Volunteer Orientation2018

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The Mission of Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities seeks to implement the Church’s mission of social justice in the Diocese of Arlington in ways that strengthen individuals, families, and communities.

Effective fulfillment of the mission of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington requires a vision based on the ways the Agency can respond effectively to the challenges of ever-changing economic, demographic, and social trends.

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How We Operate

Catholic Charities operates under the direction of the Bishop of Arlington, who is the Chair of the Board of Directors. However, Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington is its own separate entity and non-profit.

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Funding

Catholic Charities is funded mainly through donations, in addition to government grants, making volunteers and those assisting CRUCIAL to the organization.

Volunteers are crucial to Catholic Charities operations! Not only do we rely on the community for financial support, we also rely on volunteers for programmatic support and assistance in direct and indirect service! We could not do this work without you!

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Programs Overview

We currently have 19 programs functioning across 21 Virginia counties and 7 cities but are keeping an eye to the future and the growing needs of the disenfranchised in the communities in our Diocese.

We have a broad range of programs that are all linked to our mission to serve the poor and those in need in our Diocese.

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Crisis Response • The St Lucy Food Project

• Main Distribution Hub (Manassas)

• Loaves and Fishes Pantry

• Christ House Pantry

• Leesburg Regional Office

• Christ House Thrift Shop

• Car Donation Ministry

• Christians are Networking (CAN) Jobs Ministry

• Emergency Financial Assistance

• Parish Liaison Network

- St Lucy Project: Food distribution program - Christ House Thrift Shop: Proceeds from the store support the emergency assistance program which assists families in crisis - Car Ministry: Car donations for families in need - CAN: Faith-based ministry helping people who are in a career transition - Emergency Assistance: Financial assistance program to aid those who are

experiencing one time financial crisis in their lives - Parish Liaison Network: The Parish Liaison Network provides parishes with the

support and information they need to engage in corporal works of mercy

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Dignity of Life

Pregnancy and Adoption Support

Prison Ministry and Aftercare Program

St. Martin de Porres Senior Services

- Pregnancy and Adoption Support: Provides services for mothers, couples looking to adopt, and post adoption services

- Prison Ministry and Aftercare Program: Prison Ministry is facilitated through a network of parish-based volunteers from throughout the diocese who offer spiritual and emotional assistance to the imprisoned, including those who are being released, and to their victims and families

- St. Martin de Porres Senior Services: Provides instructor-led exercise, ESL classes, social and entertainment activities, health presentations, field trips, and more

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Health

Family Services Counseling

Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic

Retreat for People Facing Serious Illness

- Family Services Counseling: Provides counseling services to individuals, couples, and families of all faiths and backgrounds

- Mother of Mercy Free Medical Clinic: Provide free quality healthcare to low income individuals who are uninsured or underinsured with emphasis on transformative care for the whole person

- Retreat for People Facing Serious Illness: Offers unique opportunity for persons facing serious physical illness to come away for a weekend retreat of spiritual renewal and refreshment

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Immigration and Refugees

Hogar Education

Hogar Legal

Migration and Immigration Services

- Hogar Education: Offers immigrants English skills, workforce development - Hogar Legal Services: Offers immigration legal assistance, citizenship workshops for

legal residents - Migration and Immigration Services: Helping immigrants become self-sufficient

through outreach programs

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Transformational Housing

Christ House Men’s Transformational Shelter

St. Margaret of Cortona Family Transformational Residence

- Christ House Men’s Transformation Shelter: Offers transitional housing to the homeless

- St. Margaret of Cortona Family Transformational Residence: Serves homeless families with the time and support that they need to reestablish independence after they have exited an emergency shelter

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Volunteer Policies

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Volunteer Recruitment and Selection

Applications

Background check

Interview

Position descriptions

Applications: Interested volunteers must complete and sign paperwork, and after this staff at Catholic Charities will contact the applicants regarding an interview

Background check: A criminal background check is required by all volunteers who will work in residential programs, provide direct services, or to be alone with children, the elderly, or other persons determined by the organization to be vulnerable or at risk. The cost of the check is paid for by Catholic Charities. Individuals refusing to comply will not be considered for a volunteer position

Interview: All volunteers are interviewed to ascertain their suitability for and interest in position. The purpose of the interview is to determine the volunteer’s qualifications and commitment

Position Descriptions: Catholic Charities provides all volunteers with position descriptions outlining the volunteer’s duties and responsibilities

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Placement

Probation

Attendance

Minors

Representation of Catholic Charities

Placement: A placement will not be made if Catholic Charities cannot adequately train or supervise the volunteer. At the time of placement, Catholic Charities will inform the volunteer about the duties and responsibilities and of any risks or liabilities that the position entails.

Probation: All volunteers begin their assignments with Catholic Charities with a three month probationary period. At the end of this period, the volunteer will be re-interviewed to determine job satisfaction, whether the volunteer has received sufficient training, and whether the volunteer’s job description needs to be modified in any way. Individuals who have been convicted of any violent offense, including any form of assault, will not be eligible for Catholic Charities.

Attendance: Occasional absences due to last minute conflicts, emergency, or sickness are understood, but appropriate staff should be notified as soon as possible. Volunteers must be reliable and are expected to advise staff in far as advance as possible of any upcoming vacations or other impending absences. The volunteer’s supervisor may grant leaves of absences if necessary.

