Volunteer Orientation

1. Volunteer Orientation OF THE BIG BEND

2. How to Become a Volunteer • Review online orientation • Complete online volunteer application • Download and print the Affidavit of Good Moral Character from www.bgcbb.org/make-a-difference/volunteer/ and have it notarized • Interview with Volunteer Coordinator or Outreach President • Make sure you bring your notarized Affidavit and $5 to cover the background check fee to the interview. (If you are applying to be a visitor, you do not need to bring these.) • Once we receive the results of your background check, we will send you the link for you to sign up for volunteer spots. (If you are applying to be a visitor, we will schedule you at the interview.)

3. Our Mission • “to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.” • We truly believe that each and every one of our members has the potential for a Great Future, no matter what his or her background is, which is why our slogan is, “Great Futures Start Here.”

4. BGCA History • 1860:Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley began a club in Hartford, CT, to provide a positive alternative for boys who roamed the streets. • 1906: Several boys clubs affiliated as the Boys Club Federation of America with 53 member organizations. • 1931: Name changed to Boys Clubs of America. • 1990: Name changed to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, recognizing that girls are part of our nation’s future, as well. • Present: Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the oldest and largest American-born youth development program, serving ~4 million children and teens at 4,400 Clubs in all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and on international and domestic military bases.

5. Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend • Chartered in 1992 • Administrative Office: 306 Laura Lee Avenue Tallahassee, Florida 32301 • Eight Club locations (on next slide) • Hours of Operation: • Administrative Office: 8:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. • Clubs: • School Year: 3:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. • Summer: 7:30 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.

6. Club Locations LEON COUNTY CLUBS BGC at Bond Elementary School 2204 Saxon Street Tallahassee, Florida 32310 (850) 519-6439 Site Leader: Rayshell Foster BGC at John G. Riley Elementary 1400 Indiana Street Tallahassee, FL 32304 (850) 519-6439 Site Leader: Princess Jackson BGC at Oak Ridge Elementary 4530 Shelfer Road Tallahassee, FL 32305 (850) 519-6439 Club Director: Kacy Dennis (interim) BGC at R. Frank Nims Middle School 723 W Orange Avenue Tallahassee, Florida 32310 (850) 519-6439 Site Leader: Travis Roberts BGC at Amos P. Godby High School 1717 W Tharpe Street Tallahassee, FL 32303 (850) 519-6439 Site Leader: Amber Leverette Carrie Wilson Miccosukee BGC 15011 Cromartie Road Tallahassee, FL 32309 (850) 894-2094 Club Director: Jake Hatcher GADSDEN COUNTY CLUBS Havana 705 South US Hwy 27 (School Year) 1210 Kemp Road (Summer) Havana, Florida 32333 (850) 519-0000 Club Director: Jake Hatcher Chattahoochee 715 South Main Street Chattahoochee, Florida 34324 (850) 663-2251 Club Director: Dianne Bates

7. Who We Serve • Youth aged 5-18 years • We do not discriminate based on religion, ethnicity, race, gender, social economic status, sexual orientation or any other factor. We accept youth from all backgrounds and circumstances. • Almost 70% of families we serve live at or below the poverty level. • Approximately 80% of children we serve come from single-parent households. • 100% of members are on some type of scholarship to attend Clubs. • Currently, we serve hundreds of Club members on a daily basis.

8. Five Core Focus Areas Career and Academics Character and Leadership Health and Life Skills Sports, Fitness and Recreation The Arts Specialized Initiatives (field trips, special events, one-time programs or activities, etc.)

10. #1 Goal • Each and every one of our Club members graduates high school on time with a plan for his or her future. • We recognize that high school graduation starts in Kindergarten, so we work equally with Club members of all ages to ensure they are being promoted to the next grade in school year after year.

11. Volunteer Management Each volunteer will select a Club, where s/he will be managed by a Club Director or Staff member. Club selection will be based on availability in the schedule, which will be emailed once we receive the results of the background check. Each volunteer is responsible for signing up for time slots. Time slots are available on a first come first serve basis. Please bring any concerns, problems or issues to the Club Director immediately. Please bring any suggestions to better our programs to the Club Director.

12. Norms We will demonstrate self-respect and respect for others, including Club Members, staff, volunteers and visitors. We will respect the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend, both on and off Club grounds. We will be responsible and accept responsibility for our actions. We will not participate in any form of verbal or physical abuse at any time. We will not use, possess or distribute alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or weapons at any time. We will work within the job descriptions provided to us and will respect the staff and their decisions.

