Also available as Acrobat Reader file and a Word document

This handbook offers senior associates general information regarding duties, roles, and responsibilities for volunteers. This is a basic guide to help you feel comfortable in the role of senior associate for family literacy programs. The facilitator of the program that you are volunteering in will be able to provide you with information more specific to your unique role.

Please use this booklet as a guide during your volunteering experience. If you should have questions that are not covered in this manual, speak to the facilitator or the Intergenerational Literacy Links Coordinator. You should also familiarize yourself with the Code of Conduct of the River East Transcona School Division and St. James Assiniboia School Division.

Mission

Creative Retirement Manitoba promotes the health and well-being of individuals and communities through developing and offering innovative learning opportunities with and for older persons.

The goal of the family literacy volunteer program is to facilitate connections between school, community and the generations in a way that is beneficial to all those involved.

A volunteer is a person who works in a family literacy program to support facilitators, young children, and their parents. They contribute their time and talent in a variety of ways. Volunteers are highly valued for the crucial role they play in child development, education, and community connections.

Volunteers assist facilitators in the following ways:

· Greeting parents and children as they enter the program

· Signing in participants on attendance sheets

· Participating in the circle time portion of the program (rhymes)

· Organizing the materials for the craft

· Putting out the snack and beverages for the participants (done while the Facilitator is leading the book sharing circle)

· Assisting the leader in cleaning up the snack

· Reading a story to the children

· Assisting children complete their crafts, giving them encouragement and positive suggestions

· Keeping children occupied and happy until the return of their parents

· Participating in the ‘Goodbye Song’

· Collecting nametags from children and safely storing them for the following week

· Ensuring that the children remember to take home their artwork

· Cleaning up the kids craft area and bin

It is important that when you begin volunteering at a program that you let them know your interests and skills so that they can find an activity that is suited to the type of experiences you would like to have.

You may want to consider the following questions:

1.  Do you prefer working with other people or on your own?

2.     Do you enjoy being in charge of something or do you prefer if someone else is in charge?

3.     Do you like to work directly with children?

4.     Do you like meeting new people?

These are just a few questions to get you thinking about the type of role you would like to play when volunteering in a family literacy program.

In the Community

Volunteers are in the unique position to act as a liaison between the programs and the community. You will be aware of a great deal of information regarding the program that the community may be unaware of. You can help the community understand the role of the program and the opportunities available there. Furthermore, you can also be a great source for new volunteers by speaking positively about your experiences.

Tips for Working with Children

Recognize and show enthusiasm for their accomplishments Listen with interest Be sensitive and responsive to their feelings Treat all children fairly and equally Allow each child to work at their own pace Encourage questions and respond to them Be a role model for a young child and his/her parents Be seen as a reader, they will read Be careful of your own body language and words – young children are at a critical point in their life – their learning and creative ideas must always be fostered. Be aware of potential safety hazards.

Your responsibilities and rights as a Senior Associate

It is your responsibility

-  to accept an assignment of your choice with only as much responsibility as you can handle

-  to respect confidences within the Family Literacy program participants and facilitators

-  to fulfill your commitment or notify the program facilitator or the Intergenerational Literacy Links Facilitator early enough that a substitute can be found.

-  To follow established guidelines

-  To decline work not acceptable to you; not to let biases interfere with your own performance

-  To use time wisely and not interfere with performance of others

-  To continue only as long as you can be useful

-  To stipulate your own limitations and when it is convenient for you to receive calls from the facilitator

-  To provide feedback, suggestions and recommendations if these might increase effectiveness of the family literacy program

It is your Right

-  To be assigned a volunteer position that is worthwhile and challenging, with freedom to use existing skills or develop new ones

-  To be trusted with confidential information that will help you carry out your assignment

-  To be kept informed through newsletters, phone calls, and memorandum about what is going on in the program

-  To receive orientation and training as required for the Senior Associate position

-  To expect your time will not be wasted by lack of planning, coordination or cooperation with the family literacy program

-  To expect valid recommendation and encouragement from the program facilitator

-  To be given recognition of your day to day contributions

-  To know whether your work is effective and how it can be improved

-  To have a chance to increase understanding of yourself, others and your community

Orientation and Policies

At the beginning volunteers will be asked to attend an orientation session, or to meet with a member of the Intergenerational Group regarding volunteering. This will familiarize volunteers with the operation of family literacy programs and acquaint them with the facilitator, as well as outlining expectations and policies.

Volunteers must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Confidentiality of all involved in family literacy programs.
2. Volunteers do not discuss children’s progress with parents
3. Disclosure policy. If a child should disclose information regarding abuse volunteers are required by law to report this to authorities. The following steps should be followed:
   1. The volunteer should reassure the child (let them know they will be notifying someone)
   2. The volunteer should then inform the facilitator about the disclosure

4. Observe all rules and routines of the location/school.
5. If unable to appear as scheduled, please inform the facilitator.

6. Volunteers are not responsible for providing materials and should ask facilitators before bringing your own supplies.

7. Buildings and vehicles are smoke free

8. For safety reasons when dealing with blood or bodily fluids, the following safety procedures are to be followed:
   1. wear gloves
   2. Send someone for the facilitator
   3. Attend to injury or spill
   4. Wash hands before and after removing gloves

9. If problems or difficulties arise, contact the program facilitator or the Intergenerational Literacy Links Coordinator.

Procedures for Screening Senior Associates/Volunteers

All new volunteers shall complete and sign:

(a)  A registration form to be kept in the volunteer’s file.

(b) A Child Abuse Registry Check form. This form will be submitted to Provincial Child Abuse Registry and then returned to the appropriate school division. The completed responses will be kept in the volunteer’s file.

NOTE: Presence on the Child Abuse Registry will exclude the applicant from placement as a volunteer. In situations where documentation is pending, volunteers may begin on a probationary status.

All volunteers are expected to be familiar with the School Division Code of Conduct and be aware that disciplinary action for volunteers is the same as for paid staff.