Volunteer’s Code of Conduct
St Brigid’s Parish • Westbury NY

Our children are the most important gifts God has entrusted to us.
As a follow of Jesus and a member of the church community, I promise to work to create a safe community for our children and youth, indeed all members of our community.
Therefore as a volunteer, I promise to strictly follow the rules and guidelines in this Volunteer’s Code of Conduct as a condition of my providing services to the people of Saint Brigid’s Parish.

As a volunteer, I will:
• Treat everyone with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy, dignity, and consideration.

• Avoid situations where I am alone with children and/or youth at Church activities.

• Use positive reinforcement rather than criticism, competition, or comparison when working with children and/or youth.

• Refrain from giving expensive gifts to children and/or youth without prior written approval from the parents or guardian and the pastor or administrator.

• Refuse to accept expensive gifts from children and/or youth or their parents without prior written approval from the pastor or administrator.

• Report suspected abuse to the pastor, administrator,or appropriate supervisor andthe New York State Child Registry
(1-800-342-3720).
I understand that failure to report suspected abuse to civil authorities is, according to the law, a misdemeanor.

• Cooperate fully in any investigation of abuse of children and/or youth.

As a volunteer, I will not:
• Strike, spank, shake, or slap children and/or youth.

• Humiliate, ridicule, threaten, or degrade children and/or youth.

• Show or be in possession of pornographic materials in the presence of children and/or youth.

• Touch a child and/or youth in a sexual or other inappropriate manner.

• Force a child and/or youth to engage in sexual or other inappropriate conduct.

• Harass others physically, verbally, emotionally, sexually. in person, by mail or electronically

• Use any discipline that frightens or humiliates children and/or youth.

• Use profanity in the presence of children and/or youth.

• Smoke or use tobacco products in the presence of children and/or youth.

• Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol at any time while volunteering.

• Use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any time.

• Pose any health risk to children and/or youth (i.e., no fevers or other contagious situations; not be impaired by medications, etc.)
.
• Place a child in an unsupervised situation

I understand that as a volunteer working with children and/or youth, I am subject to a thorough background check including criminal history. I understand that any action inconsistent with this Code of Conduct or failure to take action mandated by this Code of Conduct may result in my removal as a volunteer with children and/or youth.