Volunteer Recruitment and Training Policy Administered by: Safe Congrega ons Commi ee Date originally approved: 05‐17‐15 Prepared by: S afe Congrega ons Commi ee Date revised and approved: 08‐19‐15 Policy # SCC‐03 It is the policy of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship to provide a safe environment for children, youth, and vulnerable adults. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy and these procedures is to safeguard Fellowship children, youth, and vulnerable adults. The Fellowship will appropriately screen volunteers who work with these popula ons. A volunteer is a person recruited by the Fellowship staff or lay leaders to perform a specific task on behalf of the congrega on. PROCEDURES: 1. Each individual considered for a volunteer role working with children/youth/vulnerable adults shall have been ac vely associated with the UUFWS for a minimum of 6 months. An excep on may be made if a person has been ac ve with the UUFWS for less than six months but has been ac vely involved at another Unitarian Universalist congrega on, provided that he or she receives approval by the UUFWS Minister and Director of Religious Educa on as well as a strong recommenda on from the Minister, Director of Religious Educa on, or a member of his or her previous congrega on. If the recommenda on comes from a member, the UUFWS may opt also to request a staff recommenda on. 2. The Fellowship staff and/or relevant commi ee leadership shall assess each individual to determine how he or she may best work with children, youth, and/or vulnerable adults. 3. Each commi ee responsible for delivering programs and services to children, youth, and vulnerable adults shall develop procedures for determining when background checks are needed and how the results of the background checks will be evaluated. In developing the procedures, the commi ee should consider the following variables: the nature, dura on, frequency, and loca on of the contact; the number of volunteers involved; and the me available to process a background check. [Volunteer Recruitment & Training] – [08‐19‐15] 4. Each individual applying for a volunteer posi on requiring a background check shall sign the Code of Ethics for Working with Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults and complete the Volunteer Applica on and Background Check Screening Form. 5. The Minister or other staff designated by the Minister shall review background check reports and Volunteer Driver Forms (see item 10) and clear volunteer applicants or, if possible red flags appear, take appropriate next steps with the requisite commi ee chair. 6. A current copy of the Safe Congrega ons Policies and Procedures shall be made available to all paid staff and each UUFWS member as well as non‐member families with children/youth in the RE program. 7. A current copy of the Safe Congrega ons Policies and Procedures shall be maintained in the Fellowship office and posted on the UUFWS website for reference. 8. The Youth Services Commi ee shall provide required training for Religious Educa on volunteers once a year. UUFWS staff and leadership shall provide other relevant volunteer training based on their specific areas of responsibility, as needed. 9. Visitors wishing to observe Religious Educa on classes or events will be exempted from these requirements provided staff and/or approved volunteers are present during the visits. 10. All transporta on volunteers, as coordinated by the UUFWS for Fellowship‐sponsored ac vi es and events, must complete a Volunteer Driver Form and provide a copy of their valid Driver’s License as well as proof of insurance coverage. The UUFWS shall no fy in wri ng all such drivers that their personal liability damage coverage serves as their primary coverage. Volunteers shall update these forms annually. Further, they shall immediately report any moving viola ons to the Member/Volunteer Coordinator or Minister. 11. Background checks for volunteers—if they con nue to work with vulnerable groups—shall be repeated every three years. [Volunteer Recruitment & Training] – [08‐19‐15]