Volunteer RSVP

Appropriate Boundaries for Volunteers

Volunteers should remain courteous and professional during service. For the purposes of care, a volunteer is required to ask before touching (side-hugs only; no lifting). Volunteers should NEVER be alone with children – this protects both you and the child. Volunteers should NEVER ask for personal information from clients or give personal information to clients. Alert a staff member if a child needs to use the restroom or needs personal care. Also, do not hesitate to tell a child “No” if necessary to ensure safety, rules or maintain appropriate boundaries. Regardless of the situation, volunteers should defer clients to staff for all personal or behavioral needs.

Confidentiality of Information

Volunteers, much like employees, are required to safeguard the confidential nature of information concerning ACH Child and Family Services transactions, present and prospective customers, employees, vendors and volunteers. Information that you see or hear must remain here when you leave service. Volunteers are prohibited from filming or photographing clients in our care. Violations may result in termination from service.

Dress Code

To encourage modest and respectful behavior, we have developed a dress code that requires staff, volunteers and children to dress in a modest and respectful manner. During recreational activities, shorts and t-shirts are acceptable if they are not revealing or do not have questionable slogans. Inappropriate tattoos must be covered.

Violence and Weapons

ACH Child and Family Services expressly prohibits acts or threats of violence by or against employee, customers, vendors, volunteers or other visitors to agency facilities. The possession or use of any/all weapons, including handguns, on company premises by any volunteer, whether licensed, unlicensed, concealed or visible, is prohibited. Volunteers are further prohibited from possessing or using any/all weapons while performing service. Violations will result in dismissal.

Sharing of Faith

As an agency founded on Christian principles, we have witnessed the multiple ways God shares love. Volunteers serve children from a wide variety of faith experiences, and it is critical that everyone feel welcome. Our programs can address the spiritual needs of the children and youth. As such, volunteers are to be respectful of the varied faith experiences and are not to seek proclamations of faith, request church membership, or discriminate against any faith. Volunteers are to able listen respectfully and encourage the youth to talk with staff. Advise staff at the time of the conversation.

Reporting Child Abuse

Texas law requires anyone who thinks a child or youth under the age of 18 is being abused, neglected or exploited must report it to the DFPS. A volunteer can report suspected abuse by phone to 1-800-252-5400 or online through the Texas Abuse Hotline at TXAbuseHotline.org.

I HEREBY WAIVE AND RELEASE, indemnify, hold harmless and forever discharge ACH CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES (ACH) and its agents, employees, officers, directors, affiliates, successors and assigns, of and from any and all claims, demands, debts, contracts, expenses, causes of action, lawsuits, damages and liabilities, of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, in law or equity, that I ever had or may have, arising from or in any way related to my participation in the events and activities conducted by, on the premises of, or for the benefit of ACH provided that this waiver of liability does not apply to any acts of gross negligence, or intentional, willful or wanton misconduct.

I understand that the activities and functions in which I participate may be considered (but do not have to be) of a volunteer nature, or for the benefit of a 501 c-3, and/or dangerous and may cause grievous injuries, including bodily injury, damage to personal property, and/or death. On behalf of myself, my heirs, my assigns and next of kin, I waive all claims for damages, injury and death sustained by me or my property that I may have against the released party to such activity.

By this Waiver, I assume any risk, and take full responsibility and waive any claims of personal injury, death or damage to personal property associated with ACH Child and Family Services including, but not limited to any volunteer activities, community events and/or engaging in organizational functions and activities for nonprofit engagements or functions and fundraisers or other related activities on or off the premises.

This WAIVER AND RELEASE contains a binding agreement between both parties and supersedes any prior written or verbal agreements between said parties.

IN SIGNING THIS RELEASE, I ACKNOWLEDGE AND REPRESENT THAT I have read the foregoing Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement, understand it and sign it voluntarily as my own free act and deed; no oral representations, statements or inducements, apart from the foregoing written agreement, have been made; I am at least eighteen (18) years of age and fully competent; and I execute this Release for full, adequate and complete consideration fully intending to be bound by same.

The individuals named below hereby grant to ACH Child and Family Services the permission to use photographs, quotes, circumstances of children/families, and other similar information, and/or totake or have taken, still and moving photographs and films, including television pictures, of the individual, and consents and authorizes ACH Child and Family Services its news media, and committee persons, to use and reproduce such photographs, quotes, circumstances of children/families, and other similar information, films or pictures, and to circulate and publicize the same means, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, newspapers, television media, videos, pamphlets, instructional materials, books, and materials in perpetuity. With respect to the foregoing matters, no inducements or promises have been made to secure this signature to this release other than the intention of ACH Child and Family Services to use, or cause to be used, such photographs, quotes, circumstances of children/families, and other similar information, films, and pictures for the primary purpose of promoting ACH Child and Family Services and its work.

I hereby certify that the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and subject to verification by this company. I understand that any misrepresentation or omission of a material fact on my application may be justification for refusal of volunteer placement, or if placed, will be grounds for dismissal without notice.

In the event I am accepted to volunteer, I understand that all volunteers are subject to termination at the discretion of the company. If, in the event I choose to voluntarily terminate my volunteer placement, I am free to do so at any time, and, if I choose to give proper notice of termination, the company may either permit me to continue my volunteer placement during the period or may accept my resignation immediately..

In the event of my acceptance as a volunteer, I will comply with all rules and regulations as set forth in the company’s policy manual or other communications distributed to all volunteers. I understand that ACH Child and Family Services has a ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ABUSE and takes all allegations of abuse seriously. ACH Child and Family Services will cooperate fully with the authorities to investigate all cases of alleged abuse. Abuse of clients is grounds for IMMEDIATE dismissal and possible criminal charges.

I understand that completion of this form does not guarantee me status as an applicant or any consideration for volunteering unless I meet all stated minimum qualifications required of the position for which I am asking to be considered. If I'm volunteering twice or more in 90 days, I also understand that my volunteering at the organization is conditional upon my satisfactorily passing a drug screening and TB test to be given by a physician, clinic, or other health care provider selected by the organization. I hereby give my voluntary consent to provide a urine sample to be collected from me and submitted for a drug-screening test. Further, I hereby consent to the release of the test results for use by ACH Child and Family Services.