It's a nightmare that lurks in the back of every parent's mind -- child sexual abuse.

And it's easy to see why, as hundreds of Web sites and organizations devoted to the prevention of child sexual abuse report new incidents on a nearly daily basis, along with frightening statistics that make the issue impossible to ignore.

Schools, government agencies, Little League, and the Catholic church require background checks for coaches, volunteers and teachers who work with or are exposed regularly to children.

Yet, not all youth athletic leagues and teams in the area require screenings, mostly due to the cost and what organizers see as one more onerous hoop to jump through for groups that are already strapped for volunteers.

Although the vast majority of coaches are honest and appropriate, the position presents an irresistible opportunity for child predators, as coaches are expected to work closely with children.

Touching and patting are normal behaviors and seen as encouragement for youngsters, who look to coaches as respected adults they've been taught to obey.

Children often seek one-on-one attention from coaches as competition for scholarships stiffens, and when a young child reports abuse -- which is rare -- it is often thought to be a misunderstanding.

"It's unfortunate, but we have to do this," said Vicky Cupelli, volunteer security coordinator for the Cranberry Township Athletic Association, the local baseball and softball organization in Cranberry and Seven Fields.

This is the second season that the CTAA has required background checks for its 100-plus baseball managers and nearly 40 coaches.

The association has been forced to be more aggressive in its fund raising to help cover the costs of the checks, which organizers hope will be enough to protect the children, as reports of child sexual abuse rise nationwide.

"How far do you go? It's $20 a pop,"said Ms. Cupelli, referring to fees for what are known as Act 33 and Act 34 clearances.

For $10, the state police will provide a criminal background search for individuals back to the age of 18. Previously, the search included only criminal records in the state of Pennsylvania, but a new feature added recently includes a search of FBI databases.

The accompanying search, for another $10 fee, is conducted by the state Department of Welfare, and searches for records of child abuse.

Other local groups which require background checks use the same clearances, although there are more in-depth screenings available from organizations online.

After much thought

Peters began discussing ways to implement a background check policy for its volunteer coaches three years ago, and this summer wrapped up the first full year that screenings were required.

"The park and recreation board hashed it out for many, many months," recalled township Manager Michael Silvestri.

When researching policies, groups must decide on confidentiality issues, and what sorts of crimes would bar an individual from participating as a volunteer. For example, does a drunken driving arrest exempt a coach who may have to transport team members? What about financial records for those who will be responsible for team funds?

In Peters, the policy dictates that convictions and arrests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Although the information is public record, Peters and several other municipalities treat it confidentially. There is an appeals process available.

When the Catholic church unveiled its new background check policy recently, two local lectors quit, resenting the implied distrust. So far Peters hasn't had that problem, although volunteers foot the bill for the screenings.

"We haven't gotten any complaints from any of the associations," said Michele Harmel, director of the township park and recreation department.

Peters has a community sports association, sponsored by the township and overseen by the township park and recreation committee.

The township provides a list of more than 300 approved volunteers at www.peterstownship.com.

Do screenings work?

So far, the checks haven't turned up any serious problems, and the idea is they never will. The screenings are supposed to act as a deterrent, but some have questioned if that really works.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 59 percent of sex offenders convicted of crimes relating to children had previous criminal records. Others use aliases as they move from state to state, counting on the fear and shame of young victims to keep their secrets. Statistics show one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. The median age is 9.

"The typical pedophile ends up with over 40 victims in a lifetime, and most don't get caught," said Libby Campbell Turner, executive associate and media director of Darkness to Light, a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of child sexual abuse.

Pedophiles will find ways to skirt the system to gain access to children, but background checks are still worthwhile, experts say, because they put offenders on notice that the community is paying attention.

"If parents insist on it, these organizations will have to comply," said Ms. Campbell Turner. "The power is with the parents."

Experts and national sports organizations encourage youth sports groups to also turn to state and national sex offender registries to double-check data.

The registries, mandated under Megan's Law, provide detailed information about offenders, such as addresses and photos.

The law was named after Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a convicted child molester who moved into a home across the street from her family without their knowledge.

Pennsylvania's Megan's Law registry has come under fire recently, though, for being one of the least effective in the nation due to poor record-keeping.

Curbing offenders

There has been a push in recent weeks to limit how close sex offenders can live to schools, day care centers, and other places children congregate in Mt. Lebanon, Peters and Ross. Allegheny County has also taken up the issue, along with the state Legislature.

Cranberry and Moon have screening policies for employees, similar to those required by the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.

"We do background checks on all our staff," including camp counselors, lifeguards and other employees who will be working with children, said Cranberry Park and Recreation Department Director Mike Diehl.

Mt. Lebanon Recreation Director Dave Donnellan said the township sponsors some T-ball and soccer teams for children in preschool to second grade, but requires no background checks of the volunteer coaches because the programs usually last less than an hour and parents are on-site.

"There's really no need to background check the coaches because [the children] are under their parents' supervision," he said.

Other municipalities, such as Upper St. Clair, are still on the fence.

President Tony Reda of the Upper St. Clair Athletic Association said his group is researching whether to require coaches to submit to background checks.

"It's kinda like the hot item right now," he said.

The USCAA is the governing body that oversees most youth sports in Upper St. Clair, including football, soccer, baseball and wrestling.

Its 20-member board of directors nominates coaches based on expertise and recommendations from other coaches, parents and assistants. It's an informal process in which instinct and reputation play a role.

"It doesn't take much for word of mouth to get around about whether a coach is good with kids," Mr. Reda said.

Although the organization has a code of conduct and rules, Mr. Reda said he expects background checks to also be required within the next year or two.

Groups such as Darkness to Light, insurance companies and the National Council of Youth Sports promote guidelines which include screenings and educational opportunities for coaches. Darkness to Light offers a seven-step program to help protect children.

A hiring mentality

"Insurers always encourage employers to get background checks," said Insurance Information Institute Vice President Claire Wilkinson, who said the same policy can be applied to volunteers. "It's a good risk management step and one that can flag issues before they arise."

PONY Baseball/Softball, headquartered in Washington, doesn't yet require background checks of its coaches, but it recommends them, along with letters of reference, education and supervision of coaches.

That's a good idea, according to experts.

"We want them to develop a hiring mentality," said Trish McGonnell of the National Center for Safety Initiatives. "It's my belief that if we can change the attitudes and behaviors, we can impact these statistics."

Ms. Campbell Turner, of Darkness to Light, said most people wouldn't think of lending their vehicle to a coach or counselor, yet would turn their children over to their care without a thought.

"Child sexual abuse is still considered something creepy that everyone thinks won't happen to them in their area," she said.