Countryside YMCA Staff & Volunteer Code of Conduct
1. When instructed by a supervisor or administrator, new hires, current staff and/or frequent volunteers are required to complete or attend department specific or online trainings related to identifying and reporting child abuse. These individuals are also required to read and sign all policies related to identifying, documenting and reporting child abuse.
2. In order to protect YMCA staff, volunteers, and program participants during any YMCA program a staff person or volunteer should avoid being alone with a single child where they cannot be observed by others. As staff or volunteers supervise children, they should endeavor to space themselves in a way that they may be observed by others.
3. Staff members and volunteers shall take care to avoid leaving a child unsupervised, and should follow the procedures noted below:
-In common restroom areas utilized by members, program members and staff, staff or volunteers will endeavor to the best of their ability to ensure the restroom is not occupied by suspicious or unknown individuals before allowing children to use the facilities.
-Staff or volunteers should stand in the doorway while children are using the restroom, using 'line of sight' or 'line of sound' supervision. This allows privacy for the children and protection for the staff or volunteer (not being alone with a child).
-No child, regardless of age, should enter a bathroom alone on a field trip.
-If staff assist younger children, doors to the facility should remain open.
-Send children in pairs and, whenever possible, with staff or volunteer.
4. Any staff member or volunteer working with children should conduct or supervise private activities in pairs- diapering, putting on bathing suits, taking showers, etc. When this is not feasible staff should be positioned so that they are visible to others or cameras.
5. Staff or volunteers shall never abuse children, including but not limited to:
-physical abuse: strike, spank, shake, slap;
-verbal abuse: humiliate, degrade, threaten;
-sexual abuse: inappropriate touch or verbal exchange;
-mental or emotional abuse: shaming, withholding love, cruelty;
-neglect: withholding food, water, basic care, etc.
These behaviors will not be tolerated and may be cause for immediate dismissal
6. Staff and volunteers are encouraged to use 12 Steps of Positive Guidance, induding redirection, positive reinforcement and encouragement rather than competition, comparison and criticism. Staff shall have age appropriate expectations and set up guidelines and environments that minimize the need for adult intervention. Physical restraint is only to be used in pre-determined situations (necessary to protect the child or other children from injury should be administered in a prescribed manner, and be documented in writing.
7. Adults regularly working with children should conduct a health check of each child, each day as they enter the program, noting any fever, bumps, bruises, burns, etc. Questions or comments should be addressed to the parent or child in a non-threatening way. Any questionable marks or responses will be documented.
8. Adults working with children are expected to communicate with respect and consideration and treat all children equally regardless of age, sex, race, religion, culture or any other protected status. Staff needing to act as mandated reporters to Child Protective Services shall be protected from retaliation as much as is reasonably possible by the employer.
9. All adults authorized by the organization to interact with children, including volunteers, are deemed mandated reporters. Mandated reporters must report any incidents or suspected incidents of child abuse. Those who report abuse will be protected from retaliation. See Child Abuse Policy 6.1. Staff and volunteers are required to fuly cooperate with any agency or law enforcement investigation of alleged abuse.
10. All staff and voltuteers will respect children's rights to not be touched in ways that make them feel uncomfortable and their right to say no. Other than diapering, children are not to be touched in areas of their bodies that would be covered by a bathing suit.
11. Staff and volunteers must appear clean, neat, and appropriately attired.
12. Using, possessing any type of weapon or explosive device, or being under the infuence of alcchol or illegal drugs during working hours is prohibited.
13. Smoking or use of tobacco in the presence of children or parents during working hours is prohibited.
14. Inappropriate communication, including profanity, crude jokes, sharing intimate detais of one's personal life, having secrets with children, commenting on children's bodies, or any kind of harassment as outlined in #5 of this document in the presence of children or parents is prohibited.
15. All staff and volunteers should portray a positive role model for youth by maintaining an attitude of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, loyalty, patience, courtesy, faith and maturity.
16. Staff members or volunteers are discouraged from interactions with children they meet in YMCA programs outside of the YMCA. This includes babysitting sleepovers, and inviting children to your home, sports activities, instruction, etc. Exceptions to this rule require a written explanation before the fact and are subject to administrator approval. Staff and volunteers should disclose to the Executive Director of Youth and Family any current or prior outside relationships with youth participants in their programs. This information should be provided no later than the start date of the employee or at the start date of the participant entering the program, if it is after the start date of the employee. Failure to report this information may result in discipline, up to termination.
17. Staff should not transport children in their own vehicles.
18. Adult staff is discouraged from dating program participants under the age of 18 years of age.
19. Staff or volunteers are not to release children to anyone other than the authorized parent, guardian, or other adult authorized by the parent or guardian (written parent authorization on file with the YMCA).
By typing my name below I accept this Code of Conduct and understand it is a condition of my employment with the Countryside YMCA. I am aware of my responsibilities and understand that any violation of this Code of Conduct may result discipline, up to and including termination.