Site and Center Hosted by

Western Nevada College

Volunteer Center Member

Western Nevada Partner

The National Mentoring Partnership

Community Partner

1. Volunteers will make arrangements with the parent/guardian (P/G), prior to any activities with the mentee. Ample notice will be provided to P/G's scheduled visits and activities with the mentee.

2. Volunteers must maintain current motor vehicle insurance if they are to transport the mentee.

3. No overnight activities will take place with the mentee.

4. Concerns or problems will immediately be reported to the Center Director.

5. Volunteers are not a financial resource to the mentee. Volunteers will coordinate with the parent/guardian to insure that the mentee has adequate cash-on-hand if required, for outings or activities.

6. Volunteers keep a current Emergency Release Form with them at all times when with the mentee.

7. Volunteers maintain a commitment of weekly contact for a minimum of one full hour with the mentee, for the full duration of the match (12 months).

8. Extended leaves by the volunteer will be reported to the Center Director. This would include required time away due to work, vacations, medical leaves and other situations that may impact consistent, weekly meeting with the mentee.

9. Volunteers will apply the content of the mentor-candidate training. If at any time the volunteer believes that they cannot properly carry out their responsibilities as a mentor, the Center Director will be notified immediately.

10. Volunteers will engage in appropriate activities at all times with the mentee. These activities will be consistent with the mentee's stated areas of interest and abilities with P/G's prior approval. Activities will always be of a safe nature.

11. Volunteers represent the Mentor Center of Western Nevada. As such, they are expected to behave in a professional and appropriate manner at all times when representing the Center. Failure to do so, and failure to follow all guidelines, can result in termination from the Center.

12. Volunteers will be flexible and adapt to the changing needs of the mentee. Scheduling will be convenient for the mentee and not have a negative impact on the parent/guardian.

13. Volunteers will insure that the mentee is returned home as arranged with the parent/guardian. In the unlikely event that the volunteer and mentee are running late from an outing or an activity, the parent/guardian will be contacted immediately by the volunteer.

14. Volunteers will report all significant circumstances of concern or problems noted while visiting a mentee in their home. Child abuse/neglect reporting laws are always followed and Reports are made to the Center Director. In the event that the Director cannot be reached, the Volunteer is to follow the Confidentiality Policy (separate document).

15. Volunteers will notify the Center Director immediately with any changes to the status of their file. This would include things such as phone numbers, addresses, living situations, marital status, legal issues, place of employment any and all other matters that could change the status of their volunteer file with the Center, and/or impact their ability to be an effective mentor.

16. Volunteers will ask no personal favors of their mentee at any time during the relationship.

17. Volunteers will ask no personal favors of the parent/guardian or the mentee's family, at any time during the mentee-mentor relationship.

18. Volunteers will fulfil all commitments made to the mentee. For example if the volunteer is to show up at 5:15 and take the mentee to a baseball game, that is what needs to occur. In the unlikely event of a delay or emergency, the volunteer is to contact the parent/guardian and the mentee immediately.

19. Basic safety rules and common sense for activities with a youth will be followed at all times. This includes things such as: (a) knowing where the mentee is at all times, (b) requiring the youth to follow guidelines pertaining to safe behavior while in a motor vehicle, (c) contacting the parent/guardian immediately should the mentee become ill or injured, (d) use of a helmet while riding a bicycle, (e) use of a life vest if in open water and, (f) engage in only safe and appropriate activities with the mentee.

20. Volunteers will always personally find out who is home when transporting a mentee back from an outing. Mentees will never just be "dropped off" in front of their home. They will always be escorted to the door by the volunteer and confirm a P/G is at home.

21. If during other than normal business hours, or during other situations where the Center Director needs to be reached for an urgent or emergency-related matter and is not in the office, volunteers will promptly page the Center Director or make some other form of contact if that has been prearranged. For example, if the Center Director is out of town and arrangements have been made regarding how to respond and who to contact in an emergency, those instructions would be followed.

22. Volunteers may consume no alcohol or other drugs prior to or during an activity with a mentee. Regarding what delineates "prior to" the time frame will vary with each individual. If for example the volunteer had wine with lunch and is to meet the mentee at 3:00 p.m., if there is any possible negative effect of this on the outing or activity it would be advised against.

23. Volunteers understand that they may be randomly drug tested at the Center's expense.

24. Volunteer's motor vehicles must be in safe working condition and currently insured in order to transport a mentee.

25. The volunteer's home must be free of any unsafe, unsanitary or inappropriate conditions during the time that the mentee may be present. This is inclusive of household pets, construction, home repairs, appropriate behavior of all others in the home and so forth.

26. Volunteers maintain the confidentiality of activities with the mentee except in noted circumstances that mandate reporting. These are addressed in the Confidentiality Agreement. Volunteers do not discuss their mentee with any other individuals other than the Center Director. Only as-needed information is disclosed to the parent/guardian. Disclosing Information about a mentee with other entities such as a school counselor, other relatives, a probation officer, friends, the media etc. are never permitted. The Center Director monitors all written releases of information.

27. Inability to consistently follow program guidelines may result in volunteer file closure and termination from the Center.

28. Volunteers understand that continuing education credits must be earned annually, in order to maintain current mentor certification status. Certificates are active for one full year from the date of issue.

I THE UNDERSIGNED, UNDERSTAND THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY THEM:

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Revised 5/31/01