Background Checks

In-home care is a serious responsibility and one that Sitters Place takes seriously. This is why we encourage all sitters listed in our network to register with TrustLine, California's in-home care provider background check agency. TrustLine background checks are an easy way for parents to check the sitter's background and a small investment for sitters in order to secure jobs. Background checks are not a requirement to be listed on the Sitters Place website but they are recommended. Below are two background check options with our 5 star rating. For more information on what Danielle learned about background checks and what to look out for click here.

TrustLine is the only background check authorized by state law to use three databases that the general public, including private investigators and private background check companies, cannot access. These databases include: fingerprint records from the California Department of Justice's California Criminal History System, the Child Abuse Central Index of California, and fingerprint records of the FBI Criminal History System.

TrustLine: How It Works

New Sitters and Nannies: Contact Sitters Place to mail you an application. You will go to a live scan location to have your fingerprints scanned. Total fees due range from $130-$140. For more information you can go directly to the TrustLine home page.

Current Child Care Providers: Upgrading your live scan is simple. If the Community Care Licensing Division licenses you, transfer your live scan to TrustLine. Request the application from Sitters Place and complete the sections for a transfer. The fee is only $43.00.

Complete the application and go to an authorized California Department of Justice live scan location to submit your live scan fingerprints. It takes up to 2 weeks for all the checks to return.

How Parents Verify the Sitter's TrustLine Certification

Checking a sitter's background has never been easier. With TrustLine all you do is pick up your phone, dial 1-800-822-8490, and give the operator the sitter's drivers license number and name and the operator will give you the green light if the sitter's background report came back clean. Here are some other great tips on how to screen your sitter: Screening tips

Department of Justice Background Check: How It Works

Sitters can submit to the California Department of Justice background check. This is similar to TrustLine but it does not get run through the Child Abuse Central Index of California.

New & Current Sitters and Nannies: Go to a live scan location to submit your live scan fingerprints. It takes up to 2 weeks for all the checks to return. If you have a specific family that wants to see your background check, you can provide information of the third party to which you intend to release the information. In other words, you would provide the information of the parent for whom you want to babysit. Your background check will be sent to them directly. The fees are $49-$79.

Optionally, you can get your background check sent directly to you. When you go to the live scan location simply notify them that you want your background check for yourself. Once you receive it in the mail you can put it in your portfolio and provide it to families if and when you want to work with them. You are not required to provide your background check to anyone, but it may make a difference in getting a job.

We just learned about a local company out of Healdsburg that does fingerprint scans called Tru-Scan Fingerprint Services. They seem to have fair rates and they state that you won't have to wait for the mail. They will even come to you! To read more about it, get quotes, and contact them, visit TruScanFingerprints.com