Purpose

This policy establishes how JA Canada will prevent the physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children, youth, and other vulnerable persons by its volunteers. JA Canada seeks to create a welcoming and nurturing environment and has zero tolerance for those whose actions may jeopardize the safety, health, or innocence of those in the organization’s care.

Definitions

Because abuse takes many forms, it can be broken down into the following subtypes, all of which are prohibited within the scope of this policy:

·       Physical abuse: Injury intentionally inflicted on a child, youth or other vulnerable person.

·       Sexual abuse: Contact or activity of a sexual nature that occurs between a youth and an adult, two youth, or a vulnerable adult and a caregiver.

·       Emotional abuse: A mental or emotional injury to a child, youth or vulnerable person that results in an observable and material impairment in an individual’s growth, development or psychological functioning.

·       Elder abuse: Any action by a person in a position of trust that results in harm to or jeopardizes the well-being or safety of any elder person.

·       Neglect: Failure to provide adequate care for an individual.

·       Economic abuse: Deliberate misuse of the money or belongings of an individual.

Policy guidelines

 Screenings

Safeguards in the volunteer onboarding process will be used to eliminate from consideration any candidates who display characteristics that could classify them at a high risk for violating this policy. The required screenings and background information will depend on the positions and its level of involvement with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons.

Vulnerable persons

Volunteers for positions that involve regular interaction with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons will be screened and selected using the following:

·       Standard JA Canada volunteer application that includes a signed authorization to perform necessary background checks.

·       Criminal background checks in any and all provinces where the volunteer candidate has lived.

·       Sexual offender registry checks in any and all provinces where the volunteer has lived.

·       Driving records and any applicable certification if the position requires the transportation of children.

·       In-person interview of the volunteer.

·       Criminal and sexual offender registry checks will be conducted every three years for those who regularly volunteer with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons.

All information collected about candidates will be reviewed and used to determine if they are appropriate for the respective position. If approved, all information collected during the onboarding process will be included in the volunteer’s permanent file, which will be maintained with the JA organization.

Structural guidelines for programs

All JA Canada programs are designed to encourage safe interactions between volunteers and children, youth, and vulnerable persons. The following guidelines are meant to keep established safeguards effective:

·       Volunteers should not be alone with children, youth, or other vulnerable persons where they cannot be easily observed by others.

·       Volunteers are not allowed to implement new activities or programs for children, youth, or other vulnerable persons without JA Canada’s consent. Request for new activities or programs should be submitted through a pilot program request.

·       Written permission must be obtained from a parent or guardian before any volunteer transports children, youth, or vulnerable persons.

·       Children under the age of 12 placed in the care of JA Licensees in Canada will only be released to a parent, legal guardian, or person designated by a parent or legal guardian.

General conduct

In an effort to provide a safe and healthy environment for both mind and body, the following guidelines are meant to guide JA Canada volunteers during their interactions with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons. These guidelines do not and cannot outline every situation that may be encountered while on the job, requiring employees to act with a certain degree of personal discretion. Because a certain action is not prohibited in this section does not mean it is acceptable behaviour. JA Canada reserves the right to take disciplinary action against JA Licensees whose actions are found to be inappropriate regardless of whether they appear in this section:

·       Volunteers will treat all children, youth, and other vulnerable persons with respect and consideration. Treatment must be fair and equal, and must not be based on sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or economic or social status. All efforts must be made to avoid favouritism, or the appearance of favouritism.

·       While representing JA Licensees in Canada in the presence of students, volunteers must not possess, distribute, use, or allow others to use any alcohol or drugs.

·       Volunteers must not use harsh or inappropriate language, degrading punishment or any type of restraining device in the name of behaviour management.

·       Volunteers must not participate in or allow others to engage in any form of hazing.

·       Volunteers must not have sexual contact with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons.

·       Volunteers must not dress, undress, shower or bathe with or in the presence of children, youth, and other vulnerable persons.

·       Volunteers must not use physical punishment in any form.

·       Volunteers are prohibited from sharing sleeping locations with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons. This includes beds, tents, hotel rooms, and other similar areas. Employees can sleep in open areas as long as the area is large enough for employees to have their own defined sleeping areas and other employees are also present.

·       Volunteers must not discuss their own sexual history, preferences or fantasies nor their use of illicit or pornographic materials while in the company of children, youth, and other vulnerable persons.

·       Volunteers are not allowed to possess any sexually oriented materials (books, magazines, videos or clothing) when conducting business in the name of JA Licensees in Canada.

·       When one-on-one discussion or counselling is warranted, volunteer interactions with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons will take place in an area that allows for private conversation while remaining in the view of others.

If, for any reason, volunteers feel there is a need to make an exception to these guidelines, they must submit to their supervisor a written description of the incident and why their actions were necessary. The report will be reviewed for wrongdoing. A copy of the original report along with any additional findings made by the reviewer will be included in the volunteer’s permanent file.

Training

Training is mandatory for all volunteers and staff members who regularly work with children, youth, and other vulnerable persons. Training materials and procedures may include, but are not limited, to the following:

  • In-house video presentations
  • Handbooks
  • Policies
  • Instructions for reporting incidents
  • Refresher courses and workshops

Training programs and materials will be reviewed annually. In addition to completing mandatory training, volunteers and staff are expected to respond to and report all allegations or complaints of abuse in an appropriate manner.

Volunteer agreement

If you have any uncertainty or questions regarding the content of this policy, you are required to consult your supervisor. This should be done prior to signing and agreeing to the JA Canada Abuse Prevention Policy.

I have read and understand JA Canada’s Abuse Prevention Policy and agree to abide by its terms and conditions throughout the course of my employment. I understand that my failure to follow the terms of this policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.