FAQ

What is C.A.U.S.E. Certification?

C.A.U.S.E. Certification is a program designed to offer consumers and employers a means to hire safer employees, contractors, and subcontractors.

How do I find a C.A.U.S.E. Certified Business?

Searching for C.A.U.S.E. Certified Businesses is FREE on The Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E. website. Our mission is to promote Consumer Awareness of Unsafe Service Employment. We want to protect consumers by offering a means of hiring safer workers and have no intentions of charging consumers to find those businesses that are C.A.U.S.E. Certified.

How do I become a C.A.U.S.E. Certified Business?

In addition to your willingness to annually screen all of your employees, contractors and subcontracts following our Best Practice Screening Guidelines below the step is to complete our online application for C.A.U.S.E. Certification. Please call 877-450-5812 for more information.

What are C.A.U.S.E. Certification Best Practice Screening Guidelines and what do the different searches include?

SSN Trace

Validates distinct aspects of a Social Security Number and immediately provides:

State of SSN Issuance.
Year of Issuance.
That the number has not been reported to the SSA as belonging to a deceased individual.

Address Trace

Includes information on an applicant’s past addresses and movement patterns based on name and social security number. Report should include names associated with the provided social security number and addresses applicant has lived for the past seven years. Additional items may include dates at listed addresses, age/date of birth, and available phone information.

County Level Criminal

Direct search of up to date records held within local county courts (or if outside of US – local jurisdictional courthouse in that region) to determine if applicant has a record. Records should be searched for past seven years in counties (jurisdictions) applicant has lived, worked or attended school. All names revealed in Address Trace relating to applicant should be searched. These searches can be performed directly with Courts or through current database searches.

Multi-jurisdictional/”National” Criminal Database

Search of an industry instant nationwide criminal records database containing millions of records from participating states. The search must also include information from the following sources: Department of Corrections records, FBI terrorist list and Federal/State/Local Wanted Fugitive Lists.

National/State Sex Offender Registry

The National Sex Offender Public Registry Website – coordinated by the Department of Justice – the latest information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for the identity and location of known sex offenders. This search may be combined with Multi-jurisdictional/”National” Criminal Database search if record are included in that specific search.

How does C.A.U.S.E. market those businesses participating in C.A.U.S.E. Certification?

For a complete list of marketing opportunities for C.A.U.S.E. Certified businesses please visit the advantages of C.A.U.S.E. Certification.

How do I find a participating background screening company for C.A.U.S.E. Certification?

Background screening companies (CRA’s) that support C.A.U.S.E. Certification and have agreed to screen for C.A.U.S.E. Certification are listed on our website. We encourage to find a company that best fits your needs, they do not necessary have to be in your area.

How does my company become a participating background screening company?

The first step to become a participating CRA is to complete our online application. Participating CRAs agree to screen to C.A.U.S.E. Certification Standards and follow the Certification Matrix on all applicants applying for C.A.U.S.E. Certification. Please call C.A.U.S.E. at 877-450-5812 for more information.

What questions should I ask the service company I am contracting to do service work at my home if they are not C.A.U.S.E. Certified?

Do you perform criminal background checks on your employees and subcontractors?
When are the background checks performed?
Which background screening company do you use to perform background checks?
How can I be assured that the person being sent into my home has had a criminal background check performed?

If the service provider you are considering doesn’t want to answer these questions or answers them unsatisfactorily, then please consider using someone else.

Are criminal background checks required for a service worker to be bonded and insured?

No, bonded and insured means the service company carries insurance that may reimburse you for your loss in the event something is stolen or broken and you can prove it was the fault of the service worker.

What is the Mission of The Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E.?

To promote Consumer Awareness of Unsafe Service Employment (C.A.U.S.E.)

You can join our quest of requiring proper annual criminal background checks on all workers sent to peoples’ homes.

What is C.A.U.S.E.’s Vision?

Proper annual background checks on all workers sent to consumers’ homes.

Public Awareness – Protect Your Family. Protect Your Business.
Educate consumers and employers on the moral and legal obligation for criminal background checks on all employees, contractors and subcontractors entering consumers’ homes or working with the vulnerable populations.
Advocate for consumer safety legislation at local, state and federal levels.
C.A.U.S.E. Certification – A program to better protect safety-conscious consumers by offering a means of hiring safer workers.

How C.A.U.S.E. accomplishes our Vision

C.A.U.S.E. Certification – Becoming a household name, consumers commit to only hiring C.A.U.S.E. Certified Service Providers.
Speaking at local and national events to consumers, business owners and HR professionals.
Annual Fundraising Gala – Dancing for C.A.U.S.E.
Ensure structure of board and volunteers reflects goals of the organization.
Increase volunteers and supporters.
On going effective training and education of staff, volunteers and communities.
Partner with other non-profits with similar goals.
Partner with employers and insurance companies.
Partner with law enforcement and government.
Funding through private donations, corporate sponsorships and government grants.