Volunteer at Starpoint

To minimize risk to our students, anyone who works with children in any capacity (volunteer or research) must complete a brief training course focused on recognizing and reporting abuse and neglect, and must pass a background check. Persons (students or otherwise) may not have contact with children at either school until these requirements are met.

If you are a TCU student enrolled in a course that requires all students to complete field hours at one of the laboratory schools, you will complete the application on the other side of this form and turn it in to Angela Rangel at the TCU Laboratory Schools. Concurrently, your professor will submit your course information to the university, and you will receive an email invitation to complete the online training “Protecting Youth.” As you are doing that, the TCU Police Department will complete a background check. If there is anything unclear in the background check, you will be contacted by the TCU Police for further information before a final determination is made. Once you have completed the online training, return the certificate of completion to Angela Rangel at the Laboratory Schools. We will notify you when you have cleared both portions of the requirements.  Approval is good for one calendar year.

If you are a TCU student who is NOT enrolled in a course that requires all students to complete field hours, or you are a TCU student who simply wishes to volunteer at one or both of the laboratory schools, you will complete the application to volunteer and turn it in to Angela Rangel at the TCU Laboratory Schools. On the first of each month, the lab schools will submit names and emails of volunteer/research applicants to TCU administration, who will issue an invitation for you to complete the online training “Protecting Youth.” As you are doing that, the TCU Police Department will complete a background check. If there is anything unclear in the background check, you will be contacted by the TCU Police for further information before a final determination is made. Once you have completed the online training, return the certificate of completion to Angela Rangel at the Laboratory Schools. We will notify you when you have cleared both portions of the requirements.  Approval is good for one calendar year.  (Please note—we submit a roster of persons for training at the start of each month; if you do not want to wait for the next round of training enrollment, you may opt to complete the Alliance for Children “Stewards of Children” training—at a cost to you of $10—in lieu of the “Protecting Youth” course.

If you are a TCU faculty member or staff—whether you want to volunteer or conduct research—complete the application form and attach a copy of your “Protecting Youth” certificate (available via the Training link in my.tcu.edu) The TCU Police Department will complete a background check. If there is anything unclear in the background check, you will be contacted by the TCU Police for further information before a final determination is made.

If you are a community member who simply wishes to volunteer at one or both lab schools, or a faculty member or staff from another institution wanting to conduct research, you will complete the application form complete the Alliance for Children “Stewards of Children” training—which will cost you $10—and submit the certification of completion to The TCU Police Department will complete a background check. If there is anything unclear in the background check, you will be contacted by the TCU Police for further information before a final determination is made.

Alliance for Children Website

If you’re simply wanting a tour, we have an ID-scanning system that will suffice; please set up a tour through LaJean Sturman (Starpoint) or Angela Rangel (KinderFrogs) 817-257-7141 and ensure that on the day of the visit, all of your students bring a state-issued ID.

If you are TCU faculty member who wants your students to complete field-based hours, you will need to do two things, preferably 3-4 weeks (or more) prior to when you want the students to begin: (1) have students complete the Volunteer/Researcher application and submit these—as a bundle—to Angela Rangel at the Laboratory Schools; and (2) send your course information (course name and unique number) to Angela Rangel (via email) for submission to university officials/subsequent enrollment in the “Protecting Youth” online training module. Upon receiving your course information, Ms. Rangel will process the request, and your students will receive an email invitation for—and should complete—the online training. Collect the certificates of completion for your students and submit as a bundle to Angela Rangel. She will pair these with our clearances on background checks; if any student’s background check does not return as “clear,” the TCU Police Department will contact the student for further information to rectify the situation. Students must have both a satisfactory completed background check AND evidence of successful completion of the “Protecting Youth” training before they may interact with students at the Laboratory Schools.

Follow the directions for TCU Students. However, in cases of groups of volunteers, the group leader may also opt to seek out a group “Stewards of Children” training from the Alliance for Children, rather than moving through the process of enrollment and completion of the “Protecting Youth” online course.