VOLUNTEER STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

In our efforts to make your service at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries as rewarding and enjoyable as possible, we have established Volunteer Standards and Guidelines.   They are designed to answer many of your questions about the practices and policies of

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries provides equal volunteering opportunities for every person regardless of race, age, color, sex, national origin, disability or other protected classification.  It is the policy of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries that no volunteer be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, color, sex, national origin, disability or other protected classification.   Volunteers who believe that this policy has been violated – with regard to themselves or others- must report the violation to their supervisor or the Director of Volunteer Services.  

VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT

All volunteer placements shall be “at will” so that either party may terminate the volunteer relationship at any time and for any or no reason.     

TYPES OF VOLUNTEERS

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries utilizes several types of volunteers: 

• Secondary Volunteers are short term and assist in areas that require little training and never serve in a one-to one setting.   At a minimum, such volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer application before being placed. 

Primary Volunteers have regular, one on one contact with persons.   Such volunteers consist, but are not limited to tutors, computer aides, childcare and administrative support staff.   Primary Volunteers must fill out a volunteer application, be interviewed, provide 3 references, and complete a background check before they begin volunteer service.  

• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries does work with the court systems to place individuals with court-mandated or disciplinary community service.  You must contact the Volunteer Coordinator to set up a meeting and fill out the required paperwork.  You must bring your court records and drivers license with you.  At this time, the Volunteer Coordinator shall place you at one of our facilities and assign you a Supervisor. 

• Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries is excited to partner with academic institutions and students to provide internships.   You must contact the Director of Human Services to set up an appointment and discuss the opportunities available.  Interns must be interviewed and complete a background check before placement. 

AGE REQUIREMENT

The minimum age for an individual volunteer is 16.  All other volunteers must be accompanied by an adult.   Children volunteering in the Soup Kitchen must be at least 12 years of age and accompanied by an adult.  If the child is under age 12, they will not be allowed to volunteer.    High-school students may volunteer as part of a group to work on an off-site project.  One adult volunteer must accompany every eight student volunteers.   

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTEERING – INDIVIDUALS

Volunteers can either fill out the volunteer application and sign up on-line for volunteer projects by visiting our website at drmm.org or schedule through the Volunteer Coordinator.   Once a volunteer is scheduled for a volunteer event, they will receive a confirmation via e-mail with all the details including location, map quest, project specifics, sign-in procedures, etc. 

PROCEDURE FOR VOLUNTEERING – GROUPS

The Group Leader must contact the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule.   Groups cannot sign up on-line.  The Volunteer Coordinator will send the Group Leader a confirmation via e-mail with all details of the group volunteer event.   To streamline the process, the Group Leader can initially fill out a Volunteer Application on-line and then contact the Volunteer Coordinator. 

SOUP KITCHEN

You can volunteer any day of the week to work in one of our four Soup Kitchens.   Volunteers help serve lunch 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.or dinner 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.   Groups are limited to a maximum of 10 individuals per shift, except for the Genesis House III  which can only accommodate a maximum of 6 volunteers per shift.   Volunteers can sign up on-line to volunteer at any one of the Soup Kitchens year round or can contact the Volunteer Coordinator to schedule.   Children must be at least 12 years of age to volunteer and must be accompanied by an adult.    If you need to cancel or cannot make it to a scheduled event, please be sure to check your confirmation email and cancel the event you signed up for. 

SIGN-IN PROCEDURES

Volunteers must sign-in at the Front Desk upon arrival and sign-out upon departure.   

INTERACTIONS WITH STAFF, CLIENTS AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS

We encourage interaction with staff, clients and other volunteers but have put in place some guidelines for your protection. 

• Do not give rides to any client

• Do not give money or gifts to any client

• Report any inappropriate behavior to staff or the Volunteer Coordinator immediately

• Please refrain from the use of profanity

• If residents have questions, please refer them to the staff

• If a volunteer has regular contact with clients, such as childcare, tutors, or office support positions, an interview and background check will be conducted before placement.

PERSONAL ITEMS

Do not leave your belongings unattended.  Please put all your belongings in the trunk of your car or leave them at home.  Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries does not assume any responsibility for loss, damage or theft of any personal property.

DONATIONS

If you have donations you can bring them to the site you are volunteering at and drop them off at the front desk.   If you need help unloading the items, please alert the staff at the front desk and they will assist you. 

REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries requires all volunteers working with children to fill out a Volunteer Application, be interviewed and complete a background check form.  If the volunteer has been convicted of any crime, they will be prohibited from working with children. 

Volunteers should follow the following guidelines when working with children:

• Volunteers should never be alone with a child.

• Volunteers should not discipline the children, but report a child’s misbehavior to staff immediately.

• Volunteers should never touch or hug a child in a way that might be misinterpreted.  It is best to let each individual child initiate contact.

• The minimum age for childcare volunteers is 18 and you must meet the requirements for State licensed childcare.

DRESS CODE

Volunteers should dress casually, comfortably and modestly while serving at Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.    Skirts, dresses, leggings,  and shorts are not permitted.    We also require you to wear close toed shoes for your safety.

SAFETY

It is our policy to provide a safe and healthy work environment for all volunteers.  Volunteers must comply with all safety and health requirements by management, federal, state and local law. If you suffer injury, please report to your staff supervisor immediately.  It is important for the safety and well being of everyone in order to have a safe working environment.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIORS AND ACTIVITIES

Occurrences of any of the following unacceptable behaviors and activities may result in immediate termination and dismissal of volunteer services.  This list in no way includes all unacceptable behaviors and activities and volunteers may be terminated by staff for other unacceptable behaviors. 

• Any type of harassment, acts of violence or threats directed to another person
• Negligent actions that endangers the life or safety of another person
• Sexual Harassment
• Racial or ethnic remarks, slurs or jokes
• Being intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance
• Sale or distribution of controlled substance drugs while on Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries premises
• Engaging in criminal conduct
• Carrying firearms, weapons or explosives
• Theft of any kind
• Dishonesty, willful falsification or misrepresentation on your Volunteer Application or alteration of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries records or other documents 
• Breach of confidentiality
• Immoral conduct
• Negligent damage of property
• Abuse or neglect of any person

HEALTH ISSUES

If you have a health condition please advise the Volunteer Coordinator before you start your volunteer service.   Depending on your condition, we may deem it necessary that you not volunteer until it is resolved.   Volunteers with infections or infectious diseases will not be permitted to work until your condition is no longer contagious. 

ABSENTEEISM AND TARDINESS

Please notify the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible if you will be tardy or absent.  If it is necessary to leave before you are scheduled to do so, please inform your supervisor. 

For the safety, privacy, and confidentiality of our clients, DRMM has a very strict policy and we do not allow pictures, videos, or media at our facilities. Any and all media and/or photos or videos must be discussed and prearranged by our PR Director. NO EXCEPTIONS.