Good Samaritan Community Services Volunteer Handbook Reviewed 4/1/2016
Welcome! We are so excited to have you as part of our team. We firmly believe that you as a volunteer will contribute to the success of our agency, and share our commitment to changing lives through excellent community services. We as an agency are very passionate about our volunteers and want to ensure that each volunteer has a great experience. I can promise that once you get started you will connect deeply to the mission of the agency and will continue to volunteer! My relationship with Good Samaritan Community Services began in 1986 as volunteer nurse. I was captivated by the people and the history of this neighborhood and quickly found that I could not leave. I now serve as CEO and am proud to say that we have a few staff members that also began their journey with Good Sam as a volunteer! You are here to help make things happen. Whether by mentoring youth, working with the seniors, helping in the food pantry, or doing buildings and grounds projects, you are changing lives. By donating your skills and time to Good Samaritan Community Services, you are helping us live out the parable of the Good Samaritan. After Jesus finished the story he asked, "Which of the three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was left beaten on the side of the road?" The man who asked him the question at the beginning replied, "The one who had compassion and helped him." Jesus told him, "Go and do the same." We are grateful to have you as a volunteer and are honored to see that you are doing the same. We cannot wait to see the impact that you will have on this agency and the people we serve. Blessings, Jill Oettinger Chief Executive Officer 1
Table of Contents Map of Agency Grounds......3 Mission...4 Vision......4 Beliefs......4 Core Values....4 Why Volunteer?...5 Our Programs/ What We Do 6 Good Sam Locations & Sites.8 Application Process...9 Required Paperworks & Trainings....10 a. Background Check Policy...10 b. TX DFPS Online Training....10 c. Safeguarding God s Children...11 Volunteer Dues....11 Volgistics...12 a. Volunteer Time Clock...12 b. How to Clock In/Out....13 Dress Code....14 a. Volunteer Attire.....14 b. Name Tag...14 Other Types of Volunteers..14 a. Junior Volunteers.....14 b. Group Volunteers......15 c. Family Group Volunteers....15 Client Transportation..16 Media.16 a. Posting to Social Media.16 b. Media Inquiries....16 Cancelling Shifts...16 Other Policies & Procedures...17 Grounds For Dismissal...17 2
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Mission To serve as a catalyst for change, supporting individuals and families by providing excellent community services to overcome the impact of poverty. Vision Good Samaritan Community Services is a place of change that supports individuals and families in overcoming the impact of poverty. Through the delivery of excellent community services, Good Samaritan Community Services fosters education, character development, healthy living and self sufficiency. Beliefs Every individual has dignity and purpose. We are called to serve our neighbors in communities with the greatest economic need, as a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. We empower and inspire those we serve through education and advocacy. Our ministry is a partnership of changing lives, shared by those who are served and those who serve. Respect others. Act with integrity. Show work commitment. Excellence in all we do. Develop self and others. Core Values Practice stewardship over financial resources. 4
Why volunteer at Good Sam? We believe that everyone is called to serve your neighbor. Volunteering at Good Samaritan Community Services provides a way to answer that call in a tangible way to the benefit of people in poverty. Our hope is to offer a meaningful experience so that each volunteer knows they have made a difference. Volunteering at GSCS offers benefits like these: Gain a deeper understanding of the needs in your own community Know that you are giving back to your community Earn Class credits Build your resume Develop your personal leadership skills Build relationships with youth Gain experience in a non profit setting Be a part of the civic health of your city GSCS benefits from volunteers by: Having extra hands to help change lives Exposing our clients to other people outside their immediate circle with different life experiences Having adults, other than staff, spark career interests for our clients Having help in spreading awareness of our mission Building and strengthening relationships within the community The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Ghandi 5
Our Programs/What We Do Child Development Services (CDS) This Department serves children 6 weeks to 5 years, supporting each child s optimal growth and educational development through quality centered care. Early Head Start: Offers high quality early learning opportunities for children ages 6 weeks 3 years living in poverty. Preschool Program: Comprehensive childcare for children of low income families, ages 18 months 5 years, in a safe and nurturing environment that allows children to learn and grow. Family Development Services (FDS) Family Services : This program serves over 2,800 families annually offering immediate food assistance, case management, and counseling. Adult Education: English as a Second Language, GED and Citizenship classes. The Senior Activity Center: This Nationally accredited center offers daily activities to diminish isolation, address economics, safety, health, emotional and social issues