Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore is dedicated to child well-being and safety as its paramount goal and prevailing culture. As such, the following policies are in place to esure child safety.

As a Parent/Guardian at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore, I agree to:

1. Understand my actions play a major role in my child’s relationship with his/her Big.

2. Remember this is a friendship between my child and his/her Big, and I will not expect special favors. The Little is the only person who can go on outings with the Big, unless approved through my Match Support Specialist.

3. Decide whether to approve each match activity.

4. Not allow my child to visit his/her Big’s home within the first 3 months. Thereafter, approval must be obtained by me, BBBSES staff, and an assessment of the match must be completed by program staff.

5. Have my child appropriately dressed, ready and on time for each outing.

6. Realize that the Big is not responsible for the cost of the match outings for my child, which are to be free or low-cost activities. I will help my child not ask for presents or expect expensive outings and offer to send money with my child whenever possible.

7. Participate in the match support process and be willing to address challenges as they arise. Initiate and return phone calls, complete surveys/evaluations and attend meetings related to my child’s match. I will respond to contact from my Match Support Specialist at least monthly to report on the progress of the match. I understand that if I do not respond promptly, their match may be closed.

8. Understand that it’s important for my child to consistently meet with their Big, and I will not use this time as a reward or a punishment. If I am having difficulties with my child, I will communicate them to the Big and my Match Support Specialist, and I will work to modify outings or arrange for the Big to meet with my child at our home.

9. Keep any personal information that I learn about the Big and his/her family members confidential, aside from sharing it with my Match Support Specialist. I will not keep secrets from my Match Support Specialist.

10. Agree to follow all guidelines listed in BBBS’s social media policy. Big must enact privacy controls and settings to restrict accessibility of the Little to only age-appropriate content when using Big’s device. I must report to the agency any knowledge of my child’s social media misuse or content that may endanger my child’s health, safety or well-being while with the Big.

11. Contact the Big prior to their arrival to pick up my child if he/she will not be able to go on a planned outing. I will also make arrangements ahead of time with the Big if I cannot be at home when my child is to return.

12. Give the Big and Match Support Specialist up-to-date emergency contact phone numbers and names, as well as any changes in my phone number, address and place of employment as soon as possible.

13. Encourage my child to communicate with his/her Big, talking when together and returning phone calls. I will help my child be considerate by remembering birthdays, making occasional phone calls, keeping appointments, saying “thank you” and being polite.

14. Return phone calls, emails, and/or texts from the Big in order to schedule outings with them for my child.

15. Discuss activities with my child after outings and tell my Match Support Specialist if there is anything about the relationship that concerns me.

16. Monitor communication between my child and his/her Big (via phone, text, Facebook, online video game systems, etc.)

17. Understand that the Big may not use or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs during a match outing. I will not allow my child to go with them if this ever should occur or if the Big seems unsafe in any way. I will then notify my Match Support Specialist as soon as possible.

18. Understand overnight visits are generally not permitted, and volunteers must contact Match Support Specialist for further discussion of circumstances. I understand that unapproved overnights will result in closure.

19. Understand that the Big must report if they own firearm. During visits, firearms must be unloaded, locked, and inaccessible to my child.

In the case where a law enforcement official is required to carry a weapon at all times as a condition of their employment, agency professionals must document the weapon related job requirements as well as parent notification of the requirements and their approval of the condition prior to match.

20. Understand that I must complete BBBSA’s child sexual abuse prevention training for parents, Your Child’s Personal Safety, or equivalent prior to their child being matched with a volunteer.

21. Understand that Bigs are to monitor Littles if they are using the internet during a match activity. Descriptions of match activities on the Big’s social media pages such as Facebook should be appropriate and carried out with the approval of the Little and the Little’s parent/guardian. Bigs should not “friend” Littles on social media.

· Big must keep confidential and information regarding personal and identifying information about the Little and their family.

· Bigs are responsible for privacy controls and settings to restrict accessibility of the Little to only age-appropriate content when using volunteer’s device and recommended privacy settings for volunteers.

· Volunteer must promote child safety including reporting social media misuse or content that may endanger the Little’s health, safety or well-being.

· Approved communication methods may include MatchConnect, email, text, phone, mail, video conferencing, social media between matches within varying program types.

Document will be signed at Match Meeting.