Dear Volunteer,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Windwood Family Services. Volunteers are pivotal to the success of our mission to provide help, hope, and healing to the children on the Farm and throughout the Lowcountry.

We have many volunteer opportunities such as campus work days, fundraising events, special events, engagement, and learning experiences. Some of these opportunities take place across the Charleston area, while some involve interacting with our residents at Windwood Farm. Before your volunteer experience, please review the following policies, procedures, and information about our facility, our children, and your role as a volunteer.

All of the children that reside at Windwood Farm have experienced some type of abuse, trauma, or neglect throughout their childhood. Behaviors can include but are not limited to severe depression, deficiency, post-traumatic stress disorder, and attention-deficit disorder. Our goal is to make sure your safety, as well as our children's is maintained throughout your volunteer experience. Volunteers allow Windwood to save thousands of dollars each year due to the hard work and dedication they put into our campus and organization. If you have any questions, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Juliette Lowry, by phone at 843-509-2230, or by email at juliette.lowry@windwoodfarm.org. Thanks for your interest and we hope to see you soon!

• Smoking
  • In order to maintain a safe and pleasant environment, smoking is prohibited at Windwood Farm. 

 

• Driver's License and Insurance
  • In order to drive on Windwood Farm property, all volunteers must possess a valid driver’s license and a current vehicle insurance policy.

 

• Liability - Accidents and Injuries
  • When volunteering at Windwood, all volunteers must complete a liability waiver (attached.) If an occupational accident or injury occurs, a report must be made to the Volunteer Coordinator immediately.

 

• Volunteer Guidelines
  • All individuals must be 16 years of age or older to volunteer and must be over the age of 21 to volunteer 1:1 with our clients. Group leaders must be 21 years of age or older.  
  • Any event (with very few exceptions) with  volunteers must be no longer than 1 hour and 30 minutes and/or end before 7:00 PM. 
  • DHEC regulations state that if food is being brought to the farm, it must be purchased from a restaurant (i.e. we are unable to accept homemade meals). 
  • Staff will not schedule events on Windwood observed holidays. These are; New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. 

 

• Weather Policy 
  • If there is more than a 50% chance of rain 36 hours before your outdoor scheduled event, Windwood maintains the right to reschedule. 
  • If there has been excessive rain the days leading up to your scheduled activity, your project may be unable to be completed due to these conditions.
    • Windwood will use our best judgment to determine if your project is able to be completed. 
  • If the heat index is above 100 degrees, Windwood maintains the right to reschedule. 
  • These policies are in place to protect our volunteers, staff, and the boys at Windwood Farm. 

 

• Personal Safety
  • Never leave any personal items unattended
  • Do not interact with agitated residents
  • Always remain with staff members
  • Do not bring valuables on campus

 

• Dress Code
  • Please dress appropriately for your volunteer commitment. Pants and shorts must be no shorter than the fingertips. Do not wear any garments which expose the chest, stomach, or midriff. Clothing must not have inappropriate language or graphics, including the promotion of alcoholic beverages, tobacco use, or the use of controlled substances. Tube tops and spaghetti straps are not permitted. Volunteers who are inappropriately dressed will be asked to change prior to beginning their assignment.

 

•  Illegal Harassment
  • Sexual harassment is a violation of Windwood policy for all volunteers. Sexual harassment may include: request for sexual favors, unwanted physical contact, verbal harassment, nonverbal conduct, aggression.
  • If you believe you are experiencing sexual harassment, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator immediately. Windwood will not tolerate such behavior.
  • Windwood Family Services believes its volunteers should be able to enjoy a workplace free from harassment based on the individal’s race, color, religion, gender, age, and disability. If you believe you are experiencing prohibited harassment, please notify the Volunteer Coordinator immediately. All cases of harassment are held in confidence.

 

 

When working with our children, it is imperative to have an understanding of our therapeutic boundaries. One of the most important long term goals for each child at Windwood is for him to successfully transition from our residential treatment facility into a successful living situation.

The children who come here for treatment place their trust in our staff to provide therapeutic interventions that get to the root of any issues or problems they might be facing. Learning to respect therapeutic boundaries and personal space is an important part of that treatment.

Therapeutic boundaries are the limits of a relationship that allow a safe, therapeutic connection between the child and those he interacts with. Although the boys may remind you of your son or little brother, please know that their childhood are far removed from the childhood memories you may know. Most of the time, there are deep emotional struggles hiding behind their faces. Learning to deal with past traumas and trying to separate the good memories from the bad is a difficult task. We insist you abide by the following guidelines:

• Refrain from asking about relatives or where they were before coming to Windwood Farm
• Refrain from asking why they are placed at Windwood Farm
• Do not give out personal information or give gifts or money to individual children
• Maintain appropriate physical boundaries: high fives, fist bumps, and personal space

Many of our children have not had an appropriate child/adult relationship. They may have been exposed to pornography, domestic violence, or inappropriate advances from adult caregivers. While placed at Windwood, one of our goals is to teach our boys about appropriate relationships with adults and our volunteers play a pivotal role in that mission. Please know that the relationships we form with our volunteers means the world to our staff and to the children who live here. Your participation is essential to our mission to provide help, hope, and healing to our children on the Farm and throughout the Lowcountry.