complicating the lives of senior adults. Youth Development Services (YDS) After School Program: The goal of the Afterschool Enrichment program is to provide a safe, fun learning environment where youth have the opportunity to explore their interests, find their creativity, and develop personally. Camp Good Sam: The goal of Camp Good Sam is to address summer learning loss utilizing a literary theme (ex. Book series) to guide program culture and learning goals. Camp Good Sam operates for six (6) weeks, Monday through Thursday, from 8:00am 4:00pm. Camp Good Sam serves over 1,000 youth in eight (8) locations across South Texas each summer. Asset Building Curriculum (ABC): Utilizing Search Institute s 40 Developmental Asset framework, the goal of ABC is to promote the development of important life skills and personal assets by helping youth explore their interests and find their voice. Texas Hill Country Camps: The Hill Country Camps program connects youth and families to nature by providing them a life changing and 6
transformational overnight camp experience, primarily in the Texas Hill Country. College and Career: Serving up to 1,000 youth each year, the goal of College and Career Readiness is to ensure youth are equipped with the skills and resources necessary to transition successfully from high school to postsecondary education and/or the workforce. Youth Case Management: Youth Case Management is designed to build resiliency in youth through social skill development (interpersonal relations, goal setting, conflict management, anger management, etc.) Field Education Services FES extends staffing across the agency with 10 15 bachelor s and master s level counseling and social work interns every semester under the supervision of a Licensed Master Social Worker/Field Instructor. FES provides experiential training opportunities for individuals enrolled in practicum courses or internships at local universities. Program interns are responsible for the provision of vocational, mental health and behavioral counseling services for youth, adult, and senior citizen clients and/or client s families. In the 2014 2015 year over 10,141 hours of time were leveraged through this program. Advancement Fundraising Marketing Communications Grants Management Special Events Donor Records Volunteers Service Learning Opportunities Administration Finance and Accounting Human Resources Buildings & Grounds 7
Good Sam Locations & Sites Good Samaritan Community Services main campus is located at 1600 Saltillo St, San Antonio, TX 78207. The GSCS Pharr is campus is located at 317 W. Gore Ave, Pharr, TX 78577. GSCS regional sites: Alice, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, San Antonio NEISD, Sonora, and Wimberley locations vary each year. 8
Application Process What are the steps for being an individual volunteer? 1. Complete the online application. 2. The Volunteer Coordinator will review the application and set up a telephone or in person meeting to get to know the volunteer and best match them with the available volunteer opportunities. 3. Volunteer Coordinator will send the applicant paperwork and collect the $25.00 volunteer dues (if applicable see Volunteer Due below). The paperwork includes: a. Forms that must be completed and signed in blue ink. THERE ARE DIFFERENT PROCEDURES BASED ON YOUR SITE. CHECK WITH VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR ON HOW TO SUBMIT THE FORMS. b. Submit copy of Driver s License or State ID card 4. Take a 30 minute online course on how to report abuse and neglect (print the online completion certificate and give it to the Volunteer Coordinator) 5. If it is applicable to your site, take an online course on diversity. 6. Certain volunteers will also be required to attend a three hour workshop on Safeguarding God s Children. The Volunteer Coordinator will determine if this requirement is applicable (if you have already attended this training we just need a copy of your completion paperwork for our files). 7. Once you clear the background check we will schedule a meeting with the Volunteer Coordinator for Orientation. 8. Go through Orientation with the Volunteer Coordinator. 9
What does volunteer Orientation (1 hour) entail? 1. Overview of Good Samaritan Community Services 2. Overview of poverty statistics and Good Sam clientele demographics 3. Review of Volunteer Handbook 4. Receive a Volunteer T shirt 5. Tour of Good Samaritan Center 6. Be introduced to your Task Supervisor for more specific training and the scheduling of volunteer shifts. Required Paperwork & Trainings Background Check Policy In order to maintain compliance with contract guidelines, and to maintain safety for staff, volunteers, and clients, all volunteers 18 and older are required to submit a criminal history background check. Each volunteer s background check must be cleared prior to their volunteer start date. There is up to a 2 week turnaround on background check clearances. You will be notified by the Volunteer Coordinator once you have been cleared. Good Samaritan Community Services does not allow individuals any age to volunteer who have been issued court mandated community service. TX Dept. of Family & Protective Services Online Training on Reporting Suspected Neglect or Abuse All volunteers are required to take the online training on how to recognize and report suspected neglect or abuse. In Texas, anyone who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report it. Professional reporters are required to report suspicion of abuse or neglect within 48 hours. ( http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ ) The online training takes approximately 45 minutes to complete and can be located at, http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/training/reporting/default.asp. Once the training has been completed, it is the responsibility of the volunteer to print the certificate of completion and turn it into the Volunteer 10
