IPS - Getting Started with Volunteering

(Keywords: new, first, time, volunteering, background, check)

Welcome to the world of after-school volunteering—a chance to shape young futures. This article will cover the process of registering as a volunteer for the first time for Indianapolis Public Schools' after-school programs and guide you through the steps required for submitting a background check.

• If you are a volunteer who was added manually and/or are experiencing password issues click here.

IMPORTANT: AfterSchool HQ and the Indianapolis Public Schools District do not charge a fee for background checks. If you're asked to pay a fee or find any online references to fees, please contact [e-mail] to report and receive clear instructions before proceeding.

If you would like to follow alongside a video, click below:

Step 1. Click here to be taken to IPS's volunteer registration page.

Note: This is the general volunteer page for the school district. You can click here to learn how to access the IPS Volunteer Opportunities Directory. Here, you can search for the school you want to volunteer at and access their volunteer registration page.

   • Before continuing, if you need to change the language, you can do so by clicking the language that appears on your screen and then click on the language you prefer.

   • Antes de continuar, si necesita cambiar el idioma, puede hacerlo haciendo clic en el idioma que aparece en su pantalla y luego haga clic en el idioma que prefiera.

   • Avant de continuer, si vous avez besoin de changer la langue, vous pouvez le faire en cliquant sur la langue qui apparaît sur votre écran, puis cliquez sur la langue que vous préférez.



Step 2. Click Register.

Step 3. Enter your Email to Sign Up or Sign In and click Next.

• Signing Up: If you do not have an account, you will be redirected to a page to create your account. Enter all of the required * information and click Save & Continue.

• Signing In:  If our system detects you have an account, you will be prompted to enter your Password. If you have forgotten your password, click Forgot Password and you will receive an email to reset it. To continue, click Log In.

Step 4. Go through the registration and enter your information. Click Save & Continue to navigate through the registration form.

Step 5. Once you have entered all of your information, enter your E-Signature and click Confirm Registration.

Step 6. You will receive an email from AfterSchool HQ with the subject line, "ACTION REQUIRED" containing a link to register via Sterling, the background check service provider. Click on the link to continue to Sterling.

• Make sure to check your spam & trash folders •

Alternatively, you can log in to your AfterSchool HQ account and on the Home section, there will be a new To-Do section. There you will find a button labeled Start Background Check. This will also route you to Sterling.


Step 7. Once you're on your unique Sterling page, create a Password and click Create Account to continue.

Note: Your email address will already be auto-filled. You must use the email address you used when registering.

❗Although you have registered through AfterSchool HQ, you must create a Sterling account by entering a password and clicking Create Account.  Do not click I am a returning user if you haven't created a Sterling account.

Step 8. You will be sent a confirmation email to your inbox. Locate the email to continue. Remember to check your Spam folder.

Note: If you do not receive the confirmation email, you can go back to your Sterling page and click Get a new confirmation email located at the bottom.

Step 9. You will need to locate the confirmation email from Sterling. It will be a "noreply" email with the subject line, "Please confirm your email"

• Once you have located the email, click, Click here to confirm your email.

Step 10. After verifying your email, you will be redirected back to Sterling. Click Continue.

Step 11. Enter your newly created Sterling password and click Log in.

Step 12. You will be taken to a welcome page and be provided information regarding submitting information to Sterling. Once you've read through it, click Let's Get Started.

Step 13. Lastly, you will need to provide Sterling with information and submit it in order for them to conduct their screening report.

❗Make sure that you submit your information. If you need to continue another day, you do so by ❗ logging in again, but you have to submit all of the information they ask.

Once you complete the registration process on Sterling, it can take up to 7 days for your background check to be completed. Please note: This is an estimate. This does not mean it will take the full 7 days for Sterling to complete its report.

For more information, visit Sterling's candidate information page.

In the meantime, you are able to check the progress of your report in two ways.

• The first would be to click here to log in to your Sterling account and navigate over to the Activity Center.

• The second way would be to click here to receive an email notification informing you of the screening status. You will need to provide the email address that you used to create your Sterling account and the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.

Step 14. After your application has been reviewed, you will receive an email stating if it has been approved, declined or if it requires further review.
     • If your application requires further review, the school district will conduct a review and reach out to notify you whether it has been approved or declined.

Note: You can also check the status of your application by going into your Volunteer Account and clicking Volunteer Center on the left-hand side menu.

FAQs

Q: I've clicked on my Sterling link, but it says it's not the most up to date link. What can I do?
A: Contact us at [e-mail].

Q: If I have a valid background check from the previous service provider IPS used to conduct their background checks, do I have to renew through Sterling?
A: No. You will need to renew when it expires.

Q: How long will it take for Sterling to complete my screening report?
A: It can take up to 7 days.

Q: Will it take the full 7 days for Sterling to complete my screening report?
A: This is an estimate.

Q: It has been over 7 days since I submitted my information and I have not received any email from Sterling. What can I do?
A: Contact us at [e-mail].

Q: I was declined and I disagree with the results. What can I do?
A: The parameters of the background check screening report were set up by IPS. You can contact them at [e-mail] for assistance.

Q: How long is a background check valid for?
A: One year.

Q: Do I have to go through this process again if I want to volunteer at another school?
A: No. As long as you have a valid background check, you can volunteer at other IPS schools. Click here to view the IPS Volunteer Opportunities Directory.

Q: I don't see my question here. Who can I contact for help?
A: Us! Contact us at [e-mail].

💡If you have any questions or experience any technical difficulties with IPS - Getting Started with Volunteering, don't hesitate to get in touch with our support team at [e-mail].