Volunteer Screening Policy Of Sofesa
POLICY STATEMENT :
All employees and volunteers who work with children at SOFESA must comply with the screening procedures as listed in this volunteer screening policy. This policy includes, but is not limited to establishing a volunteer application, procedures for reporting abuse, signed statements from the applicant stating that the applicant has never been formally accused, found guilty, or entered a guilty plea in a court of law to any form of child abuse or neglect, and background checks on the applicant.
All employees and volunteers who work with children at SOFESA must comply with the screening procedures as listed in this volunteer screening policy. This policy includes, but is not limited to establishing a volunteer application, procedures for reporting abuse, signed statements from the applicant stating that the applicant has never been formally accused, found guilty, or entered a guilty plea in a court of law to any form of child abuse or neglect, and background checks on the applicant.
PURPOSE:
It is the goal of SOFESA to provide:
It is the goal of SOFESA to provide:
- A safe environment for all children involved in any SOFESA sponsored program or activity.
- Comfortable working conditions for all employees and volunteers working with children.
OBJECTIVES:
- That all children be treated with courtesy, respect, and Christian love while attending the programs and activities of SOFESA.
- That the activities and programs of SOFESA are conducted in a safe and secure environment and the children are properly supervised while participating in these activities and programs.
- That volunteers and employees who work with children receive appropriate training to properly supervise and conduct the activities and programs, and respond to and report dangerous or inappropriate situations.
VOLUNTEER SCREENING REQUIREMENTS
In order to provide SOFESA clients with a safe environment and allow for a variety of opportunities for volunteering, volunteer participation is classified into four categories. Depending upon the category, certain processes must be completed by volunteer applicant prior to volunteering. All volunteers will be screened biannually.
In order to provide SOFESA clients with a safe environment and allow for a variety of opportunities for volunteering, volunteer participation is classified into four categories. Depending upon the category, certain processes must be completed by volunteer applicant prior to volunteering. All volunteers will be screened biannually.
CATEGORY A
Volunteers with unrestricted exposure, who work with children and may be unsupervised by staff/others.
This volunteer likely will have direct and unsupervised interaction with children.
Screening requirements:
Volunteers with unrestricted exposure, who work with children and may be unsupervised by staff/others.
This volunteer likely will have direct and unsupervised interaction with children.
Screening requirements:
- Be sponsored by a SOFESA Board Member
- Be able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
- Complete and submit for approval the Volunteer Agreement Form
- Submit to a criminal background check via the national criminal & sex offender registry.
CATEGORY B
Volunteers with restricted exposure, who work with children and are generally supervised by staff/others.
This could include direct contact with supervision. Conditions typically are areas where staff or other adults can observe at most times. These occasionally include short solitary time with children and short duration of obstructed view.
Screening requirements:
Volunteers with restricted exposure, who work with children and are generally supervised by staff/others.
This could include direct contact with supervision. Conditions typically are areas where staff or other adults can observe at most times. These occasionally include short solitary time with children and short duration of obstructed view.
Screening requirements:
- Be sponsored by a SOFESA Board Member
- Be able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
- Complete and submit for approval the Volunteer Agreement
- Submit to a criminal background check via the national criminal & sex offender registry.
- Volunteer drivers for field trips and/or events must have a current driver’s license and provide proof of insurance
- Be required to display a volunteer identification badge to be surrendered at the conclusion of the day’s volunteer activity.
CATEGORY C
Volunteers with group exposure who have little or no direct unsupervised exposure or contact with children.
Screening requirements:
Volunteers with group exposure who have little or no direct unsupervised exposure or contact with children.
Screening requirements:
- Be approved by a SOFESA Board Member
- Be able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
- Complete and submit for approval the Volunteer Agreement
- Be required to display a volunteer identification badge to be surrendered at the conclusion of the day’s volunteer activity.
CATEGORY D
Volunteers or guests who volunteer for a one-time visit.
This person has no unsupervised exposure or contact with children. Typical examples could include guest readers, guest speakers, and entertainers.
Screening requirements:
Volunteers or guests who volunteer for a one-time visit.
This person has no unsupervised exposure or contact with children. Typical examples could include guest readers, guest speakers, and entertainers.
Screening requirements:
- Be approved by a SOFESA Board Member
- Be able to present some form of current government-issued photo identification (driver’s license, passport, military ID, or other US government identification).
- Be required to display a visitor identification badge to be surrendered at the conclusion of the day’s activity.
Rules For Volunteers Working With Children
General rules which apply to all volunteers working with children include:
- All volunteers must submit to the rules, recommendations, and requests of the immediate supervisor. The supervisor is ultimately responsible for all occurrences and must be allowed to use his experience to preclude any detrimental situations.
- Lights are to remain on and doors and windows are not to be covered. Should lights need to be turned off for video viewing, the immediate supervisor will be present.
- All volunteers should use good judgment when needing to speak to a child alone. Doors and window blinds should be open at all times. A second adult in the room is when a one on one conversation/activity is needed with a child.
- Topics, vocabulary and attire should not be used/worn which may portray a negative message to the children.
- Adult volunteers should not use alcohol during a scheduled activity or prior to it.
- All volunteers should use good judgment when having physical contact with children. Do not pat them on the bottom or touch them in any way that would seem intimate, threatening, or frightening. Under no circumstances should you treat a child roughly. Do not yell at him, intimidate him, threaten him, grab him by his arm firmly, shake him, forcibly sit him in a chair or strike him. Not only would such occurrences be inappropriate to SFS atmosphere but cause of legal action could be argued.
- Volunteers will always maintain a professional posture in dealing with clients, avoiding emotional attachment and aware of the powerful attraction of adults in positions of authority and trust.
- If a volunteer believes that a client is in an unsafe or abusive home, he shall report it to the immediate supervisor.
Volunteer Screening Process: Background Checks
SOFESA works with Verified Volunteers to perform required background checks for volunteer applicants. All background checks are performed via online at the Verified Volunteers website. SOFESA will pay for half of the cost of the background check. The volunteer applicant agrees to pay the other half of the cost for the background check. There are three background check choices:
Click here to begin your background check. You will be directed to the Verified Volunteers website to create a new account (free of charge) and begin the process to do your background check. Once completed, Verified Volunteers will notify SOFESA of your request and report. SOFESA will notify you once your application and background have been approved.
To learn more about how Verified Volunteers works, click here.
- Basic Criminal Locator Search & Report: Category C or D volunteer applicants required. Category A or B cannot volunteer with this check. Cost for volunteer applicant (as of November 2015) is $12
GOOD DEED CODE: xvdtndy - Advanced Criminal Locator Search & Report: Category B volunteer applicants required. Category A and B can use this check as well. Cost for volunteer applicant (as of November 2015) is $19
GOOD DEED CODE: ujiixku - Complete Criminal Locator Search & Report: Category A volunteer applicants required. Category B, C and D can use this check as well. Cost for volunteer applicant (as of November 2015) is $35
GOOD DEED CODE: yzc7dkd
Click here to begin your background check. You will be directed to the Verified Volunteers website to create a new account (free of charge) and begin the process to do your background check. Once completed, Verified Volunteers will notify SOFESA of your request and report. SOFESA will notify you once your application and background have been approved.
To learn more about how Verified Volunteers works, click here.
To Get Verified:
- Visit us at: https://app.verifiedvolunteers.com
- Create an Account and log in through the volunteers portal.
- Select "Get Verified" and enter GOOD DEED code: you will receive a code from SFS via email
- Fill out the 4 steps, enter any necessary credit card information and click COMPLETE.