Coordinator. It is required that you turn in the certificate of completion prior to your start date. Should a case of suspected abuse arise, please inform the Supervisor overseeing your volunteer task. You are required by law to report the suspected abuse to the TX Department of Family & Protective Services within 48 hours. Safeguarding God s Children Certain volunteers must attend a Safeguarding God s Children class within 3 months of beginning to volunteer at GSCS. Check with the Volunteer Coordinator to determine if you will be required to do it. This program was developed to train volunteers and staff on how to prevent sexual abuse in children and youth. Safeguarding classes will be offered throughout the year. The Volunteer Coordinator will send the various dates and times of these training sessions. Volunteer Dues Unfortunately there is a cost to ensuring the safety of our staff and clients. That cost is reflected in the background checks we must conduct; the $25 one time due covers the cost of the background check. In exchange each volunteer receives a volunteer t shirt they are asked to wear while on the campus. The t shirt indicates you have cleared the background check process and notifies staff you have a legitimate reason to be on the campus. There is no cost for a volunteer group (but groups will not receive t shirts). The $25 due is waived for: College students (but we ask students to consider paying $10 for a t shirt) and GSCS clients and their parents and family members. 11
Volgistics Volgistics is a web based database that GSCS uses to record volunteer information, track volunteer assignments and hours, and run reports on the number of volunteers that have helped our agency. It is powerful to demonstrate the extensive volunteer support from which the agency benefits. This data increases the odds of receiving funding from donors and foundations because the value of a Volunteer Hour, as determined annually by Independent Sector, is $24.66 in Texas (2015). Volunteer Time Clock Once your volunteer profile information has been entered in Volgistics you will be given access to the Volunteer Time Clock. In order to clock in, you must use a pin number. Prior to your start date, the Volunteer Coordinator will contact you with your pin number and directions on how to clock in and out. If for any reason you forget to clock in or out, or are unable to access the website, please email the Volunteer Coordinator within 24 hours of your service who will be able to update your information in Volgistics. Directions on how to clock in and out can be found on page 13. 12
Directions on how to clock in to the Volunteer Time Clock: 1. On the designated computer (varies by site) you will see the Volunteer Information Center shortcut. You will use this shortcut on the designated computer to clock in and out. Volunteers in sites other than main campus, check with the Site Coordinator to see which computer has access to the volunteer time clock. 2. On the desktop you will see a shortcut titled, 'Volunteer Time Clock'. Click on that. 3. You will see the time clock appear (it has a white background on it). 4. Enter your pin #, and hit 'continue' 5. A screen will pop up asking if you are the person that is 'signing in', hit yes. (If it is not you, hit 'no' and retype in your pin #) 6. The next question asks what your assignment is. Select the task to which you have been assigned for that day. 7. A screen will ask if your name and assignment are correct, if so, hit 'yes'. 8. Hit 'ok' and you are officially clocked in! Directions on how to clock out of the Volunteer Time Clock: 1. On the designated computer (varies by site) you will see the Volunteer Information Center shortcut. You will use this shortcut on the designated computer to clock in and out. Volunteers in sites other than main campus, check with the Site Coordinator to see which computer has access to the volunteer time clock. 2. On the desktop you will see a shortcut titled, 'Volunteer Time Clock'. Click on that. 3. You will see the time clock appear (it has a white background on it). 4. Enter your pin #, and hit 'continue' 13
5. A screen will pop up asking if you are the person that is 'signing out', click yes. (If it is not you, hit 'no' and retype in your pin #) 6. Once the system knows that it is you, it will give you the option to 'sign out'. Click that button. 7. Once you click, 'sign out' you have officially clocked out! Dress Code Volunteer Attire As a volunteer, you represent Good Samaritan Community Services. We ask that all volunteers dress appropriately while volunteering. All volunteers are expected to wear the GSCS volunteer shirt given to them at Orientation. If you are volunteering with a corporation, you may wear a shirt that identifies you as a volunteer for that specific corporation. If you are volunteering with a church or school group, we ask that you wear identifiable group clothing. Shorts are permitted, as long as they are no more than 2 inches above the knee (ex. no Nike shorts). Acceptable GSCS volunteer shirt, identifiable group t shirt, shorts no more than 2 inches above the knee, jeans, closed toe shoes. Unacceptable Tank tops, low cut shirts, flip flops, Nike shorts, any shorts that are more than 2 inches above the knee, any open toe shoes. Nametag For safety reasons staff, volunteers, and visitors are required to wear nametags. You can locate nametags at the Main Building front desk. Please wear nametags at all times when volunteering. Other Types of Volunteers Junior Volunteers We take pride in knowing that the youth in the communities we serve want to be a part of giving back through Good Samaritan Community Services. 14
