Volunteer Policy Agreement

Last Updated: May 7, 2025

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This agreement contains information about the Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater Indianapolis.

Modifications to the Agreement

We may modify this Agreement at any time by posting a revised version on this YMCA of Greater Indianapolis website (https:\\agreements.indymca.org) (“Site”). By continuing to utilize our services after any modifications are made to this Agreement, You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to review these Terms of Use from time to time and to be aware of any such changes.

Mistreatment and Abuse of Participants or amongst or between Employees and Volunteers

The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis has a Zero Tolerance for abuse, mistreatment, or sexual activity among employees, volunteers, members, participants and guests. Any mistreatment or abuse will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service and cooperation with law enforcement. This organization is committed to providing all individuals engaged at the YMCA with a safe environment.

The following policies describe a volunteer’s relationship with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, its branches, officers, directors, trustees, managers, employees, volunteers and agents (collectively and individually hereinafter referred to as the “YMCA”). They detail our expectations and your responsibilities both during your active service and while you represent the YMCA off-duty. You may request additional information from your volunteer leader or the Staff person leading your YMCA center.

Volunteer Code of Conduct

I understand that I am a volunteer for a non-profit social service agency and I am donating my time and/or service to the YMCA. I will not receive compensation or benefits in return. I may use the YMCA facilities in and around my volunteer duties at the discretion of the YMCA where I am volunteering. I agree to observe all rules, regulations, policies and procedures as they relate to the YMCA. I further understand that either the YMCA or I can sever this volunteer relationship at any time with or without notice or cause. The YMCA retains its discretion to make all decisions regarding my volunteer status.

The YMCA is an equal opportunity employer. Prospective volunteers will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap, veteran status or any condition prescribed by state or local law.

I understand that the YMCA has zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and will not tolerate the mistreatment or sexual activity of participants. Any mistreatment by a Volunteer or Employee will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment or volunteer service and cooperation with law enforcement. In addition, our organization will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, the YMCA will take the necessary steps to eliminate such behavior.

Volunteers give the YMCA permission to, at any time, conduct appropriate background and reference checks. Upon request, volunteers must agree to provide any information needed to run such checks.

Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs on YMCA property or during YMCA events and activities is strictly prohibited. Volunteers may not smoke or use tobacco products on YMCA property or during YMCA events and activities.

No reimbursement for any personal expenses or auto use related to this position shall be provided unless clearly agreed upon in advance.

Mandatory Requirements for Reporting

Policy Governing Mandatory Reporting Requirements for Employees and Volunteers All employees and volunteers must follow state specific mandatory reporting requirements. Employees and volunteers must be trained to be aware of and understand their legal and ethical obligation to recognize and report suspicions of mistreatment and abuse. Employees and volunteers will:

1. Be familiar with the symptoms of abuse and neglect, including physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse;

2. Know and follow organization policies and procedures that protect against abuse;

3. Report suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities as required by state mandated reporter laws; and

4. Follow-up to ensure that appropriate action has been taken.

5. Please contact your supervisor immediately or report through our anonymous Praesidium Hot Line, Anonymous Report Line. 855.347.0751 Employees and volunteers will read and sign the Code of Conduct documenting employee’s or volunteer’s understanding of the legal and ethical duty to report suspected mistreatment or abuse.

Employees and volunteers will read and sign the Code of Conduct documenting employee’s or volunteer’s understanding of the legal and ethical duty to report suspected mistreatment or abuse.

Cooperation with Investigators

This organization takes every allegation of abuse or misconduct seriously and will fully cooperate with the authorities to investigate all cases of alleged abuse or misconduct. Employees and volunteers shall cooperate with any external investigation by outside authorities or internal investigation conducted by the organization or persons given investigative authority by the organization.

Cooperation with investigations includes, but is not limited to:

Promptly acknowledging and responding to requests for information;
Making oneself available for meetings with investigating officials;
Providing full, accurate, and truthful information;
Keeping confidential information learned or transmitted during the investigation, unless directed by legal authorities, and
Preserving relevant information and documents.

An employee or volunteer’s failure to cooperate with an investigation will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment or dismissal from the YMCA.

