We are glad that you are committed to the youth of our community! Below is some information about volunteering with the Youth Leadership Iniative. Please download our YLI Volunteer Application (which can be completed and submitted immediately) and our State of Iowa Background Check forms (which need to be returned to our office with signature).

Volunteer Expectations:

• Regular Involvement: Be present often enough to develop a meaningful relationship with the students – it will be better for them and will make the experience more enjoyable for you.
• Professionalism: When you are with our program, students, parents and outsiders will see you as a representative of our program even though you are a volunteer. It is expected that you will work cooperatively with the youth, their families, Youth Leadership Initiative staff, community members and others in a courteous, respectful manner demonstrating behaviors appropriate for a positive role model and community leader.
• Safety: We encourage involvement (where appropriate and beneficial) on a personal level with the students. To keep the environment safe for the adults and the students we ask:

• in general, it is better to have interactions with groups of students instead of individually to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
• avoid any private one-on-one contact with students; interactions should always be in public.
  
• if you feel that a student is beginning to share something about themselves where they are in danger or need special help, please let them know that part of your responsibility as a volunteer for our program is their safety and therefore anything they share with you may need to be shared with appropriate “others” (including, but not limited to, the Program Director) in order to ensure their safety.

As a Youth Leadership Initiative volunteer, I will:

Safeguard at all times the youth entrusted to my care.
Treat everyone with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy and dignity.
Avoid situations where I am alone with a youth, especially of the opposite gender.
Maintain appropriate physical and emotional boundaries with the youth.
Agree to have a background check performed by the State of Iowa if I will have regular, direct contact with the youth.

And a program volunteer will not:

Commit an illegal or unethical act.
Verbally threaten or physically abuse anyone.
Use profanity in the presence of youth.
Touch a youth in a sexual, overly affectionate or other inappropriate manner.
Tolerate inappropriate or bullying behavior by a youth towards another youth.

Volunteer Forms:

• YLI Volunteer Application (can be completed and submitted immediately)
• State of Iowa Background Check form (must be returned to our office with signature)