13. Attendance • All volunteers must sign in and out in the volunteer binder at the front desk of each Club. • All volunteers must be identified with a volunteer badge at all times when in the Club. • Volunteers are expected to remain on duty for the full time agreed upon, unless otherwise stated by the Club Director. • Volunteers must give at least 48 hours’ notice of any absence, except in the case of an unforeseen circumstance. • Volunteers who do not show up on the selected date and time without providing advance notice more than once will no longer be allowed to volunteer with us. • Volunteers who are continuously late or are continuously calling out at the last minute will no longer be allowed to volunteer with us.

14. Dress Code No clothing, jewelry, buttons or other accessories that are a distraction or reveal cleavage, belly buttons, underwear, bare backs, or bare midriffs are allowed. No suggestive clothing is allowed such as see-through garments, form fitting, overly tight, or shorts more than three inches above the knee. No clothing, jewelry, buttons or other accessories that are offensive or inappropriate (drug, tobacco, alcohol, violence related) are allowed. No accessories capable of causing injury, such as metal belts, chains, large necklaces, large bracelets or dangling earrings are allowed. No hats, bandanas, caps, do rags, hoods or other head gear are to be worn or displayed inside the Club. (You can wear a headband to keep hair out of your face or a sweatband to keep sweat out of your eyes.) Closed-toe shoes will be worn at all times, sneakers preferred. If you are questioning whether or not something is Club appropriate, it is probably not.

15. Drug-Free Workplace Possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs, prescription medications and/or alcohol is strictly prohibited. Volunteers are prohibited from entering Club grounds while under the influence of any illegal substance, alcohol and/or legally prescribed medication that may impair judgment. Smoking tobacco is strictly prohibited on Club grounds, in Club vehicles and while representing the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend as a volunteer.

16. Club Member Safety • Every person in the Club should be either a Club member or identified as a staff member or as a volunteer. • If you see an adult who is not a staff member or volunteer, you must say something to that person, escort him or her to the front desk and report the person to the Club Director. • Review the Safety Monitoring Checklist (posted at www.bgcbb.org/make-a-difference/volunteer/ to ensure compliance with regular safety checks.

17. Emergency Safety In an emergency, follow directions from Club Staff and ensure all Club members are safe. All Club Directors are First Aid/CPR certified. If a volunteer is First Aid/CPR certified, that individual does not need additional permission to help the person in need.

18. Signs of Abuse It is a felony in Florida to not report any suspected abuse of a vulnerable population (youth, elderly, disabled). If you notice any of the below signs or anything else suspicious, you must report the suspected abuse to the Club Director immediately. You must also report your suspicion to the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible (no more than 24 hours after the suspicion arises). Repeated or unexplainable bruises, scrapes or bumps Change in behavior Inappropriate behavior Shyness Lack of self care

19. Confidentiality • No information about any Club member, staff member or volunteer should be shared with any one or any entity outside the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend. • Family Educational Right to Privacy Act (FERPA): Anything that is within a student’s record, including school work and behavior • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA): Anything related to an individual’s health record • Privacy Act: Anything that can be found within a specific person’s record If you must keep a journal for a class or wish to talk about your volunteer experience with others, you can use fake names, so nothing can be tied back to any specific individual.

20. Medications/Accidents We are not allowed, by policy, to dispense, store or oversee any type of medication, including both prescription and non-prescription medications. This includes Advil, Tylenol, Aleve, Tums, vitamins, gummy vitamins, etc. If a member bring in his/her own medication, bring that medication and the Club member to the Club Director. Staff and volunteers are permitted to provide band-aids and ice bags only.

21. Cell Phones Cell phones must be turned off or set to silent (not vibrate) while volunteering at the Clubs. If an emergency arises requiring the use of a cell phone, volunteers must remove themselves from the Club environment (out of sight of all Club members) before taking or placing a phone call. Volunteers constantly stepping out to use cell phones will no longer be allowed to volunteer with us.

22. Transportation • Volunteers (and staff who are not on the Clubs’ insurance) are forbidden to transport Club members in personal vehicles.

23. Sexual Harassment • Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome physical or verbal conduct. • If you believe you or another volunteer or staff member is being subjected to harassing conduct, report the behavior to the Club Director or the Volunteer Coordinator immediately. • A prompt investigation will be conducted of each and every complaint and appropriate action will be taken. • You have a duty to report any harassing conduct you either experience or observe. • Under no circumstances will a person’s volunteer service be jeopardized because of a bona fide report of what he or she perceives to be an incident of harassing conduct or behavior.

24. A final thought… “One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove, but the world will be a better place because I was important in the life of a child.” -Anonymous