Photo Release

I give permission for the YMCA to use, without limitation or obligation, photographs or other media that may include my image or voice to promote or interpret YMCA programs. Information may be released through public media, but not limited to websites, social media, artwork, contests, printed material, etc.

Liability Waiver

I understand that there are potential risks associated with any program requiring physical activity, including this one. I further understand and agree that the Young Men’s Christian Association of Greater Indianapolis (“YMCA”) does not assume any financial responsibility for medical expenses and/or compensation for any injury that I may suffer during or resulting from participation in this program or any other activities at the YMCA’s facilities. I agree that it is my responsibility to receive clearance from my physician before participating in this or any physical activity. I do hereby, for myself, my heirs, agents, assigns, executors and administrators (collectively, “I” or “me”), waive, release and forever discharge any and all rights and claims for damages that I may have or that may hereafter accrue to me arising out of or in any way connected with my participation in this or any future programs at the YMCA’s facilities. I further agree to indemnify YMCA for any and all costs, including legal fees, incurred as a result of any claims made by me in relation to my participation in this or any future programs at the YMCA’s facilities.

Child Abuse Prevention Policy Document

Families entrust their children to the YMCA’s care for child care, camp and other youth programs. Our promise to these families is that we will provide a safe environment in which all participants are treated in a caring, honest, respectful and responsible way. Our mission commands us to “build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.” It is every volunteer’s responsibility to deliver on this promise and to protect and further our mission. This includes all dealings with the community; inside and outside of our workplace and both on and off duty.

In order to protect YMCA staff, volunteers, and program participants – at no time during a YMCA program may a volunteer be alone with a single child where they cannot be observed by others. Volunteers should not supervise children without a staff member present and should space themselves in a way that staff can see them.
1. Volunteers should never accompany a child or children to the restroom.
2. Volunteers should never conduct or supervise private activities with children – diapering, putting on bathing suits, taking showers, etc.
Volunteers shall not abuse children. Any type of abuse will not be tolerated and may be cause for IMMEDIATE dismissal and disqualification from future service. Forms of abuse include:
1. Physical Abuse – strike, spank, shake, slap;
2. Verbal Abuse – humiliate, degrade, threaten;
3. Sexual Abuse – inappropriate touch or verbal exchange;
4. Mental Abuse – shaming, withholding love, cruelty;
5. Neglect – withholding food, water, basic care, etc.
6. Excessive Discipline – excessive timeouts, facing walls, etc.
Volunteers must use positive techniques of guidance, including redirection, positive reinforcement and encouragement rather than competition, comparison and criticism. Volunteers, with the assistance of program staff, will become knowledgeable about age appropriate expectations and set up guidelines and environments that minimize the need for discipline. Physical restraint is used only in predetermined situations and is only administered in a prescribed manner by designated staff members – never volunteers.
Volunteers are required to read and sign all policies related to identifying, documenting, and reporting child abuse and attend trainings on the subject, as instructed by a supervisor. All volunteers are mandated reporters of child abuse and must report incidents immediately to supervisors. You agree to cooperate fully with any investigation and that failure to do so may be grounds for termination.
Volunteers will inform staff if a child looks ill, has any visual bumps, bruises, burns etc. during their volunteer assignment. Questions or comments should be directed to the staff and or Director of the program and they will be addressed to the parent or child in a non-threatening way. Any questionable marks or responses will be documented by the Director or designated staff of the program.
Volunteers respond to children with respect and consideration and treat all children equally regardless of sex, race, religion, culture.
Volunteers will respect children’s rights to not be touched in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, and their right to say no. Children are not to be touched in areas of their bodies that would be covered by a bathing suit. The YMCA recognizes that instruction in certain programs requires that Volunteers may need to engage in certain physical contact with the participants to ensure the participants’ health and safety. It is the YMCA’s policy that Volunteers shall employ the minimal amount of physical contact that may be required to properly instruct the participants and/or sufficiently protect against injury.
Volunteers should assist staff to ensure that all participants are properly attired for the activities in which they participate, including appropriate activewear and protective gear, if applicable. Contact supervisor to address with parent/guardian. Except for swimming lessons, all participants shall wear clothing to appropriately cover their torsos and hip region. Should the Volunteer have any questions, they should seek clarification from YMCA staff.
Volunteers will refrain from intimate displays of affection towards others in the presence of children, parent’s, staff and volunteers.
Volunteers must appear clean, neat, and appropriately attired. Volunteers must wear identification that they are a volunteer either through YMCA attire or nametags.
Profanity, inappropriate jokes, sharing intimate details of one’s personal life, and any kind of harassment in the presence of children or parents is prohibited.
Volunteers will not give children personal gifts of money or items.
Volunteers must be free of physical or psychological conditions that might adversely affect children’s physical or mental health. If in doubt, an expert should be consulted.
Volunteers will portray a positive role model for youth by maintaining an attitude of respect, loyalty, patience, courtesy, tact, and maturity.
Volunteers may not be alone with children they meet in YMCA programs outside of the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. This includes babysitting, sleepovers, and inviting children to your home.
Volunteers are not to transport children from the YMCA programs in their own vehicles unless it is their child(ren).
Volunteers may not date program participants under the age of 18 years of age.
Under no circumstance should volunteers release children from programs without staff approval.
Volunteers may not take, unless assigned to, photos, record or otherwise capture imagery of YMCA participants, its programs and/or its facilities. Only YMCA equipment shall be used for such purposes, and all material shall remain at the YMCA. The YMCA shall be the sole owner of all photographs, recordings and/or other captured imagery and retains full control over the same. No Volunteer shall have the right to otherwise copy, use or store such imagery.

