What it Means For Volunteers and Programs June 20, 2012
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Transcript of What it Means For Volunteers and Programs June 20, 2012
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory 1
What it Means For Volunteers and Programs June 20, 2012
Community Relations and Development Conference
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Today’s SessionFocus:
• What is a successful SFH program?• How does effective SFH
implementation impact volunteer management?
• What do I need to know if I oversee volunteers in programs serving children, youth and vulnerable adults?. . . And any other questions you have!
QUESTION
What is Safe From Harm?
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What is Safe From Harm? A comprehensive safety and abuse
prevention program • Training: officers,
employees, and volunteers
• Employee/Volunteer hiring & supervision
• Program/activity planning and implementation
• Corps/program specific safety assessment
• Facility layout and design
• Procedures and practices
• AND MORE!
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Safe From Harm• Program Handbook• Model Guideline
Manual• Program Safety Audit• Background Checking• Training Resources• Rapid Response
Guidebook/Poster• Current Policies &
Procedures
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Objectives of Safe From Harm• Educate leaders and workers about
prevention of abuse or accidental injury• Enable leaders and workers to develop
procedures and practices that reduce risks• Protect adults from mistaken or groundless
accusations• Reduce liability for Salvation Army units• Build family confidence in Army programs• Prepare Army representatives to respond
should an incident or accident occur
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Why Safe From Harm?• The Salvation Army is responsible for the
participants in our programs• Abuse and negligent accidents do happen – and
they can happen here• Child molesters and other predators target
churches and youth-serving organizations• Corps and programs not in compliance with Safe
From Harm are exposed to greater liability
Practically Speaking, in the Corps/Program:
• Common sense safety routines and practices • Careful planning of activities, both regularly
occurring and one-time• Appropriately screened and trained
employees and volunteers• Suitable environment(s) for activities• Knowledge of important policies and
procedures
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Local Unit Compliance• Name of the corps’ SFH
Coordinator• Copy of most recent
Program Safety Audit• Copy of updated Rapid
Response Guidebook or poster
• Monitoring for Appropriate Screening and Training
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A Comprehensive Approach
1. Protect vulnerable persons (children and
adults) in our care2. Protect our staff and
volunteers3. Protect The Salvation
Army
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Preventing Maltreatment
Access Careful selection/screening procedures limit access
Overcome own inhibitions Rules, procedures,
education & training
Overcome external Strong supervision, wise barriers operating guidelines
Overcome Children / vulnerable adults / resistance families prepared to recognize,
resist, and report abuse
Volunteer Management and Safe From Harm
• Screening
• Training
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Screening Before you bring on a volunteer:• Conduct a thorough, confidential
interview• Check at least two references• 18 years or older• Follow the 6 month guideline for
volunteers working with children, youth, or vulnerable adults
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Required FormsApplicationStatement for Work with ChildrenDisclosure and Release of Information
Authorization (for criminal background check)
Guidelines for Adults Working with Children/Youth/Vulnerable Adults (signed copy for file)
Position Description (assigned in database)
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Territorial Registry• Designated DHQ
personnel will check names against the Territorial Registry
• Your Divisional Volunteer Coordinator should be aware of this process, and which individuals are designated to access the registry
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Territorial Background Check• Contracted with
Sterling• Divisional HR Staff
and Volunteer Coordinators conduct these checks
• Criminal/court records are searched
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Background Check - OverviewA background investigation is
required for the following positions:
• Work with Children/Youth• Work with Vulnerable Adults (Elderly,
Disabled)• Candidates for Ministry Leadership• ALL Local Officers• Finance/Fundraising/ Planned Giving• Information Technology (I.T.)• Anyone in an otherwise “low risk”
position who, do to lack of supervision or some other circumstance, may have easy, unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults.
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Look For Red Flags
• A strong interest in a certain age group or gender
• Lack of adult relationships and/or interests • Instability in work and life• Gaps in a person’s life history• Stressful events in the applicant’s recent past• Evasive or misleading answers• Rigidity in belief or doctrines
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Guidelines for Working with Children, Youth and Vulnerable
Adults
Includes Children, Youth, Vulnerable Adults, Elderly Persons
Training: Specific to Position
• In person trainingOR• Online Training (NEW!)
• Both are appropriate• Most important: what type of training is
needed for this type of position?
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Online Training• Online training is accessible through the SFH
Resources database on Lotus Notes• Volunteers who are not on Lotus Notes can
access the online training directly through the Praesidium website – directions/info on SFH Resources database
• Volunteer must know division name• Two required courses + more depending on
position
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Good Supervision includes:• Two Adult Guideline• Observation• Periodic review of
volunteers• Contact with program
participants and family members
• Awareness of life stressors in volunteers
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Safe From Harm Resources Database
• SFH Program Handbook• Model Guidelines• Program Safety Audit• Rapid Response
Reference• SFH Orientation DVD• Current Policies• Many valuable resources
for implementation and training
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SFH Training Database Access to Safe From Harm Training records available for
download via Lotus Notes:File → Database → Open → Divisional Server →
USC Safe From Harm Training
Divisional SFH Coordinators• EMI – Charol McDonald• HRT – Captain James
Frye• IND – Captain Nicholas
Montgomery• KWM – Joyce Schau• MET – Major Sandra
Turner• MID – Gary Busiek• NOR – La Rae Roder
• WST- Linda Harrer• WMNI – Captain Rochelle
McClintock• WUM – Marian Smith• ARCC – Major Linda
MitchellRED = will change with officer moves SOON!
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Common Concerns
• “Unofficial” volunteers• “Church” volunteers and
program/community volunteers• Inconsistent screening practices• Lack of position descriptions• Longtime volunteers• Local officers
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YOUR QUESTIONS
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Spectrum of Risk
NegativeConsequences SERIOUS
MINOR
LOW HIGHLikelihood an Incident Will Occur
STRONGPrecautions
MODESTPrecautions
MOST STRINGENTPrecautions
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If Other Questions Come Up
1. Contact your Unit/Divisional Headquarters– Child Safety Coordinator– Safe From Harm Trainer(s)– Divisional Youth Secretary– Divisional Social Services Director
2. Contact Territorial Child/Adult Safety Coordinator
E-mail: [email protected]@usc.salvationarmy.org
Phone: 847-795-3087