Navigate to the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Portal (CPW):

https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home

Click on the "Individual Login" button.

Click on the "Access My Clearances" button.

Read the "Learn More" page and scroll to the bottom.  Click the "Continue" button.

Enter the username and password that you chose when you first created a CWP individual account.  Then click the "Login" button.

On the next page, select which method you would like for second factor authentication: answering several of the security questions you selected when creating your Keystone ID, or a "secret" code emailed to the email account you provided the CWP.

Once you have successfully answered the security questions or received and entered the emailed security code, you will be asked whether your device is "private" or "public."  If you select "private," some login information may be saved on your device to make loging in quicker in the future.  If you select "public," the information will not be saved to the computer you are using and you will need to go through the whole login process the next time you log in.

Once you are successfully logged into the CWP, click on the "Create Clearance Application" button.

The next page is informational.  Read it carefully.  You will need to know:

  • all addresses at which you have previously lived,
  • the names of all people with whom you have lived,
  • and all of your aliases (previous names, different names, etc.)

The CWP will remember this information so you will not have to re-enter it for future clearance searches.  However, if any information changes, you will have to update your information before future searches.

Click the "Begin" button at the lower-right corner of the page.

What follows is a sequence of pages on which to enter your personal information.

Part 1

  • Application Purpose:  Select the first option, "Volunteer Having Contact with Children".  When the new box suddenly appears, select "Other" for Volunteer Category.  For Agency Name, you can use "Latrobe Alliance Church".  Click "Next."
  • Applicant Information: Enter the information as requested.  This includes things such as name, birthday, gender, Social Security Number, previous names, and contact information.
  • Current Address:  Enter your current address and other requested information.  For the Certificate Delivery Method, you do not need to have a copy mailed to your home.  No matter what you respond, your CWP account will hold a digital copy of the result that can be downloaded and printed for submission to the church.
  • Previous Addresses:  Add any previous addresses at which you lived.
  • Household Members:  Enter information about any people with whom you have lived.
  • Application Summary:  Look over the summary of your application to make sure all of the information is correct.

Part 2:

  • eSignature: Since this is not a paper form, the CWP requires an electronic signature.  This amounts to checking the box (after reading the paragraph next to it) and typing your FIRST and LAST names (only) in the box.  The system checks what you type here against the information you entered earlier.  If you add middle initial, suffix, etc., it will reject your signature.  Enter ONLY your first and last names.  Then click "Next."
  • Application Payment: Answer the first question by clicking on the "No" option.  As long as this search request is more than 57 months after any previous search, there is no fee.  Follow the instructions to complete the search application.  The church will inform you when it is time to complete a new (free) search after 57 months have elapsed.