Policy Defining Appropriate and Inappropriate Interactions

Our organization’s physical and verbal interaction policy promotes a positive, nurturing environment while protecting consumers, employees and volunteers. Our organization encourages appropriate physical contact with consumers and prohibits inappropriate displays of physical contact. Any inappropriate interactions with consumers will result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from service. Volunteers & Employees are NEVER TO BE ALONE WITH A CHILD.

	Appropriate	Inappropriate
Verbal	Positive reinforcementAppropriate jokesEncouragement and praiseStrength-based conversations	Name-calling Discussing sexual encounters or in any way involving youth in personal problems or issues of staff & volunteersbullying, ridicule or humiliation CursingOff-color or sexual jokesShaming, Belittling, Ridiculing, or HumiliationDerogatory remarksHarsh language that may frighten, threaten or humiliate youthDerogatory remarks about the youth or his/her familyCompliments related to physique or body developmentInappropriate games like Truth and Dare and Never Have I Ever
Physical	Side hugsShoulder-to-shoulder or “temple” hugsPats on the shoulder or backHandshakesHigh-fives and hand slappingPats on the head when culturally appropriateTouching hands, shoulders, and armsArms around shouldersHolding hands (with young children in escorting situations)	Full-frontal hugsKissesShowing affection in isolated areasLap sittingWrestlingPiggyback ridesTicklingAllowing a consumer to cling to an employee’s or volunteer’s legAllowing consumers, older than kindergarten, to sit on an employee or volunteer’s lapAny type of massage given by or to a participant outside of accepted and documented medical treatmentAny form of affection that is unwanted by the consumer or the employee or volunteerTouching bottom, chest, or genital areas that is outside authorized and documented personal care assistance
Electronic	Communicating through “organization group pages” on Facebook or other approved public forums”Private” profiles for staff and volunteers which youth cannot access	Harsh, coercive, threatening, intimidating, shaming, derogatory, degrading or humiliating commentsSexually oriented conversationsPrivate messages between staff and volunteers with youthPosting pictures of organization participants on social media sitesPosting inappropriate comments on pictures”Friending” participants on social networking sites

Always meet with children in a public place where you are in full view of others. Should a volunteer or employee unexpectedly find themselves alone with a child they must:

Take the child immediately to a public space
Report to your supervisor once to a public space
Cooperate with review and/or investigation of event

By signing below, I confirm that I have read and agree to comply with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Volunteer Code of Conduct, abuse prevention policies and participant/consumer protection standards. I understand that this agreement will expire one year from the date of my signature, at which time I will need to review these policies and recommitment to them in order to continue my volunteer service.