Volunteer Standards of Conduct Your State AgrAbility Project Peer Support Training Date

1. Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families Volunteer Standards of ConductYour State AgrAbility Project Peer Support TrainingDate

2. Learning Objectives • To understand and practice confidentiality in the role of peer support • To recognize the ethical standards of a peer supporter for AgrAbility • To be aware of personal and volunteer liability • To acknowledge personal safety issues when visiting a peer being supported

3. ConfidentialityNot sharing or gossiping information about the person you are providing peer support to with others who don’t have a “need to know”

4. What does this mean? • Do not share any personal (even the name), medical, or financial information about the person to whom you are providing peer support to anyone who does not have a professional interest

5. It also means • Do not disclose any proprietary or privileged information you receive about AgrAbility staff, another volunteer, or the agencies working with AgrAbility.

6. Ethics • Standards governing the conduct of a person or member of a profession.

7. Ethics for Peer Support • Live up to the responsibility of your volunteer role. • Be present and on time for every commitment you make. • Respect the confidential aspects of your assignment, and the dignity and privacy of the person with whom you work.

8. Ethics • Become involved, in a warm and natural manner, without becoming over involved. • Show empathy, not sympathy. • Be optimistic about life in general without encouraging any unrealistic goals or attitudes.

9. Ethics • Be honest and genuine at all times • Be friendly • Do no harm • Have fun

10. Liability

11. Your State AgrAbility Volunteer Liability Statement 42 U.S.C.S. § 14503, Limitation on Liability (Example only- insert your state information!) Protection for volunteers A volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental entity is not liable for harm caused by an act or omission done in the scope of responsibility on behalf of the organization. This applies if the volunteer was properly authorized and licensed, if such is authorization is needed. Exceptions: the harm was caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or if the harm was caused by the volunteer operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or any vehicle for which a license or insurance is required.

12. Practical Guidelines for Liability Act within the scope of your peer support volunteer responsibilities

13. Practical Guidelines for Liability Immediately report any unusual circumstances, events, actions, or injuries to the State AgrAbility Project Coordinator.

14. Personal Safety • ALWAYS let someone know specifically where you are going, how long you expect to be gone, and how to reach you. • Follow your basic instincts. If you feel unsafe, leave.

15. Personal Safety • Carry a cell phone on your person at all times. • Avoid being an “extra rider” on machinery. Extra riders account for a significant proportion of serious farm incidents. • Avoid all violations of basic, common-sense, farm safety practices.

16. Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families