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DO YOU HAVE ANY HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THE LAW?

Please explain if any answer above is "Yes":

REFERENCES: Please list names, addresses and phone numbers of those who are familiar with your character. Three (3) NON-FAMILY references please. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer's Code of Conduct

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach is committed to ensuring an environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, or conduct that can be considered coercive, or likely to create a hostile environment, including sexual harassment.  These policies and expectations extend to the relationship between volunteers and employees of this organization.  

This Volunteer Code of Conduct is intended to provide all Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach Volunteers with a set of principles and expectations for appropriate conduct and behavior. It is expected that all volunteers shall abide by and conform to the following standards: 

Volunteers should engage in interactions with others including those we serve, employees, other volunteers, and the community at large in a manner that is consistent with Catholic Social Teaching, that respects the life and dignity of all persons, and that recognizes the preferential option for the poor; 

Volunteers should act ethically and honestly in the carrying out of their volunteer duties; 

Volunteers should not engage in violence, harassment, abusive behavior, or discrimination; 

Volunteers should try to understand and honor the different cultures of people seeking assistance from our agency; 

Volunteers should follow all rules as established by the program supervisor or the agency as a whole; 

Volunteers should agree to assist Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach with the identification and investigation of any instances which detract from the spirit of this document, or otherwise impede the ability of this agency to maintain fidelity to its mission and Catholic Identity.  

Sexual Harassment  

For the purpose of this policy, Sexual Harassment is behavior that is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature which makes a person feel offended, humiliated, and/or intimidated. It includes situations where a person is asked to engage in sexual activity as a condition of that person’s employment or volunteer status, as well as situations that create an environment which is hostile, intimidating or humiliating for the recipient. This action may take the form of physical, verbal, and non-verbal incidents, inferences or actions and can include but not be limited to, 

Physical sexual conduct: 

• Unwelcome physical contact including patting, pinching, stroking, kissing, hugging, fondling or inappropriate touching; 
• Physical violence, including sexual assault; 
• Physical contact, e.g., touching, caressing; 
• The use of job-related threats or rewards to solicit sexual favors. 

Verbal sexual conduct: 

• Comments regarding appearance, age, private life, etc.;  
• Sexual comments, stories, jokes; 
• Sexual advances; 
• Repeated and unwanted social invitations for dates and physical intimacy; 
• Insults based on the gender of the worker; 
• Condescending or paternalistic remarks; 
• Sending sexually explicit messages (by phone, email, or other means). 
• Non-verbal sexual conduct: 
• Display of sexually explicit or suggestive material; 
• Sexually suggestive gestures; 
• Whistling; and 
• Leering.  

Board members, committee members and all other volunteers affiliated with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach must be aware that this behavior will not be tolerated. 

Observed or reported violations of this policy will result in Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach immediately taking action to investigate and address the matter. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach reserves the right to reassign, suspend or immediately terminate the volunteer services of any individual who violates this policy.  

Volunteers of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach understand and are aware that in the event an investigation is initiated, they must cooperate with agency staff and administration in the execution of a transparent and thorough review of incidents and events that may have contributed to the filing of a report.  

Policy statement: 

All volunteers, regardless of their position, are covered by and expected to comply with this policy, and to take appropriate measures to ensure that prohibited conduct does not occur.   

Volunteers who believe they are being/have been harassed or who witness or hear about harassment directed towards a volunteer or employee should notify the Volunteer Coordinator, the CEO, or the Board President.  

Retaliation for making a complaint about harassment or assisting in an investigation of harassment is prohibited.  

Volunteers understand that the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach Employee Manual includes an Anti-harassment policy for staff.  

Professionalism in Communications:  

Communication between volunteers and staff, clients and other key stakeholders is key to developing and protecting the agency’s reputation. For this reason, volunteers should strive to engage in communications—both written and verbal—that are professional, clear and that represent the quality of service we strive to achieve.  Communications should be clear, accurate, concise, and communicated in a manner that is appropriate to the subject matter.  To further this objective, volunteers should: 

Refrain from any communications that breach confidentiality. This includes those communications that would impede our compliance with HIPAA, that would compromise the integrity of our service delivery or that would otherwise be harmful to the agency and those we serve; 

Use discretion when communicating with staff outside of regularly scheduled office hours.  Text, phone calls or other communications that are non-urgent should take place during reasonable daytime hours. After-hours communications should be limited to those which are urgent in nature and that require immediate and necessary action on the part of the recipient;  

Refrain from sending communications that are threatening, hostile, or that otherwise diminish the professional nature of this agency and the respectful environment we strive to maintain; 

Refrain from forwarding on chain emails, questionable links or other content that has the potential to compromise our electronic communication systems; 

I hereby certify that I have received and reviewed Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach’s Volunteer Code of Conduct.  

Authorization & Declaration

The information that I have provided may be verified, if necessary, by contacting persons or organizations named in this application, or by contacting any person or organization that may have information concerning me. 

I authorize Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach, its employees and agents, to make inquiries, including criminal history, employment history and driving history. I hereby release and agree to hold harmless from liability any person(s) or organization, who, in good faith, provides information to complete a background investigation. I also agree to release and hold harmless the local parish, school, or other diocesan institution, the Diocese of Palm Beach, the Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, and the officers, employees and volunteers thereof from any present or future claim of any kind resulting from any alleged liability for conducting a background investigation which may include, but not limited to, criminal courts, state and county and national repositories of criminal records. 

Under the penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing, and the facts alleged are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. 

I also declare that I have read the Volunteer's Code of Conduct and have been given a copy for reference. Bases on this code, I promise to embody all directives in my service to Catholic Charities; 

I understand that any action inconsistent with the Volunteer Code of Conduct of failure to take action mandated by the Code of Conduct may result in my removal as a volunteer.

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