Purpose

The Safe House Program is committed to protecting every child entrusted to our care. Many of the children in our program have experienced abuse, exploitation, neglect, or other significant trauma. Because of this, every volunteer is expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, supervision, and healthy boundaries.

This policy applies to every volunteer who interacts with resident children.

General Expectations

Volunteers are expected to:

- Create a safe, calm, and welcoming environment.
- Model respectful behavior.
- Maintain healthy boundaries with every child.
- Follow all directions from Safe House staff.
- Immediately report any safety concerns or unusual behavior to staff.
- Never place themselves in situations that could compromise child safety or create the appearance of inappropriate conduct.

Supervision

Volunteers may supervise children only when:

- They have completed all required screening and training.
- They have been approved by program leadership.
- A parent has signed the Child Supervision Authorization.
- Staff have assigned them to childcare responsibilities.
- Volunteers may never supervise children without staff knowledge or approval.

Approved Areas

To maintain healthy boundaries:

- Volunteers must remain in approved common areas of the home.
- Volunteers are not permitted upstairs or inside a child's bedroom under any circumstance except during an emergency or when directed by staff.
- Childcare should occur in designated common living areas whenever possible.
- Children should remain downstairs during childcare.
- If a child needs something from their bedroom, they should retrieve it themselves whenever developmentally appropriate.
- If a younger child requires assistance, staff or the child's parent should assist whenever possible.
- Bathrooms should only be used for necessary toileting or hygiene assistance appropriate to the child's age and developmental needs.

Electronic Device Use

Children deserve attentive supervision.

While supervising children, volunteers may not:

- Scroll social media.
- Text friends or family.
- Make personal phone calls.
- Wear headphones or earbuds.
- Watch videos unrelated to childcare.

Personal phones should remain put away except when:

- Contacting staff.
- Responding to an emergency.
- Using an approved program communication method.
- Volunteers should remain fully engaged with the children in their care.

Photography & Social Media

To protect privacy and confidentiality:

Volunteers may never:

- Take photographs of resident children.
- Record videos of resident children.
- Record audio of resident children.
- Share information about resident children online.
- Post about childcare experiences on social media.
- Ask children to pose for photos.
- Save children's names or information in personal devices.
- Only authorized program staff may take photographs with written parental permission and according to organizational policy.

Appropriate Activities

Examples of encouraged activities include:

- Reading books
- Coloring
- Crafts
- Board games
- Building blocks
- Outdoor play (with approval)
- Puzzles
- Music
- Age-appropriate imaginative play
- Activities should encourage creativity, learning, and healthy social interaction.

Television & Media
Television is not intended to be the primary childcare activity.

If television is used:

- Parent permission must be obtained before a child watches television.
- Programming must be age-appropriate.
- Content must be free of violence, sexual content, frightening material, or inappropriate language.
- Staff may limit or prohibit television use at any time.
- Volunteers may not allow children to browse streaming platforms or internet content without staff approval.

Physical Contact
Appropriate physical interaction may include:

- High fives
- Side hugs
- Brief comforting hugs when welcomed by the child
- Holding hands for safety
- Assisting younger children with balance or mobility
- Volunteers should avoid unnecessary physical contact.

Volunteers may never:

- Wrestle
- Tickle
- Roughhouse
- Carry older children unnecessarily
- Massage children
- Allow children to sit on their lap unless developmentally appropriate (such as an infant or toddler) and necessary for comfort or care
- Force affection
- Children should always be allowed to decline physical affection.

Discipline

Volunteers do not discipline children.

If behavioral concerns arise, volunteers should:

- Redirect calmly.
- Offer simple choices.
- Encourage safe behavior.
- Contact staff if additional support is needed.

Volunteers may never:

- Yell
- Shame
- Threaten
- Use physical punishment
- Humiliate
- Use fear-based discipline

Confidentiality
Everything volunteers observe about resident families is confidential.

Volunteers may not discuss:

- Residents' identities
- Children's behaviors
- Family histories
- Case details
- Medical information
- Counseling participation

Questions from family or friends should be directed to program leadership.

Reporting Concerns
Volunteers should immediately notify staff if they observe:

- Unsafe supervision
- Injuries
- Sexualized behavior
- Bullying
- Boundary violations
- Concerning disclosures
- Medical emergencies
- Suspicious visitors
- Missing children

Volunteers should never investigate concerns themselves.

No Gifts or Outside Contact

Volunteers may not exchange personal phone numbers, social media accounts, email addresses, mailing addresses, or gifts with resident children or families without prior approval from program leadership. Any gifts should be coordinated through staff so that all interactions remain transparent and appropriate.

Zero-Tolerance Violations

The following behaviors may result in immediate removal from volunteer service:

- Entering children's bedrooms without authorization.
- Taking photographs or videos of children.
- Sharing resident information.
- Using a personal phone instead of actively supervising children.
- Being alone with a child outside approved supervision procedures.

- Violating physical boundaries.
- Ignoring staff instructions.
- Possessing or showing inappropriate media.
- Any conduct that places a child at risk.

The Safe House Program reserves the right to immediately suspend or terminate volunteer service whenever child safety may be compromised.

Volunteer Acknowledgement

I have read and understand the Volunteer Child Safety & Supervision Policy. I agree to follow these expectations at all times while serving with the Safe House Program. I understand that these policies exist to protect the children, families, volunteers, and staff who make up our community.