSA Program | FCC Program | Yes |
| GSA Program | Funded Program | Yes |
| GSA Program | R&P Program | No |
| Affiliated Program | GSA Program | Yes |
| FCC Program | GSA Program | Yes |
| Funded Program | GSA Program | Yes |
| R&P Program | GSA Program | No |
Suitability Transfer for Funded Programs
Acronyms: FCC: Family Child Care program; GSA: Group and School Age program; R&P: Residential and Placement program; EVI: Employee/Volunteer/Intern
Change of Role Within a Funded Program:
| Role A | Role B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Person in Funded Program | BRC Program Administrator in Funded Program | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Funded Program | Designated Administrator in Funded Program | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Funded Program | EVI in Funded Program | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Funded Program | Affiliated Person in Funded Program | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Funded Program | Designated Administrator in Funded Program | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Funded Program | EVI in Funded Program | Yes |
| Designated Administrator in Funded Program | Affiliated Person in Funded Program | Yes |
| Designated Administrator in Funded Program | BRC Program Administrator in Funded Program | Yes |
| Designated Administrator in Funded Program | EVI in Funded Program | Yes |
| EVI in Funded Program | Affiliated Person in Funded Program | Yes |
| EVI in Funded Program | BRC Program Administrator in Funded Program | Yes |
| EVI in Funded Program | Designated Administrator in Funded Program | Yes |
Change of Program Type:
| Request Type for Program A | Request Type for Program B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Funded Program | Affiliated Program | Yes |
| Funded Program | FCC Program | Yes |
| Funded Program | GSA Program | Yes |
| Funded Program | R&P Program | No |
| Affiliated Program | Funded Program | Yes |
| FCC Program | Funded Program | Yes |
| GSA Program | Funded Program | Yes |
| R&P Program | Funded Program | No |
Suitability Transfer for Residential Programs
Acronyms: FCC: Family Child Care program; GSA: Group and School Age program; R&P: Residential and Placement program; EVI: Employee/Volunteer/Intern
Change of Role Within a Residential Program:
| Role A | Role B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Person in Residential | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Residential | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Residential | EVI in Residential | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Residential | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Residential | Licensee in Residential | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Affiliated Person in Residential | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | EVI in Residential | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Licensee in Residential | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | Affiliated Person in Residential | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Residential | Licensee in Residential | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | Affiliated Person in Residential | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | EVI in Residential | Yes |
| Licensee in Residential | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
Change in Program Type:
| Request Type for Program A | Request Type for Program B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Affiliated Program | No |
| Residential | FCC Program | No |
| Residential | Funded Program | No |
| Residential | GSA Program | No |
| Affiliated Program | Residential | No |
| FCC Program | Residential | No |
| Funded Program | Residential | No |
| GSA Program | Residential | No |
Suitability Transfer for Placement Programs
Acronyms: FCC: Family Child Care program; GSA: Group and School Age program; R&P: Residential and Placement program; EVI: Employee/Volunteer/Intern
Change of Role Within a Placement Program:
| Role A | Role B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Person in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Placement | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Placement | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Placement | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Yes |
| EVI in Placement | Licensee in Placement | Yes |
| Licensee in Placement | Affiliated Person in Placement | Yes |
| Licensee in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Yes |
| Licensee in Placement | EVI in Placement | Yes |
| Affiliated Person in Placement | Affiliated Person in Residential | No |
| Affiliated Person in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | No |
| Affiliated Person in Placement | EVI in Residential | No |
| Affiliated Person in Placement | Licensee in Residential | No |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Affiliated Person in Residential | No |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | No |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | EVI in Residential | No |
| BRC Program Administrator in Placement | Licensee in Residential | No |
| EVI in Placement | Affiliated Person in Residential | No |
| EVI in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | No |
| EVI in Placement | EVI in Residential | No |
| EVI in Placement | Licensee in Residential | No |
| Licensee in Placement | Affiliated Person in Residential | No |
| Licensee in Placement | BRC Program Administrator in Residential | No |
| Licensee in Placement | EVI in Residential | No |
| Licensee in Placement | Licensee in Residential | No |
Change in Program Type:
| Request Type for Program A | Request Type for Program B | Suitability Transfer is Possible |
|---|---|---|
| Placement | Affiliated Program | No |
| Placement | FCC Program | No |
| Placement | Funded Program | No |
| Placement | GSA Program | No |
| Affiliated Program | Placement | No |
| FCC Program | Placement | No |
| Funded Program | Placement | No |
| GSA Program | Placement | No |