Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Family Care Safety Registry?
Who is required to register with the Family Care Safety Registry?
What does "registered" mean?
How does a person register?
What if I don't have a Social Security card?
Can a person voluntarily register?
Are employees of public schools required to register with the Family Care Safety Registry?
How often must a person register?
Are all caregivers required to pay the registration fee?
What is the penalty for not registering?
Can an employer submit a registration form and pay the registration fee for an employee?
How is background information requested from the Family Care Safety Registry?
Who can receive background information from the registry?
How is "employment purposes" defined in chapter 210.921, RSMo?
How is information from the Family Care Safety Registry disclosed?
Will a registrant know if their background information is disclosed?
How do I update my personal information?
Can background results be faxed or e-mailed?
If I have information on my record, will it restrict me from working?
What is the penalty for misusing information obtained from the registry?

 

What is the Family Care Safety Registry?
Missouri's Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR) was established by law to promote family and community safety. The registry helps to protect children, seniors, and the disabled by providing access to background information. Background information consists of Missouri data only and is obtained from the following sources:

• State criminal records maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol
• Sex Offender Registry information maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol
• Child abuse/neglect records maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services
• The Employee Disqualification List maintained by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
• The Employee Disqualification Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Mental Health
• Child-care facility licensing records maintained by the Missouri Departmentof Health and Senior Services
• Foster parent licensing records maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services

Who is required to register with the Family Care Safety Registry?
Any person hired on or after January 1, 2001 as a child-care or elder-care worker, hired on or after January 1, 2002 as a personal care worker, and any person hired on or after January 1, 2009 as a mental health worker, as defined in §210.900 RSMo, is required to make application within 15 days of the beginning of employment.  It is the responsibility of the caregiver to register with the FCSR. Those required to register include employees of:

• A long-term care and residential care facility licensed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) or the Missouri  Department of Mental Health (DMH);
• A home health agency licensed by the DHSS;
• An in-home service provider under contract with the DHSS;
• A hospice agency licensed by the DHSS;
• A hospital licensed by the DHSS that has long-term care beds;
• A licensed or license-exempt child care facility or licensed child care home regulated by the DHSS;
• A residential care facility for children licensed or operated by the DHSS or DMH;
• A foster family home or foster group home, a child placing agency, or a residential care facility for children licensed by the MO Department of Social Services (DSS);
• A foster family home or foster group home licensed by the DSS or DMH;
• A group home licensed or operated by the DSS or DMH;
• A personal care provider who performs routine services or provides necessary support for a person with a physical or mental disability to enter and maintain employment or to live independently. This includes those under contract with the DMH and the DHSS;
• A caregiver who receives state or federal funds for the care of a child, senior or disabled person.

What does "registered" mean?
If an individual is "registered," their name is listed in a database of caregivers, allowing employers to request their background screening results. Those wishing to hire a caregiver may contact the FCSR to obtain background screening information about registered individuals.

How does a person register?
A person may register two ways:

• By submitting a completed Worker Registration Form, a photocopy of their Social Security card, and a $10.00 registration fee (if applicable), paid by check or money order, to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Fee Receipts Unit, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO, 65102.
• By online registration. When registering online, payment is made by credit or debit card.  You will be charged a non refundable $10.00 registration fee and an additional $1.00 processing fee.

What if I don't have a Social Security card?
The FCSR will accept the following for Social Security number verification:

• Copy of Social Security card
• Copy of driver’s license, ONLY if Social Security number is listed on the license
• U.S. military ID card with Social Security number listed on the card
• Medicare card with the Social Security number listed on the card
• Confirmation letter from the Social Security Administration office, verifying name with Social Security number

Can a person voluntarily register?
Yes. Any person not required to register may also be included in the registry if such person voluntarily applies for registration, supplies the required information, meets the requirements outlined in Chapters 210.900 to 210.936 RSMo., and pays the registration fee.

Are employees of public schools required to register with the Family Care Safety Registry?
Effective August 28, 2004, Section 168.133, RSMo, was enacted and sets forth background screening requirements for employees of public school districts.  Although the FCSR is referenced in the statute language, the DHSS does not interpret Section 168.133, RSMo, to require school districts to register their employees with the FCSR in order to be in compliance with the statute.  Any questions related to background screening requirements for employees of public school districts may be directed to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Conduct and Investigations Unit, 573-522-8315.

How often must a person register?
A person needs to register only one time.  To verify that a person is registered with the FCSR, click on the link, Is A Person Already Registered? and type in the Social Security number.

Are all caregivers required to pay the registration fee?
Anyone who resides in a foster family home or foster group home, or who is employed by a child placing agency, adoptive home, or a residential care facility for children, licensed by the DSS, is not required to pay the $10.00 registration fee.

What is the penalty for not registering?
Any caregiver as defined in § 210.900, RSMo, who fails to submit a completed worker Registration form to the FCSR within 15 days of beginning employment may be found guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

Can an employer submit a Registration form and pay the registration fee for an employee?
Employers may submit a Registration form and pay the fee for their employee(s), but the employee must complete the Worker Registration Form and provide a copy of the social security card. 

How is background information requested from the Family Care Safety Registry?
Information may be requested in three ways:

• The FCSR maintains a toll-free number for persons to request background screenings on registered caregivers for employment purposes.
• The Employer Background Screening Request form allows employers to submit an inquiry on multiple employees or prospective employees.  This form may be submitted via FAX or mail.
• Approved FCSR Internet Users may request screenings through the Internet, by clicking on Internet Background Screening Login.

Who can receive background information from the registry?
Any employer, potential employer, or state agency staff member requesting the information for licensure or regulatory purposes may request background information on registered individuals.

How is "employment purposes" defined in Chapter 210.921, RSMo?
"Employment purposes" includes direct and prospective employer-employee relationships, and screening and interviewing of persons or facilities by those persons contemplating the placement of an individual in a child-care, elder-care, mental health or personal-care setting.

How is information from the Family Care Safety Registry disclosed?

1. Upon receiving an Employer Background Request form by FAX or mail, the registry will process the background screening and if matching information is found, specific information will be mailed to the employer and registrant.
2. Request for a background screening may be made over the telephone.  If there is matching information and the requestor is licensed or contracted by a state agency, specific information will be released to the employer over the telephone. Requestor must provide the name of the licensing or contracting agency.  Both the requestor and registrant will receive the results by mail.
3. A written request from the employer for specific information may be faxed to the registry. Specific information will be mailed to the employer and to the registrant.
4. When employers request background screening information using the Internet, the employer and the registrant will receive specific information by mail.
5. A written request from a registrant may be faxed or mailed to the registry. Specific information will be mailed to the registrant.

Will a registrant know if their background information is disclosed?
Registrants will be notified, in writing, any time an employer requests a background screening. The employer's name and address will be included in the notification. If the FCSR releases specific information to the employer, the registrant will also receive a copy. Registrants must notify the FCSR whenever they have a name and/or address change to ensure receipt of future notifications.

How do I update my personal information?
Registrants may contact the FCSR by telephone to make name and address changes.

Can background results be faxed or e-mailed?
No. Due to the sensitive and confidential information contained in result letters, the FCSR cannot fax or e-mail results.

If I have information on my record, will it restrict me from working?
Although the FCSR provides the background screening, all questions regarding eligibility to work should be directed to the agency regulating the employer.

What is the penalty for misusing information obtained from the registry?
Any person who uses the information obtained from the registry for any purpose other than outlined in Chapters 210.900 to 210.936, RSMo, could be found guilty of a class B misdemeanor.