Ensuring the Safety of Youth

Everyone working with Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) has an obligation to ensure that youth volunteers under the age of 18 are safe from emotional and physical harm not only at GDB functions but in other environments as well. All volunteers involved in the GDB program and working with youth in any capacity must review and agree to the following guidelines.

• Leader and Adult Volunteer Screening and Qualification Process
• Program Participation Requirements for Families and Youth
• Ensuring a Safe Environment for GDB Youth Volunteers

Adults enrolled as puppy raising volunteers who instruct, advise, or otherwise supervise youth (under 18 years of age) must also successfully complete a background screening to determine their ability to safely interact with youth. This background check will be repeated every five years.

GDB will offer additional instruction in child abuse prevention, recognition, and reporting as part of both its Introductory Leader Training and other periodic training sessions.

No volunteer or employee who has in good faith reported suspected cases of child abuse, neglect, or endangerment will face any disciplinary action by GDB or legal penalties under the law even if the resulting investigation does not substantiate their claims.

Raising a GDB puppy as a family can be a very rewarding experience. To apply to become an official puppy raising volunteer a youth must be at least 9 years of age.

For those under the age of 18, the following requirements must also be met:

• Those under 18 years of age will participate in volunteering and raise a puppy under the mentorship of a parent, guardian, or other designated adult. This designated adult may be a puppy club leader or other screened adult member of the puppy club.
• Parent(s), guardians, or adult mentor(s) of youth under 18 will commit to ensuring that all program requirements for puppy raising are met.
• A parent or guardian must complete and sign the Parent/Guardian Volunteer Consent & Release form in the Puppy Raising Volunteer Application for any youth who will participate in GDB activities, functions, or events.
• At least one parent/guardian/designated adult mentor will attend all events, meetings, and activities with the youth under 18.

Family Support and Participation
Raising a puppy can have amazing benefits for youth and families. Along with responsibility and patience, with family and club support, youth can learn valuable lessons from volunteering with GDB.

Parents or guardians are responsible for ensuring that puppies are taught according to the techniques and protocols taught by GDB. Parents or guardians ensure that socialization, care, and humane treatment by everyone in the household are taught and developed.

Parent or guardian assistance is also necessary in providing a safe environment in which youth can attend GDB functions and club activities. GDB strongly believes in promoting a safe environment for youth and in providing carefully screened adults to work with youth. To help ensure success, parental or guardian support of all guidelines is needed, along with involvement in club functions and open conversations between parents or guardians and youth about what is and is not appropriate interaction by adults.

Parent or Guardian and Other Custodian Responsibilities

• Participating in a home visit with the youth prior to a puppy being assigned to the home.
• If involved in a direct supervisory, teaching, or advisory role with youth, complete a background screening every five years.
• Being knowledgeable and supportive of GDB guidelines as they pertain to interaction with youth.
• Reporting to GDB any lack of compliance with any of the guidelines for interaction with youth.
• Ensuring that youth attend required check-ins or other GDB functions as designated by the leader or GDB staff.
• Transporting youth to and from required GDB events. Volunteer transportation to and from GDB events is not a GDB responsibility. GDB has no liability - legal, financial, or otherwise - for such activities.

Everyone at GDB has an obligation to ensure that youth volunteers are safe from emotional and physical harm. Resources are available to assist in preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect. For more information, visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway at childwelfare.gov.

• During all GDB activities, youth volunteers must be supervised by a screened adult.
• Youth may not supervise other youth without a qualified, screened adult present.
• All adults who interact directly with youth must undergo orientation and periodic training in proper interactions with youth including the recognition, prevention, and documentation of child abuse.
• A GDB staff member or volunteer may not be alone with a single child or youth where they cannot be observed by others (open blinds, unlocked doors, lights on, in view of windows), including in vehicles or other transportation. Staying in groups of at least three is always preferred.
• In a private setting, GDB adult volunteers supervising a youth must have an additional adult present.
• For all puppy club activities, the number of youths to screened adults should not exceed 8:1.
• A youth volunteer may not visit the home of an adult volunteer or staff member except under the guidelines established in this manual.
• An adult may not visit a youth volunteer at the youth's home without the youth's parent or designated adult guardian present.
• In all communications, including electronic, the youth’s parent or guardian, another adult volunteer, or an additional GDB staff person should be included.

In the course of employment, volunteerism, or other involvement with GDB:

• Any employee, volunteer, parent, guardians, or other person who has a history of any behavior that would indicate a potential inappropriateness for their interaction with youth (below the age of 18) may not interact directly with youth in an instructional, advisory, or supervisory capacity.
• All applicants (employees, volunteers, parents, guardians, and others) who interact directly with youth in an instructional, advisory or a supervisory capacity must undergo a valid application and successful background-screening process and have subsequent screenings every five years.
• Continuation of one's volunteer duties for GDB serves as that person's consent that they will support and adhere to GDB guidelines and that they do not have any history, legal or otherwise, which may reflect on the appropriateness of direct interaction with youth.
• For the protection of all involved, GDB staff and volunteers are strongly encouraged to avoid being alone with a youth who, although not in the course of employment or involvement with GDB, may be involved in or may have completed a puppy raising project.