Habersham County officials are aware of a recent concern involving a volunteer coach within the Recreation Department and want to address the situation with transparency and clarity.
First and foremost, every volunteer coach is required to successfully complete a background check conducted through the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office before being allowed to participate in any program. This requirement is strictly enforced, and no volunteer is permitted to coach without completing this process.
The Habersham County Sheriff’s Office conducts thorough background screenings by running individuals through both the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) databases. All volunteers underwent background checks in August 2025, and the check returned no records or flagged concerns. When concerns were recently brought to our attention, we asked Sheriff Robin Krockum to review an individual record once more, and he stated, “The review again yielded no results and nothing was on record that would prevent anyone from working with a child.”
The safety and well-being of our children remains our top priority. While all proper procedures were followed in this case, we can only act on the information that is given to us through GCIC and NCIC. We continue to actively review and strengthen our volunteer application and screening processes to further enhance safeguards wherever possible.
We also want to strongly encourage our citizens: if you ever have a concern, please utilize the proper channels to ensure accurate information is received and addressed appropriately. Concerns can be directed to the Department Director or the County Manager’s Office so that they can be thoroughly reviewed and handled.
For transparency, the volunteer vetting process includes:
- Completion of a coach application through RecDesk (online or in person)
- Review and acknowledgment of departmental policies and procedures
- Submission of a notarized background check consent form
- Execution of a Volunteer Waiver and Release Agreement
- Acknowledgment of the Sexual Abuse and Molestation Prevention Policy
- Completion of a Hold Harmless Agreement
- Mandatory background check conducted through the Habersham County Sheriff’s Office
- Internal review and documentation of all materials prior to approval
Habersham County is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all participants. We take every concern seriously and will continue working to uphold the trust placed in us by our community.
