Volunteer Policies

Each prospective volunteer for The Sedona Project will complete an application and an interview prior to receiving training to volunteer as a peer counselor, care navigator, or group healing instructor.

Volunteers will confirm that they will comply with the following expectations by signing their name on the signature line at the bottom of the Volunteer Policy Agreement form:

As a volunteer, I understand and agree that:

1. My role is that of an unpaid volunteer staff position and does not constitute employment.
   1. I will not be paid or provided wages, salaries, benefits such as insurance, or other financial compensation for my time or volunteer work, services, activities, and/or duties.  
   2. The Sedona Project will not be responsible or accountable for my personal finances or taxes.
2. I will perform in alignment with the mission and vision of The Sedona Project.
3. I will use my own cell phone and/or email to communicate with The Sedona Project and any clients assigned to me. I will have local law enforcement, Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health crisis line, and other helpful phone numbers programmed into my cell phone. I will not receive compensation or a reimbursement for use of my personal cell phone, wi-fi, etc.
4. I will interact with clients, other volunteers and staff using strengths-based, trauma informed language.
5. I will keep all information confidential that is shared with me by clients, staff or other volunteers unless it is in accordance with standards established as a mandated reporter.
6. I will respect the time commitment, including the hours and days per week or any schedules that I agree to. I understand that reliability and punctuality is of the utmost importance, and if I am unreliable, I may be removed from my position as a volunteer.
   1. I will be responsible for actively contacting my direct supervisor, teammates, and clients at least 24 hours in advance so appropriate alternatives can be arranged when I am unable to adhere to my schedule and volunteer work duties and activities for any reason including sickness, personal emergency, or other reasons beyond my control.

7. Some of the services, activities, and duties performed as a volunteer include but are not limited to:
   1. Communicating professionally with other staff, volunteers, teammates, clients, members of the community, and individuals or groups from other organizations and agencies by telephone, text, chat, video call, and/or in person;
   2. Completing trainings and strengthening skills related to mental health topics, skills, practices and techniques, and other strategies to carry out volunteer duties;
   3. Staying informed and up-to-date with schedules, organizational policies, news, and information;
   4. Traveling and commuting;
   5. Providing peer support and utilizing counseling skills in my role as a Peer Counselor volunteer;
   6. Organizing, hosting, facilitating, and helping with The Sedona Project events;
   7. Creating/distributing documents and forms as directed by my supervisor.
8. At no time will I expect to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. If I choose to spend my own funds in the course of my volunteer work and duties, I will consult with The Sedona Project management ahead of time to determine if it is appropriate and acceptable.
   1. The Sedona Project management may, at their discretion and within their capacity, reimburse me for past or current out-of-pocket expenses accrued as a result of my volunteer work and services. If requested, I will fill out and sign a Cost Reimbursement Form and provide it to management staff for record keeping.
   2. If an expense is determined appropriate and acceptable, and The Sedona Project does not reimburse me, they may provide a gifts-in-kind receipt for tax purposes.
9. My direct supervisor will be the person designated in the Volunteer Policy Agreement form; I will follow all directions and instructions provided by my direct supervisor. 
10. I will follow all organizational policies, current and future, and follow directions and instructions provided by management and leadership staff.
11. I will participate and complete all mandatory organizational trainings as instructed by my direct supervisor, management and leadership staff throughout the course of my volunteerism with The Sedona Project.
12. I will adhere to The Sedona Project’s communications policy as outlined below:
    1. I will use agreed upon, secured lines of communication, including email addresses and phone numbers;
    2. I will respond to emails and messages within 24 hours;
       1. I will respond to all urgent/crisis texts as soon as possible.
       2. I understand that clients will be informed that The Sedona Project is not a crisis intervention organization, and to contact 988 or the Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health crisis line at (888) 923-3800. 
       3. If I will be unavailable for more than 24 hours I will set an automatic reply to my email and update my voicemail message to indicate such.
    3. I will set clear boundaries with my clients about when I am and am not available for communication.
13. While volunteering with The Sedona Project, I will act in good faith and maintain appropriate conduct, behavior, and language.
14. The Sedona Project does not permit or condone misconduct, which includes but is not limited to the following:
    1. Dishonesty
    2. Theft
    3. Harassment
    4. Assault
    5. Destruction of Property
    6. Substance Use and Intoxication while performing volunteer duties
    7. Sexual and/or Inappropriate Relations between volunteers and clients
    8. Criminal/Illegal Behavior/Activities
    9. Violence
    10. Hate Speech
    11. Gatekeeping
    12. Other Inappropriate Behavior
15. My relationship with The Sedona Project is voluntary and may be terminated by either party, for any reason. Should my relationship as a volunteer end, I will give advance notice so that arrangements can be made for the continuity of care for my clients and my duties and activities can be transferred to another volunteer.

Privacy Policy

We are committed to ensuring that any confidential information shared with The Sedona Project and its team members is secure and protected. This means that information or anything shared with us in confidentiality will not be shared with anyone outside of The Sedona Project or its partners unless explicit written consent is given, or as required by law. (See Mandated Reporting, below.) 

