Each year, Junior Achievement staff will provide these standards in writing to all volunteers before their program visit. As a new volunteer, it is your responsibility to thoroughly review these standards independently. Junior Achievement (JA) serves youth, and you are expected to exemplify these standards in both your program delivery and interactions with students. Inappropriate conduct by adults in the presence of youth can have serious consequences. To ensure that your interactions with students are safe and respectful, Junior Achievement has established these standards.
- Young people look to adults for examples of appropriate behavior. JA volunteers must use appropriate language and model honorable behavior, such as respect, integrity, honesty, and excellence. Profanity or sexualized language or jokes, and conduct (including speech) that discriminates against students on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, religion, or other legally-protected classes are inappropriate, regardless of whether it occurs face-to-face, over the Internet, or by any other means. JA strictly forbids violating any state law regarding interactions with youth; for example, providing them alcohol or legal or illegal drugs, or coaxing them into illicit relationships over the Internet or otherwise. Any form of physical or emotional abuse, to include striking, bullying, harassment or other degrading behavior is strictly prohibited.
- Volunteers should avoid all physical contact with students.
- It is expected that volunteers’ interactions with students are at all times appropriate and professional, and are strictly related to the role of business mentor. It is unacceptable to seek or engage in one-to-one meetings with students at any time.
- Because volunteers are viewed as mentors and role models to students, their use of social media should support a positive image in the event that students would view their posts or pages. JA volunteers must communicate on social media sites professionally and respectfully, just as JA would expect them to communicate were they present in person. All communications with young people must be appropriate, both in terms of the student’s age and the relationship between the adult and student. JA volunteers should not actively “friend,” “follow” or correspond with minor-aged students directly through common social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. Volunteers must adhere to the school district social media policies.
The aforementioned standards do not represent a comprehensive list. Other actions not included could result in suspension or dismissal as a volunteer. Junior Achievement takes all complaints of misconduct seriously. Credible allegations of misconduct will be promptly reported to the appropriate authorities. During any such investigation, the JA volunteer will not perform services as a JA volunteer. If an investigation determines misconduct occurred, it will result in the immediate and permanent dismissal as a JA volunteer.
Any JA staff member or volunteer who reasonably suspects misconduct must report these suspicions immediately to the appropriate JA staff.
I have read, understand, and will abide by these standards. I further certify that I have never been charged with violence, or any type of charge involving a child or young person, or, if I have, that I have fully disclosed in writing the facts regarding such a charge to my local JA Area.
I understand that if I am arrested for or convicted of an offense that would constitute grounds for denying participation in a program, activity or service under the Child Protective Services Law as listed above, or am named as perpetrator in a founded or indicated report, I must provide the administrator or designee with written notice not later than 72 hours after the arrest, conviction or notification that I have been listed as a perpetrator in the Statewide database.