River Valleys reserves the right to determine volunteer eligibility, loss of eligibility, and reinstatement of eligibility in its sole discretion. Its decisions shall generally be guided by this policy and related policies and shall reflect its paramount commitment to the safety and well-being of River Valleys’ girl members.
Standards
- All volunteers must be currently registered members with Girl Scouts of the USA.
- Prospective volunteers must meet all requirements of their intended or appointed position, which varies by role.
- Volunteers who have been previously removed are eligible for reappointment in accordance with the Volunteer Removal Appeal policy.
- Volunteers must provide and maintain accurate personal and contact information.
- Volunteers must meet position expectations to be reappointed, promoted, or reinstated.
- Girl Scouts River Valleys will not approve a background check, nor appoint an adult to a volunteer role who has been charged and/or convicted of, pled guilty to, received adjudication for, or pleaded no contest to the following within the prior five years:
- Sex crimes (charged and/or convicted, at the council’s discretion)
- Driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, or equivalent
- Crimes against children (charged and/or convicted, at the council’s discretion)
- Felony offenses against persons
- Felony offenses against a family member
- Crimes defined as public indecency
- Crimes involving the use of weapons
- Any violent crime
- Any felony drug-related offense
- Any other felony conviction
- For all other criminal offenses and for situations described above that occurred more than five years ago, Girl Scouts River Valleys will review the applicant’s situation and may decide to allow appointment to a volunteer role. This is at the sole discretion of River Valleys and may change without notice. Considerations include, but are not limited to:
- The nature and severity of the criminal conduct or charge
- The position for which the person seeks to volunteer
- The length of time since the criminal conduct or charge occurred
- The circumstances under which the crime was committed or the charge made
- The degree of rehabilitation
- The likelihood that the person will commit a crime in the future
- The number of crimes committed or charges made
- Registered sex offenders will not be allowed to participate in any capacity with Girl Scouts River Valleys. Any adult listed on a sex offender registry (past or present) will not be appointed to serve as a Girl Scouts River Valleys volunteer nor may they participate as a parent.
- Persons who reside in the same household as a registered sex offender or someone charged and/or convicted of criminal sexual conduct (past or present) are not eligible for a volunteer role.
- They may be eligible to participate as a parent.
- If the status of the charged individual changes, reappointment may be considered in accordance with the Volunteer Removal Appeal policy.
- River Valleys will audit volunteer eligibility to ensure compliance.
- The best interests of our girl members guide all volunteer eligibility decisions.
- River Valleys’ records and actions regarding volunteer eligibility are available only to those with a legitimate need to know and as required by applicable law or court order.
- All decisions regarding volunteer eligibility are at the sole discretion of River Valleys.
- This policy and the standards related to volunteer eligibility may change without notice.
