Project Cornerstone Volunteer Policies
Listed below are Project Cornerstone’s policies for adults who volunteer in schools. In addition to these important policies, please become informed about and adhere to requirements specific to your school site.
Why Volunteer? We believe that “All kids are our kids.”
Volunteers intentionally invite relationships with staff, students, and families that support the mission and vision of the school. These relationships help youth thrive.
Volunteers intentionally seek to empower youth by providing opportunities for voice and choice in classrooms and on campus.
Volunteers partner with school staff to create safe and caring spaces for youth to be and belong; to learn about themselves and others; to connect; to explore and discover their interests.
Confidentiality Policy
Everything that you see and do concerning children at school is private and confidential:
Grades, behavior, test scores, etc. Even good news is confidential.
Other items that are the exclusive domain of the school’s professional staff, including family situations, are confidential.
Address any concern about the health and well-being of a student to the teacher or school staff.
Children’s rights are protected by the California Family Right to Privacy Act.
Child Abuse Prevention Policy
YMCA and Project Cornerstone are advocates for children and their rights. Prevention of child abuse is a special concern.
California law requires employees of a public or private youth-serving organization to report known or reasonably suspected child abuse.
If you know or reasonably suspect that a child has been abused,
you must:
Support School Faculty and Administration
Project Cornerstone is a partner with your school and district.
Seek to understand and promote school policies and procedures.
As a representative of Project Cornerstone and your school, build a trusting relationship with members of your school community.
If a student contacts you about a concern, report this to the appropriate school staff. (Do not share with parents. See Confidentiality Policy.)
As guests at the school, be intentional about your position as a positive role model of responsible behavior.
Follow school rules while on school property.
Referring Student Problems
Students may discuss problems or concerns.
If there is no immediate danger, you, as a caring adult, may:
Respond to the student by listening to their worry.
Use your body language to show empathy.
Listen to understand.
Provide reassurance.
Be honest; don’t promise to keep the problem a secret.
Trust your gut. Report your concerns to a designated school contact. Allow staff to decide if immediate intervention is needed. Document for yourself that you made a report to school staff. Your responsibility is to make an initial report of a concern.
Dress Code
Respect the school clothing policy.
Clothing must cover undergarments.
Clothing must avoid depicting or advocating violence, criminal activity, use of alcohol or drugs, pornography, or hate speech.
Zero Tolerance
Project Cornerstone supports schools in weapon-free and drug-free policies.
Volunteers may not smoke on campus.
Do not volunteer under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Emergencies
Role model safe and responsible behavior.
Follow direction of school staff.
Be aware of school protocols for fire, earthquake, shelter in place, and lockdown procedures.
Participate in safety drills while on campus.
Use of School Property
Follow your school’s rules for use of all school facilities and equipment.
Be aware of school policy for technology use.
Ask a school contact for special materials needed.
YMCA/Project Cornerstone Code of Conduct
Project Cornerstone is a program of the YMCA of Silicon Valley.
All Project Cornerstone volunteers must agree to adhere to the YMCA Volunteer Code of Conduct.
You agreed to the terms of the Code of Conduct when you completed the volunteer application.