I understand the previous statements regarding therapeutic boundaries and my role as a volunteer to uphold these guidelines.

Windwood Farm Home for Children values our relationship with volunteers. We hope to make your visit with us a memorable experience for both you and for our staff and clients.

By signing this statement, I acknowledge that I have been informed of rules and regulations regarding volunteer activities at Windwood. Each volunteer must understand and adhere to the directives set forth.

This signed statement will be kept on file with our Volunteer Coordinator.

Disclosure Controlled by Law

Privacy laws regulate any disclosure of information directly or indirectly identifying a past or present client. All client information is protected from disclosure by federal and state laws including, as applicable, 45CFR Part 160 IHIPAA); CFR part 2 (alcohol and drug treatment) and Section 44-22-100 of South Carolina Code of Laws. All communication between clients and volunteers is privileged and may not be shared with third party individuals.

• Volunteers are prohibited from taking pictures for personal or promotional use.
• Volunteers are directed to refrain from asking clients any personal or identifying information such as their last name, place of residency before coming to Windwood Farm, the name of any relatives, or the reason for their placement at Windwood. In turn volunteers may not share their phone number or address.
• Volunteers may not give an individual client a personal gift or money. Please do not make offers or accept invitations to take them off campus or to come back for visits on another day. Please maintain appropriate physical boundaries with the clients. Please ensure they also respect your personal space. 

I understand the volunteer statement of confidentiality and realize that any questions I may have may be discussed with any staff member.

Thank you for working today. We greatly appreciate your assistance and commitment to helping Windwood Farm. Our insurance policy requires that we have an accurate record of all volunteers. This is an annual form where you agree to release us of all liability while working with Windwood Farm Home for Children. 

Release and Waiver: Volunteer does hereby release and forever discharge and hold harmless Windwood Farm and its successors and assigns from any and all liability, claims, and demands of whatever kind or nature, either by law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from Volunteer’s Activities with Windwood. Volunteer understand that this Release discharges Windwood from any liability or claim that the Volunteer may have against Windwood with respect to any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death, or property damage that may result from the Volunteer’s Activities with Windwood, whether causes by the negligence of Windwood Farm or its officers, directors, employees, agents, or otherwise. Volunteer also understands that Windwood does not assume any responsibility for or obligation to provide financial assistance or other assistance, including but not limited to medical, health, or disability insurance in the event of injury or illness. 

Medical Treatment: Volunteer does hereby release and forever discharge Windwood from any claim whatsoever which arises or may hereafter arise on account of any first aid, treatment, or service rendered in connection with the Volunteer’s Activities with Windwood Farm. 

Assumption of the Risk: The Volunteer understands that the Activities includes work that may be hazardous to the Volunteer, including, but not limited to, construction, loading, and unloading, and transportation to and from the work sites. Volunteer hereby expressly and specifically assumes the risk of injury or harm in the Activities and releases Windwood Farm from all liability for injury, illness, and death or property damage resulting from the Activities. 

Insurance: The Volunteer understands that, except as otherwise agreed to by Windwood Farm in writing, Windwood does not carry or maintain health, medical, or disability insurance for any Volunteer. Volunteer Accident Insurance is provided and is a medical insurance policy which covers accidents involving volunteers on the work site or in other supervised events. Volunteer Accident Insurance pays after the Volunteer’s insurance pays. If the Volunteer has no insurance, the policy pays up to the limits of coverage. Each Volunteer is expected and encouraged to obtain his or her own medical or health insurance coverage. 

Photographic Release: Volunteer does hereby grant and convey unto Windwood Farm all rights, title, and interest in any and all photographic images and video or audio recordings made by Windwood during the Volunteer’s Activities with Windwood, including, but not limited to, any royalties, proceeds, or other benefits derived from such photographs or recordings. 

Other: Volunteer expressly agrees that this Release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of South Carolina and that this Release shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of South Carolina. Volunteer agrees that in the event that any clause or provision of this Release shall be held to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity of such clause or provision shall not otherwise affect the remaining provisions of this Release which shall continue to be enforceable.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Volunteer has executed this release as of the day and year first above written. Please print all information legibly.

*** If the volunteer is under the age of 18 a parent or legal guardian must sign.***

In case of emergency, please contact: