Social Networking and Digital Communication Policy
FRIENDS & CONNECTIONS:
Youth workers are prohibited from initially contacting or requesting “friends” under the age of 18. Because you are in a position of authority as a youth worker, a young person may feel obligated to “accept” your friend request.
If a young person requests your “friendship” on a social networking site, or if you are already “friends” with minors, you are strongly encouraged to set stringent privacy settings in order to maintain appropriate boundaries.
APPROPRIATE CONTENT AND BEHAVIOR:
Any interactions with a young person through digital communication should be appropriate and professional and serve as a reflection of these policies.
Any inappropriate content on your profile/site or “tagged” to your profile/site must be removed. This applies to anything and everything on your profile/site, including both event and non-event content, i.e. personal photos, event orientation or break, etc. If another individual posts inappropriate content on your profile/site, you should immediately remove it and notify them to refrain from posting inappropriate content in the future. You should monitor your own profile/site regularly to make sure that you are reasonably aware, at all times, of its content.
Youth workers must not use blogs, personal pages or websites to disparage the event, its staff, employees, other individuals, or the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Youth workers must not use social networking sites to share content prohibited by the event or Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America policies, and not consistent with an Orthodox Christian lifestyle. This includes the abuse of alcohol and drugs, sexual behavior, sexual harassment, bullying, or use of obscenities, profanity, or vulgar language.
REPORTING PROCEDURE:
If you receive any inappropriate digital communication or content from a young person, you must immediately notify your direct supervisor, i.e. Event Director, Metropolis Youth Director, Metropolis Chancellor, etc.
If a young person reveals abuse or inappropriate interactions of any kind with an adult, you must immediately notify your direct supervisor, i.e. Event Director, Metropolis Youth Director, Metropolis Chancellor, etc.
If you have additional questions about reporting procedures, please refer to the “Reporting” section of the Policies and Procedures for Event Staff.
Any youth worker found to be in violation of any portion of this policy will be subject to immediate disciplinary action, and may include the youth worker’s immediate dismissal from the staff and exclusion from future programs, events and activities at the discretion of your direct supervisor, i.e. Event Director, Metropolis Youth Director, Metropolis Chancellor, etc.