Volunteer Handbook

Our Mission Statement UMCHS, Inc. equips children and those who care for them for lifelong learning and success. 2 Table of Contents Welcome A Message from our Executive Director ………………………………...…………….…...5 UMCHS by the Numbers ………………………………...………………………………….……..….6 Our Programs ………………………………...…………………………….……………………….…….…7 Opportunities within our Programs ……………………………...………….………….…....8 Settling In Business Hours, Inclement Weather ,…………………………………..………….…….…..9 Attendance & Punctuality, Meal Periods & Rest Breaks .……………….….…..10 Personal Electronic Communication Devices & Children .……………………..…...10 A Great Place to Serve Disabilities & Reasonable Accommodations ……………………………...…………..…...11 Bullying & Harassment ……………………………...……………………………….………….…....11 Volunteer Rights & Responsibilities ..…………...…………………………………………….12 Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 ……………………………………………………..……….13 Professionalism at it’s Best Our Core Values ……………………………………………………………………………………………..14 Dress Code & Grooming …………………………………………………………………………………15 Conflict of Interest, Political Activity …………………………………….………………….16 Protecting Confidential Information Confidential Information Explained ………………….…………………………………………17 Social Media Etiquette & Use ………………………………………….…………………………..17 Safety Incidents & Accidents ………………………………...………………………….……………………..18 Emergency Procedures ………………………………...………….………....….….…….….………..19 Interactions with Children, Substance Use & Abuse …………………………..….20 Exclusion Policy ……...……………………………….……………………..……...………………………..21 Child Abuse & Neglect ………………………………...……………………………………………..…22 Supplement: Application Materials 3 4 UMCHS is an agency committed to ensuring that children, and those who care for them, are given all the tools they need to create healthy and happy futures for the next generation. The agency is founded on the principles that have made Head Start one of the earliest and most effective interventions for preparing our young children for brighter futures academically, socially and emotionally. We believe every child deserves a head start in life! With that in mind, the agency has broadened those horizons and expanded service offerings. Ever-growing opportunities for children and caregivers can be provided in partnership so that communities ensure that each child has the best chance to enter school ‘ready to learn’ and to ultimately thrive as children grow. We weave nutrition, physical, emotional and oral health, parent education, and links to vital supports into all our program offerings at important junctures in a child and family’s life. All services are provided by a team of more than 250 staff, board members and volunteers. These services are made possible with contributions from federal, state, and local government and related organizations, foundations, businesses, faith communities and local individuals and philanthropists. We walk this important journey alongside our child care providers, parents, school & health districts and educational service districts, and all who seek to insure our communities foster the best childhood has to offer. The stage is set for the best early learning outcomes we’ve seen to date in eleven counties! As a community, we are making sure that the places where children spend so much of their time, including child care, classrooms and communities, are transformed into resource- rich, quality environments. Our most at-risk children are given the resources that they need to thrive at a point in time that is so critical to their child development. Together we can strengthen families, build communities and brighten our collective futures. Thanks for being a champion for our children, Maureen McGrath, UMCHS Executive Director 5 Here at UMCHS we believe every child deserves a Head Start in life! We also believe that every child deserves an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to be equipped in such a UMCHS way that they and their families can thrive. BY THE Our programs weave physical, emotional, and oral health, proper nutrition, parent education, and links to vital sup- NUMBERS ports into all our service offerings at the most important junctures in a child and family’s life. We are a team of almost 300 staff members and more than 250 volunteers working side-by-side in 8 unique programs across 11 different counties serving almost 10,000 families! 6 Women, Infants, and Children at UMCHS 7 Classroom Assistants S.M.A.R.T. Readers S.M.A.R.T. Coordinators contribute to the edu- work with S.M.A.R.T. read one-on-one with cation team by helping Head Start students. readers and oversee the the teachers in the reading program in the classroom with school classroom. activities. Kitchen Assistants Bus Assistants help the cook in preparing help in providing safe meals that include all transportation for children types of foods, including a and parents. variety of cultural dishes. Parent Education Partners Clerical Assistants assist in activities and exercises by providing Summer Lunch Assistants childcare or by facilitating courses designed to give participants hands-on learning experiences. Maintenance Assistants Technology Assistants Court Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers that are appointed by a judge to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill 8 • Settling In • Business Hours Our administrative offices are open Monday—Friday from 8 am—4:30 pm. Individual Center hours may vary however most are open from 8 am—3:30 pm. Summer hours will vary from those listed. The following centers offer extended hours: Neal Early Learning Center 7:30 am—5:30 pm Hermiston Child Development Center 7 am—5 pm Irrigon Early Head Start Center 7 am—3:30 pm La Grande Early Head Start 7 am—5 pm Pendleton Early Learning Center EHS 7:30 am—5:30 pm Pendleton Early Head Start 7:30 am—3:30 pm Umatilla Center 7 am—3:30 pm Inclement Weather If bad weather requires us to close facilities, we will announce this on the radio as soon as possible. We try to make the decision by 5:30 a.m. so that school closure information is included in the 6:00 a.m. news broadcast. Please listen carefully to your radio on days you suspect may be difficult due to weather. If you do not hear school closure information on the radio, assume that school is open and in session. We contact the following radio stations, so please tune to one of your local stations to find out about school closures: KOHU AM Station 1360--Hermiston-Umatilla-Irrigon-Stanfield-Boardman KUMA AM Station 1290--Pendleton-Milton-Freewater KWHT FM Station 103.5--Pendleton-Milton-Freewater KTIX AM Station 1240--Pendleton KJDY AM Station 1400--John Day Safety is our highest priority! If you do not feel as though conditions are safe for travel please consider rescheduling your service for another day. 9 Attendance & Punctuality We rely on every member of our team as we strive to provide the resources and services our clients need. As a volunteer you are an irreplaceable and invaluable member of that team, and as such, you are asked to be present and arrive on time for the days and times you commit to. If you are ill or have any infectious condition or disease please DO NOT volunteer until you are well. If you must be absent or late please notify your supervisor as soon as possible. Your advance notice al- lows your supervisor to either call in another volunteer or to adjust his/her daily plan accordingly. Meal Periods & Rest Breaks Labor laws do not specify when volunteers must have rest breaks or meal periods however it is our ex- pectation that every person on our team take meal periods and rest breaks according to ORS 653.261. If you are scheduled to work 6 or more hours in a day please take at least a 30- minute uninterrupted meal period around the middle of your shift or at such a time as UMCHS may designate. Please note that meals that are eaten with children as part of your duties are not considered meal periods and do not negate your right to a mid-shift meal period. We also ask that you take one 10-minute break for every four-hour period of work. Personal Electronic Communication Devices Whether you are in an office or out in the field, please limit your use of Personal Electronic Communication Devices to your rest breaks and meal periods. All members of our team are strictly prohibited from using a personal cell phone or other recording device to photograph, document or otherwise record UMCHS clients, facilities, operations, or information that has been deemed confidential and proprietary. Devices should be turned off or put away when in the company of children so they do not interrupt the provision of our full and continuous attention. 10 • A Great Place to Serve • Disabilities & Reasonable Accommodations We are equally committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with a disability as required by law unless doing so would create an undue hardship on us and assuming the individual or accommodation does not pose a direct threat to the safety of any member of the UMCHS family. Should you request or need an accommodation, we have the right to gather more information and confir- mation about your disability from a health care provider. Requests for accommodation should be submit- ted to your supervisor or Human Resources. Please plan on meaningfully participating in the discussion and process so that we can assist you as much as is feasible. Bullying & Harassment UMCHS is committed to creating a work environment in which all individuals are treated with respect,

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