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The Volunteer Program

1.1 Overall Policy on Utilization of Volunteers

The achievement of the goals of this agency is best served by the active participation of citizens of the community. To this end, the agency accepts and encourages the involvement of volunteers at all levels of the agency and within all appropriate programs and activities. All agency and staff are encouraged to assist in the creation of meaningful and productive roles in which volunteers might serve and to assist in recruitment of volunteers from the community.

1.2 Purpose of Volunteer Policies

The purpose of these policies is to provide overall guidance and direction to staff and volunteers engaged in volunteer involvement and management efforts. These policies are intended for internal management guidance only, and do not constitute, either implicitly or explicitly, a binding contractual or personnel agreement. The agency reserves the exclusive right to change any of these policies at any time and to expect adherence to the changed policy. Changes to or exceptions from these policies may only be granted by the Volunteer Program Manager, and must be obtained in advance and in writing. Areas not specifically covered by these policies shall be determined by the Voluntep>1.3 Scope of Volunteer Policies

Unless specifically stated, these policies apply to all non-elected volunteers in all programs and projects undertaken on or on behalf of the agency, and to all departments and sites of operation of the agency.

1.4 Role of the Volunteer Management Department

The productive utilization of volunteers requires a planned and organized effort. The function of the volunteer management department is to provide a central coordinating point for effective volunteer management within the agency, and to direct and assist staff and volunteer efforts to jointly provide more productive services. The department shall also bear responsibility for maintaining liaison with other volunteer-utilizing programs in the community and assisting in community-wide efforts to recognize and promote volunteering. The Volunteer Program Manager shall bear primary responsibility for planning for effective volunteer utilization, for assisting staff in identifying productive and creative volunteer roles, for recruiting olunteers, and for tracking and evaluating the contribution of volunteers to the agency.

1.5 Definition of 'Volunteer'

A 'volunteer' is anyone who without compensation or expectation of compensation beyond reimbursement performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of the agency. A 'volunteer' must be officially accepted and enrolled by the agency prior to performance of the task. Unless specifically stated, volunteers shall not be considered as 'employees' of the agency.

1.6 Special Case Volunteers

The agency also accepts as volunteers those participating in student community service activities, student intern projects, alternative sentencing or diversion programs, corporate volunteer programs, and other volunteer referral programs. In each of these cases, however, a special agreement must be in effect with the organization, school, or program from whom the special case volunteers originate and must identify responsibility for management and care of the volunteers.

1.7 Employees as Volunteers

The agency accepts [does not accept] the services of staff as volunteers. This service is accepted provided that the volunteer service is provided totally without any coercive nature, involves work which is outside the scope of normal staff duties, and is provided outside of usual working hours. Family members of staff are [are not] allowed to volunteer with the agency. When family members are enrolled as volunteers, they will not be placed under the direct supervision or within the same department as other members of their family who are employees.

1.8 Clients and Relatives as Volunteers

Agency clients may be accepted as volunteers, where such service does not constitute an obstruction to or conflict with provision of services to the client or to others. Relatives of clients may also serve as clients, but will not be placed in a position of direct service or relationship to members of their family who are receiving services.

1.9 Service at the