Volunteers

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start provides parents and community members with opportunities to participate in the program as volunteers.

PROCEDURES:

1. 1. NOCAC Child Development Staff will recruit and maintain active volunteers.
      1. Volunteers can be but are not limited to:
         1. Parents, guardians, caregivers,
         2. Family members,
         3. Retirees,
         4. Students (over the age of 18), and
         5. Members of the community
   2. NOCAC Child Development Staff ensures that children are never left alone with volunteers.
   3. Volunteers do not have access to any participants and families files.
   4. NOCAC Child Development Teacher or Home Visitor will go over the Volunteer section of either the NOCAC Head Start Family Handbook and Calendar or NOCAC Early Head Start Family Handbook and Calendar with families during the first home visit.
   5. NOCAC Child Development Staff will address the importance of volunteering to all of the NOCAC Child Development Program.
   6. Volunteers are required to review and sign the following NOCAC forms with a NOCAC Child Development Staff:
      1. NOCAC Confidentiality Policy
      2. NOCAC Code of Conduct.  This form will be signed by both the volunteer and the NOCAC Child Development Staff member.
   7. The NOCAC Child Development Center Manager for Head Start or HB Manager for Early Head Start will provide orientation to all volunteers.
   8. All volunteers will sign the Volunteer Sign In and Out Sheet at the NOCAC Head Start Center they are volunteering at.
   9. All Volunteer Sign In Sheets will be turned in immediately upon completion to the Data Systems Specialist at the Central Office in order to track the non-Federal/In-Kinds funds of the NOCAC Child Development Program.
   10. Classroom Volunteers are encouraged to look at the classroom’s daily schedule and feel free to ask questions.
   11. Volunteer Identification Badges:
       1. Volunteer Identification Badges are to be in all classrooms.
       2. Volunteers are required to wear Volunteer Identification Badges while they are volunteering in the classroom.
       3. NOCAC Staff will contact the Family and Community Engagement Manager if their classroom is in need of new Volunteer Badges.
       4. Family and Community Engagement Manager will then make sure the Volunteer Badges are provided to the classroom in need.
   12. Volunteers are expected to model appropriate behavior while in the classroom, and the NOCAC Head Start Center or the socialization location.
       1. NOCAC Child Development Staff will also model appropriate behavior as usual.
   13. Volunteers are considered an “employee” (per Ohio Department of Job and Family Services/ODJFS) if they meet the following criteria:
       1. Received compensation for duties performed.
       2. Has assigned work hours or duties.
       3. Must have the following on file:
          1. Completed physical,
          2. Statement of Nonconviction for Child Care
          3. BCI & FBI background checks, which can be done at the NOCAC Central Office located at 1933 East Second St, Defiance, OH.
       4. Volunteers are considered a “child care staff member” per ODJFS if the volunteer is an adult employed by a child care center and is responsible for the care and supervision of children.  The following must be kept on file before the first day of volunteering:
          1. Completed physical.
          2. Statement of Nonconviction or Child Care.
          3. BCI & FBI background checks, which can be done at the NOCAC Central Office located at 1933 East Second St, Defiance, OH.
          4. Verification of their High School Diploma.
          5. The volunteer must have ODJFS prescribed one-hours child abuse overview within 30 days of hire.  Training is valid for two years.  ODJFS online orientation completed within 30 days of hire and complete a minimum of six clock hours of annual training.
   14. NOCAC Child Development Staff as well as any NOCAC employee will treat all volunteers with respect at all times.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

• NOCAC HS Family Handbook and Calendar
• NOCAC EHS Family Handbook and Calendar
• Volunteer Sign In and Out Sheet