In the event that information is ever breached, the impacted parties will be notified immediately following discovery of the breach.

**Please note that while we will strictly adhere to our privacy policy; we currently do not have the requirement or infrastructure to be HIPAA compliant.

Mandated Reporting

We are not a licensed mental health organization. The scope of our mission and work is providing peer mental health support and services to members of the public, and fall under the purview of legal requirements and obligations to report the following:

• The Sedona Project cares about our client’s safety and the safety of all people.
• Mandated reporting is our obligation to report to Child Protective Services, Adult Protective Services and/or Law Enforcement in the event that information is shared with us about the physical, mental, sexual, or financial abuse, or the neglect of minor children, elderly individuals, and disabled dependents. Volunteers will consult with their supervisor or someone on the leadership team prior to calling the proper authority to file reports. Volunteers will follow up with The Sedona Project Executive Director, as soon as reasonably possible, but no later than within 24 hours of reporting.
• We will follow “Duty to Warn” to protect individuals when The Sedona Project volunteers and/or staff learn of credible and actionable intent to commit harm to an individual and/or property, and, following a consultation with their supervisor or other persons on the leadership team, report to appropriate agencies or individuals’ pertinent information pertaining to such intent.

Suicide Prevention

The Sedona Project understands that having an emotional crisis, suicidal thoughts, and/or pain and suffering can be intense and overwhelming. We also acknowledge that there are valid and normal reasons for having thoughts of suicide, and that those reasons matter. If there is a legitimate reason to believe that someone is at risk of attempting suicide, volunteers will connect the individual to Adventist Health and Rideout or Sutter Yuba Behavioral Health, immediately. This may be done through contacting local law enforcement for a welfare check after consulting with the supervisor or someone on the leadership team.   

The Sedona Project’s goal is to help support individuals using the least invasive methods possible. We will make every effort to support our clients within the scope of The Sedona Project mission. In the event our support is not sufficient, we will refer clients out to other resources, organizations, and agencies to obtain the support and services needed.

Training Policy

Anyone volunteering for peer counseling, care navigation, or group facilitation sessions through The Sedona Project will be required to complete training in the following areas in order to best support the individuals served:

1. Trauma Informed Care (Free Trauma Informed Care Courses – TIC Training Center (traumainformedcaretraining.com))
2. Harm Reduction principles (Harm Reduction for the Homelessness Sector – Homelessness Learning Hub)
3. Motivational Interviewing (Motivational Interviewing – Free resources | Psychwire)
4. Psychological First Aid (Psychological First Aid | Coursera)

For more information, please review the Training Program Summary and Outline.

Background Checks

Anyone volunteering for peer counseling, care navigation, or group facilitation sessions through The Sedona Project will be required to obtain LiveScan fingerprinting. The Sedona Project will check online resources such as the Department of Justice for each volunteer to ensure the immediate safety of the people we serve. 

Criminal Records – Request Your Own | State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General

Department of Justice | Locate a Prison, Inmate, or Sex Offender

The Sedona Project Volunteer Code of Ethics

Preamble 

The purpose of the Volunteer Code of Ethics is to outline the basic values and principles of peer support practice. The code shall serve as a guide for volunteers by defining professional responsibility and ethical standards.

The primary responsibility of our volunteers is to support healing amongst the individuals served by The Sedona Project. Volunteers will maintain high standards of personal conduct and will conduct themselves in a manner that fosters their own mental health and healing process. Volunteers will be guided by the principle of self-determination for all and shall serve as advocates for the individuals they serve.

Volunteers will perform services only within the boundaries of their expertise and within the scope of work of The Sedona Project. They shall be aware of the limits of their training and capabilities and shall collaborate with other professionals to best meet the needs of the individuals served. Volunteers will provide an objective and professional relationship while recognizing there are multiple pathways to healing.

1. Volunteers will accurately identify their qualifications, expertise, and certifications to anyone involved in The Sedona Project and clearly explain their roles and responsibilities to those they serve.
2. Volunteers will maintain high standards of personal conduct and will conduct themselves in a manner that fosters their own mental health and wellness process.
3. Volunteers will appropriately share with clients and colleagues their own experiences with behavioral health challenges, and identify and describe the supports that promote their personal well-being. 
4. Volunteers will, at all times, respect the rights and dignity of those they serve. 
5. Volunteers will never intimidate, threaten, harass, use undue influence, physical force or verbal abuse, or make unwarranted promises of benefits to the individuals they serve. 
6. Volunteers will not practice, condone, facilitate or collaborate in any form of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical disability, or any other preference or personal characteristic, condition or state. 
7. Volunteers will advocate for the individuals they serve that they may make their own decisions in all matters when dealing with other professionals. 
8. Volunteers will respect the privacy and confidentiality of those they serve. 
9. Volunteers will not enter into dual relationships or commitments that conflict with the interests of those they serve. 
10. Volunteers will never engage in sexual/intimate activities or relationships with those they serve. 
11. Volunteers will keep current with knowledge and practices relevant to mental wellness, and openly share this knowledge with their colleagues at The Sedona Project. 
12. Volunteers will not accept gifts of significant value from those they serve.