Minors: Volunteers under 18 years of age must have the written consent of a parent or guardian prior to volunteering. Catholic Charities reserves the right to restrict volunteer positions to adults only.

Representation of Catholic Charities: Before undertaking any action on behalf of Catholic Charities, volunteers must seek prior approval from staff. Volunteers are only authorized to act as agency representatives as indicated in their job descriptions.

Length of service: All volunteer positions have a set term of duration. No volunteer term of service is

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longer than one year. All positions have an option for renewal, at the discretion of both parties. Volunteers are neither expected nor required to continue working in their positions at the end of the set term of duration, however, they are welcome and encouraged to do so in most cases.

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Discrimination

Sexual Harassment

Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Policy

Discrimination: Catholic Charities maintains non-discriminatory practices and a work environment free from all forms of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, or marital status. No person is excluded from volunteering because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or other legally prohibited factors.

Sexual Harassment Policy: Harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment of a volunteer or employee (male or female), by anyone, (male or female) including any supervisor, co-worker, volunteer or client will not be tolerated. Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Policy: Volunteers may NOT carry, consume, or be under the influence of controlled substances or alcohol while working for Catholic Charities. Smoking of tobacco products is prohibited in all facilities of Catholic Charities.

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VIRTUS Training

Financial Accountability

Risk Management

VIRTUS Training: All Catholic Charities volunteers working with minors must take the Diocesan Child Abuse Prevention seminar

Financial Accountability: Volunteers assuming stewardship of any Catholic Charities monies are accountable to Catholic Charities for these funds

Risk Management Policy: Volunteers must follow their supervisors instructions intended to protect their safety and not attempt to perform any task for which they do not have appropriate training and instruction. Volunteers are expected to maintain areas in a safe condition and to report any safety concern immediately with their supervisors. Volunteers must ensure that they are not under influence of any substance (alcohol or drug) that could endanger the safety of themselves or others. Volunteers working at a site that does not have telephone service should bring cell phones or request that a cell phone is provided to them by Catholic Charities. Volunteers involved in any type of accident during their volunteer work must report the accident immediately to supervisors, and if appropriate to the police. If an emergency occurs during a volunteer activity, the volunteer should call 911 directly.

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Harassment Complaint Process

Individuals who believe they have been the victim of conduct prohibited by this policy or who believe they have witnessed such conduct should discuss their concerns with their immediate supervisor, Program Director, Directors, Human Resources, or another member of management

Catholic Charities encourages the prompt reporting of complaints or concerns so that rapid and constructive actions may be taken

- These policies apply to all employees and to all with which Catholic Charities is engaged and which it controls or has the ability to control, namely volunteers, consultants, or independent contractors

- Confidentiality will be maintained though out the process to the possible extent - Retaliation against an individual for reporting harassment or discrimination or

participating in an investigation of a claim of an unlawful harassment or discrimination is a serious violation of this policy and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action

- Acts of retaliation should be reported immediately and will be promptly investigated and addressed with appropriate corrective action

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Volunteer Rights:

Be provided with a clear and accurate description

of their job responsibilities

Receive the orientation, training, and supervision

necessary to perform their work well

Receive feedback and evaluation

Be treated with respect

Be informed about relevant matters within

Catholic Charities

Expect their time will not be wasted by poor

planning or coordination by Catholic Charities

To work under safe and healthy conditions

Additional Rights:- Be assigned a position that is worthwhile and challenging - Feel that their efforts have real purpose and contribute to Catholic Charities’

Mission - To have fun

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Volunteer Responsibilities

NotifyNotify Catholic Charities in advance of absences or schedule changes

BeBe open-minded and respectful towards opinions shared with them

Respect Respect those confidences entrusted to them

Follow Follow organizational policies and procedures

ProvideProvide suggestions on ways their tasks might be better performed

PerformPerform the tasks assigned to the best of their ability

Meet Meet time commitments

Not to take on more responsibility than they can handle!

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Logging Hours and Volunteer Reporting

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How Volunteers Can Enter

Hours

• How to Report Time:

• Login: to the CCDA volunteer website at http://volunteer.ccda.net/

• Click Login in the top right corner

• Enter User Name and Password

• Click ”Report My Service” in the dashboard page

• Volunteers with multiple placements

• If you perform more than one volunteer placement with CCDA, you will need to choose the corresponding placement from the ”select a survey” drop down list

• The only required field is “hours”. Please enter a date as well. Don’t forget to click ”OK” when you’re done.

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• Enter the dates you volunteered and the number of hours. If you have registered for more than one program make sure you have selected the correct program at the top. You can enter the hours as individual days or over a period

• Click ”OK”

• Click your name at the top left and choose Log Out

If have any questions about logging your hours, please contact your volunteer coordinator.

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The Spirit of Volunteerism

• “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”

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Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering allows one to truly invest and be involved in their community

The opportunity to meet those with

likeminded interests

Volunteering is truly one of the

most impactful and uplifting jobs

Allows one to gain new experiences

and insights

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Thank you!Thank you for volunteering and making a difference, you are the Christ to those we serve

I acknowledge that I have read and understand the Volunteer Policies of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington: ______________________________ Date: ___________________________

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