Care.com (CRCM) announced yesterday that it will launch "expansive" safety enhancements in the next few months on its U.S. consumer digital platform. These enhancements include in-depth background checks of caregivers and an identity verification pilot.

In addition, Care.com has appointed former Homeland Security and State Department Inspector General Clark K. Ervin to its Board of Directors. "Care.com's longstanding preliminary screening of individual caregivers already includes a search of a national criminal database and the National Sex Offender Public Website. In the next few months, the Company will begin to implement additional screening on caregivers looking to match with families through the platform with the improvements to be rolled out by the end of the year.

The enhancements will include: A Social Security Number verification process for caregivers; An in-depth background check that includes federal and county-level criminal records checks dating back seven years. These checks, which will be paid for by Care.com, will be conducted by a leading provider of background checks and identity services. Displays of the date of the most recent background check on each caregiver's profile." The company's exploration of identity verification announced in March has resulted in a pilot to be implemented this month and includes facial recognition matched to a government-issued ID. Pending the success of the pilot, the company will look to expand the use of the technology later this year. Care.com is actively developing a plan to verify the state licensure information on child care center listings provided by the business owners of such listings in its free directory.

This move follows the company's announcement in March that it had removed all unclaimed child care center listings from its free digital directory.