Volunteer Standards of ConductVolunteer Standards of Conduct

Your State AgrAbility Project Peer Support TrainingDate

Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

• To understand and practice To understand and practice confidentiality in the role of peer supportconfidentiality in the role of peer support

• To recognize the ethical standards of a To recognize the ethical standards of a peer supporter for AgrAbility peer supporter for AgrAbility

• To be aware of personal and volunteer To be aware of personal and volunteer liability liability

• To acknowledge personal safety issues To acknowledge personal safety issues when visiting a peer being supportedwhen visiting a peer being supported

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

Not sharing or gossiping information Not sharing or gossiping information about the person you are providing about the person you are providing

peer support to with others who don’t peer support to with others who don’t have a “need to know”have a “need to know”

What does this mean?What does this mean?

• Do not share any personal (even the Do not share any personal (even the name), medical, or financial information name), medical, or financial information about the person to whom you are about the person to whom you are providing peer support to anyone who providing peer support to anyone who does not have a professional interestdoes not have a professional interest

It also meansIt also means

• Do not disclose any proprietary or Do not disclose any proprietary or privileged information you receive privileged information you receive

about AgrAbility staff, another volunteer, about AgrAbility staff, another volunteer, or the agencies working with AgrAbility.or the agencies working with AgrAbility.

EthicsEthics

• Standards governing the conduct of Standards governing the conduct of a person or member of a profession.a person or member of a profession.

Ethics for Peer SupportEthics for Peer Support

• Live up to the responsibility of your Live up to the responsibility of your volunteer role. volunteer role.

• Be present and on time for every Be present and on time for every commitment you make. commitment you make.

• Respect the confidential aspects of your Respect the confidential aspects of your assignment, and the dignity and privacy assignment, and the dignity and privacy of the person with whom you work. of the person with whom you work.

EthicsEthics

• Become involved, in a warm and natural Become involved, in a warm and natural manner, without becoming over manner, without becoming over involved. involved.

• Show empathy, not sympathy. Show empathy, not sympathy.

• Be optimistic about life in general Be optimistic about life in general without encouraging any unrealistic without encouraging any unrealistic goals or attitudes. goals or attitudes.

EthicsEthics

• Be honest and genuine at all timesBe honest and genuine at all times

• Be friendlyBe friendly

• Do no harmDo no harm

• Have fun Have fun

LiabilityLiability

Your StateYour State AgrAbility Volunteer AgrAbility Volunteer Liability StatementLiability Statement

42 U.S.C.S. § 14503, Limitation on Liability (Example only- insert your state information!)

Protection for volunteersA volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental entity is not

liable for harm caused by an act or omission done in the scope of responsibility on behalf of the organization. This applies if the volunteer was properly authorized and licensed, if such is authorization is needed.

Exceptions: the harm was caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or if the harm was caused by the volunteer operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft or any vehicle for which a license or insurance is required.

Practical Guidelines for Practical Guidelines for LiabilityLiability

Act within the scope of your peer Act within the scope of your peer support volunteer responsibilities support volunteer responsibilities

Practical Guidelines for Practical Guidelines for LiabilityLiability

Immediately report any unusual Immediately report any unusual

circumstances, events, actions, or circumstances, events, actions, or

injuries to the injuries to the StateState AgrAbility Project AgrAbility Project Coordinator.Coordinator.

Personal SafetyPersonal Safety

• ALWAYS let someone know specifically ALWAYS let someone know specifically where you are going, how long you where you are going, how long you expect to be gone, and how to reach expect to be gone, and how to reach you. you.

• Follow your basic instincts. If you feel Follow your basic instincts. If you feel unsafe, leave. unsafe, leave.

Personal SafetyPersonal Safety

• Carry a cell phone on your person at all Carry a cell phone on your person at all times. times.

• Avoid being an “extra rider” on machinery. Avoid being an “extra rider” on machinery. Extra riders account for a significant Extra riders account for a significant proportion of serious farm incidents.proportion of serious farm incidents.

• Avoid all violations of basic, common-sense, Avoid all violations of basic, common-sense, farm safety practices.farm safety practices.

Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families