Missouri Volunteer and Employee Criminal
History Service (MOVECHS) Program
Checking the Background of Persons Who Work or Volunteer with Children, the Elderly, or the Disabled Under the National Child Protection Act (1993), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (NCPA/VCA) and the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, developed the MoVECHS (pronounced "mo-veks") program to enable non-governmental entities that meet specific qualifying criteria to obtain state and national (FBI) criminal history record information with the submission of fingerprints and a waiver statement on current and prospective applicants, employees, and volunteers. Generally, to be qualified to participate in the MoVECHS program, an entity must provide some type of care or care placement services for children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities. ("Care" includes treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation.)
For consideration in the MOVECHS program, please complete an application and User Agreement.
1. A MOVECHS Application Form (SHP-980A). This form must be completed in full, explaining what functions your organization/entity performs that specifically serve children, elderly or disabled persons;
2. A MOVECHS User Agreement (SHP-976 or SHP-982). The MoVECHS program has two User Agreements:
- The SHP-976 is specifically for use by private elementary and secondary schools under the authority of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (Adam Walsh Act).
- The SHP-982 is for use by all other qualified entities under the authority of the National Child Protection Act, as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (NCPA/VCA).
- The User Agreement must be signed by the entity head and signifies an understanding of the agreement's stipulation that criminal history record information would only be used for the purpose it was intended and must be kept confidential and in a secure location.
- MoVECHS Brochure
- MoVECHS Application (SHP-980)
- MoVECHS User Agreement NCPA/VCA (SHP-982)
- MoVECHS User Agreement Adam Walsh Act (SHP-976)
If approved, qualified entities will be eligible to receive:
1. An indication that the applicant has no criminal history, i.e., no serious arrests in Missouri or the FBI databases, if there are none;
2. The Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) sheet from Missouri and the FBI that shows arrests and/or convictions, if any; and
3. Notification if the applicant is a Missouri registered sex offender.
Mail the completed application and User Agreement to: Missouri State Highway Patrol, CJIS Division, Attn: MoVECHS Unit, Post Office Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO 65102-9500. For questions pertaining to the MoVECHS program or for assistance, please call toll free 866-560-3589 or (573) 526-6345. Questions may also be Emailed at: MOVECHS@mshp.dps.mo.gov
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is there a fee with the MoVECHS program? No. The only fees associated are the fees for the background checks. The state background check is $20.00 and the federal fee is $19.25 (or $15.25 if a volunteer). If using the electronic fingerprint vendor through our MOAPS service, the processing fee is $12.95. Total cost for a complete background check is $52.20 per applicant. For more information regarding fees or MOAPS fingerprint services, please refer to the "Information Page".
What is the Qualified Entity Application? The Qualified Entity Application is the initial document
completed by the interested entity in order to request participation in the MOVECHS program. The form
provides vital information about the entity and should be completed in its entirety. A current copy of the
entity's business license is required and should accompany the application.
What is the Waiver Agreement and Statement? Pursuant to the National Child Protection Act of 1993
(NCPA), as amended by the Volunteers for Children Act (VCA), the Waiver Agreement and Statement must be completed
and signed by every current or prospective employee, volunteer, and contractor/vendor, for whom criminal history
records are required by a qualified entity. The waiver authorizes the qualified entity to access and review Missouri
and national (FBI) criminal history records on an applicant.
What is the User Agreement? The User Agreement is an agreement entered into by the Missouri
State Highway Patrol and the qualified entity. The intent of the agreement is to set forth the terms and conditions
under which criminal history record information is obtained through the MOVECHS program.
What is the NCPA/VCA? The National Child Protection Act (NCPA), as amended by the Volunteers
for Children Act (VCA) is national legislation that encouraged states to authorize fingerprint-based national
criminal history record information (background checks) of individuals having access to children and other
vulnerable people by enacting legislation under Public Law 92-544. Recommended policies and procedures for
implementation of the NCPA/VCA were set out by the FBI and are followed by the MoVECHS program.
What is the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006? Under Section 153(b)(2) a fingerprint-based background check request for the receipt of state and national criminal history record information may be submitted by private elementary and secondary schools on individuals employed by, under consideration for employment by, other otherwise in positions in which the individuals would work with or around children in the school.
How To Participate in the MoVECHS Program? An entity must mail a completed Qualified Entity
Application (SHP-980) and User Agreement (SHP-976 Adam Walsh Act or SHP-982 NCPA/VCA), along with a current copy of their business license to: Missouri State Highway
Patrol, CJIS Division, Attn: MOVECHS Unit, P. O. Box 9500, Jefferson City, MO
65102-9500. Once the documentation has been received and reviewed, the entity will be notified of acceptance or
denial. If accepted into the program, specific information about program participation will be provided to the
qualified entity.
What is a "qualified entity"? Who can obtain criminal history record checks under the NCPA/VCA? To be qualified to participate in the MoVECHS program, an entity must provide some type of "care" or "care placement services" for children, the elderly, or the disabled, even if only as a limited part of the entity's overall business. Once qualified to participate in the program, an entity may request criminal history information on all current and prospective employees and volunteers, not only those who work with vulnerable persons. "Qualified entities" are authorized to obtain criminal history record information as described under the NCPA/VCA and related federal guidelines. Under the NCPA/VCA, a "qualified entity" is a business or organization, whether public, private, for profit, not-for-profit, or voluntary, that provides care or care placement services. "Care" means the provision of care, treatment, education, training, instruction, supervision, or recreation to children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. Entities that are required to obtain state and federal criminal history record checks under other statutory provisions (i.e., Missouri Statute), on all or specific employees/volunteers, must continue to comply with those statutes and the procedures that specifically apply. Requests for the required criminal history record check may not be processed through the MoVECHS program, pursuant to federal and state law.
