Salem For Refugees Volunteer Application

Dear Interested Volunteer, 

Thank you for considering a volunteer role with Salem For Refugees (SFR). If not for caring individuals like you, we wouldn't be able to welcome refugee families (our new neighbors) to our community. Below you will find information about the current volunteer needs with SFR. We would like to match you with a volunteer role that will be a good fit with your interest, experience, and availability. This ensures that the time you invest in your volunteer experience is fruitful and beneficial to you and to our new neighbors.

We also have a Salem For Refugees email list where we send out updates & announcements about events and opportunities to support our new neighbors. If you would like to be added to our email list please email: info@salemforrefugees.org

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me. We look forward to partnering with you to welcome our new neighbors to Salem!

Salem For Refugees

Info@salemforrefugees.org

Thank you for your willingness to volunteer with New Neighbor families. If for any reason we are unable to complete this background check, we may ask you to provide additional means of identification. State and federal laws protect the privacy of your records. We will notify you of any results from this screening that would prevent you from volunteering with our families.

Please answer all the questions on this form. Do not leave any areas blank. If information requested does not apply to you, write "NA" for the applicable or the word "none."

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

To any law enforcement agencies, civil records authorities and Salem For Refugees (SFR): I authorize you to release to SFR any and all information and civil or criminal records naming me, including all entities where I am named as being arrested, as a suspect, as being cited for any crime, violation, infraction or offense, or as otherwise involved or named in any report by an member agency of your organization.

The information that I have provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge and may be verified, if necessary by contacting persons or organizations named in this application, or by contacting any person or organization that may have information concerning me, or by conducting a criminal background check. I hereby release and agree to hold harmless from liability any person or organization that provides information. I also agree to hold harmless SFR and employees and volunteers thereof.

The principle of confidentiality is about privacy and respecting someone's wishes. It means that employees and volunteers should not share personal details about someone with whom they are working, unless that person has said they can or it's absolutely necessary.

New Neighbors have been displaced and forced to leave their homes, because of persecution, war, and violence. They may have suffered from a wide variety of post-traumatic stress and distinct challenges and are particularly vulnerable to having their personal information inappropriately shared. All New Neighbors have the right to their privacy.

Purpose: This Confidentiality Agreement is to protect the identity and privacy of individual(s) and the stories they may share. Volunteers often encounter personal and sensitive information about New Neighbors. Therefore, it is very important to refrain from disclosing any information to third parties; including friends, family or spouses about our New Neighbors in order to protect their privacy.

Confidential Information: All New Neighbor information is confidential and should never be discussed in the presence of anyone other than specific volunteers and staff working with the individual families or under the terms below. All files and/or documentation should never be shared or released to third parties without staff supervisory approval. They include, but are not limited to the following:

A. Identifying information of the individual or family members which include name,                 address, or phone number(s).

B. Information regarding immigration status.

C. Information or stories shared by the individual(s) about abuse, trauma, and/or persecution experienced by the individual or family members.

D. Any other pertinent information that would identify or place the individual or family at risk.

 

I understand that my volunteer activities with Salem for Refugees, including but not limited to driving SFR clients to various activities and appointments, move-in's and other activities may involve lifting and the risk of an accident, and that I undertake these activities of my own volition. Further, I hereby accept that any claims resulting from these activities is my responsibility; I certify I have liability insurance to cover me, and I hereby release and will hold harmless Salem for Refugees from any liability or claim with respect to bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death, or property damage that may result from the services I provide.

Terms: By signing this Confidentiality Agreement, you agree to abide by the following:

A. All communication between Volunteers and New Neighbors is confidential.

B. Volunteers shall not disclose confidential information to third parties without New Neighbor(s)' expressed written consent. 

C. Volunteer(s) should never disclose any information to any third parties without Staff knowledge or consent.

D. I understand as a volunteer it is my duty to keep the individiual(s) personal information confidential throughout my term at Salem For Refugees and after my involvement is finished. 

E. I understand failure to abide by these terms may result in termination of my volunteer participation.