Junior Volunteers are in high school with varying age requirements depending on the site; this position is NOT available at the Main Campus in San Antonio (see Family Volunteers ). We are seeking maturity, conflict management skills, and dependability in high school students; they are role models for the younger youth in our program. We seek affirmation from an adult that is not the applicant s parent or relative that the applicant possesses these qualities. The recommendation is an online questionnaire that takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. Each high school student must have the recommendation completed and approved by the Volunteer Coordinator before they may schedule any volunteer shifts. In order for a Junior Volunteer to volunteer in the regional sites, they must: 1. Submit an online volunteer application. 2. Give the Volunteer Coordinator the email address of someone to complete the online reference form (ex. teacher, community leader, church leader, NOT A FAMILY MEMBER ). 3. The Volunteer Coordinator will email the reference a link to the form; the applicant should be sure to have his or her reference complete the form. 4. Initial and sign the Junior Volunteer Expectations and Behavior Contract sent to you by the Volunteer Coordinator. Parents are also required to sign it. 5. The Volunteer Coordinator will contact the Junior Volunteer applicant upon approval to arrange start date and time. Group Volunteers A volunteer group is comprised of at least 15 individuals that want to volunteer together to support the GSCS mission. Examples of volunteer groups are church youth groups, school groups, corporate groups, or professional associations. These groups probably have a particular date and time frame in mind. A group leader will need to contact the Volunteer Coordinator at least one month in advance to determine how the group can best serve the program. Factors that would be considered include the age of the volunteers in the group, the size of the group, when the group would like to volunteer, and the circumstances of the site. 15
Family Group Volunteers There are certain opportunities suitable for families with one adult over 18; the opportunities and age requirements vary by site. The adult must go through the background check process for an individual and be present with any family members while volunteering. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator for more information. Client Transportation GSCS is always in need of help chaperoning clients to various events such as camp trips and field trips. When transporting clients, GSCS uses the company vans, or uses a rental. Volunteers will ride in vans and will serve as second in command, assisting the staff as needed. In order to transport clients there must be either two (2) paid staff members or a staff member and a volunteer. Per insurance requirements, volunteers are not allowed to drive. Media Posting Images to Social Media Sites For the safety and privacy of our clients, GSCS has a strict social media policy. Volunteers may not post any client images on any social media sites. If you take a picture of a client that you would like to be posted on one of GSCS social media sites, please email the picture to the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.coordinator@goodsamtx.org and he or she will handle the approval and posting through our regular channels. Media Inquiries You may be approached by the media to give a statement on behalf of Good Samaritan Community Services. Volunteers may not act as a spokesperson for GSCS or post comments as a representative, except as authorized by the Chief Executive Officer. All media requests should be sent to the Senior Leadership Team Member overseeing the department in which you are serving. 16
Cancelling Shifts The staff at Good Samaritan Community Services greatly depends on the help and commitment of volunteers to run programs successfully. If you are unable to make a shift that you have signed up for, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator at least 48 hours in advance. If you cancel a shift or are late to a shift more than three (3) times, the Volunteer Coordinator will review your file and you may be asked to leave the volunteer program. Other Policies & Procedures Volunteers are expected to comply with other agency policies as applicable but should always follow staff instructions in any given situation or emergency. For copies of any of these policies please contact the Volunteer Coordinator: Emergency Preparedness Anti Harassment Safety and Security Political and Religious Activities Grounds for Dismissal from the Volunteer Program Inappropriate conduct or behavior Consistent no show or tardiness Failure to abide by GSCS Volunteer policies and procedures Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs If there are questions about a volunteer s suitability for GSCS programs the Volunteer Coordinator will investigate and consult with senior management to determine whether or not any action needs to be taken, including warnings, redirection, and/or, ulimately, dismissal. 17