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Volunteering Guidelines

  1. Be Patient and Tolerant. Don’t expect overnight miracles. The positive impact of your work may not have a decisive effect until long after you have starting working with a child.
  2. Be Consistent. Present your ideas clearly and simply. Always mean what you say and never make a promise unless you have thoroughly thought it through and are fully prepare to back it up. Set limits and norms of proper conduct for the children you serve. Let them know just where you stand and what your standards are. Be serious about limits because this is an important part of their learning process.
  3. Be Prepared to Listen and Understand. It is important that the children have someone to listen to them. Maybe it is easier for you to do most of the talking, to moralize, make judgments or even to preach, but chances are they have had plenty of this before. What they very likely have not had is an adult who will hear them out and really listen to what they have to say.
  4. Give Attention. The children you are working with may never have really known the type of attention that they will receive from the staff at Positive Tomorrows. They may not even know how to handle positive attention appropriately. Remain open and understanding of each child’s individual needs and situation.
  5. Thanks and Gratitude. Some children may not know how to express and communicate their thanks and gratefulness although they feel it. Do not be offended if they do not respond in the way you may have anticipated. It is your responsibility to remain exemplary in order to demonstrate how to perform such behavior.
  6. Positive Reinforcement. Praise the children for acceptable behavior at every opportunity. Too often children do not get enough positive reinforcement and as their safe and positive role-model, you have the opportunity to have a direct impact on their self esteem.
  7. Confidentiality. As a volunteer you may learn sensitive information about a student. Under no circumstances should the information be divulged to anyone but a professional staff member.
  8. Be Ready for Adversity. Every relationship has its ups and downs. The children may have difficulty expressing their feelings and giving you their trust. Be patient and have the ability to deal with your own disappointments, but do not vent your frustration on the child. Discuss these feeling with your supervisor.
  9. Be Mindful of Safety. It is your responsibility to be cautious of the safety of the children and oneself. Relentlessly give your all to provide maximum safety while children are under your care. Never to be alone with a child. In the event that there are unforeseen incidents or any types of engagements, it is important that there are witnesses, reinforcement, and/or assistance to aid with the incidence or encounter.
  10. Change of Information. It is your responsibility to keep your supervisor updated on any changed information such as: telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and schedule changes. Failing to do so can be disruptive in the communication process.
  11. Be a Good Role Model. One of the best things you can do is to be a good example through your own behavior, dress, language, etc. It is especially important to remain conscious that the children are looking at you to base their behavior.
  12. Work with the teachers. Our teachers have an educational plan for each child and have the best understanding of that child’s needs. Volunteers are expected to work within the teacher’s plan for a child, behaviorally and academically.