ARK of Learning
Tutor/Volunteer Training
Salvation Army Mission
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an
evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church.
Its message is based on the Bible.
Its ministry is motivated by the love of God.
Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet
human needs in His name without discrimination.
Salvation Army Overview
•
Founded in London by William and Catherine Booth
•
Sought to save those who had not yet come to God
•
Because many churches would not accept Booth's
followers into their congregations because most had
“undesirable” pasts, Booth created his own mission
•
William was nick-named "the General.“ See side note
on how the Salvation Army came to be…
•
Lieutenant Eliza Shirley had left England to join her
parents, who had migrated to America earlier in
search for work. In 1879, she held the first meeting of
The Salvation Army in America, in Philadelphia.
•
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/history-of-the-salvation-army
In 1867, Booth had only 10
full-time workers, but by 1874,
the number had grown to
1,000 volunteers and 42
evangelists, all serving under
the name "The Christian
Mission."
Booth assumed the title of
general superintendent, with
his followers calling him
"General." And followers
known as the "Hallelujah
Army."
Booth was reading a printer's
proof of the 1878 annual
report when he noticed the
statement "The Christian
Mission is a volunteer army."
Crossing out the words
"volunteer army," he penned
in "Salvation Army."
From those words came the
basis of the foundation deed
of The Salvation Army.
635 Water Street
P O Box 525
Indiana, PA 15701
Office Phone: 724-465-2530
Office Fax: 724-465-9222
Captains Helen & Kevin Johnson
Salvation Army Indiana County Worship
• Sunday School: 10:00 Biblical teaching and family friendly
worship, Includes a class for children, teens and adults
• Sunday Worship: 11:00 All welcome to worship with us!
• Teen Church: Sundays 6:00 pm More upbeat worship,
devotions, games, art, snacks, special events and more
• BOAST: A young adult fellowship, designed to support that
difficult age of decisions and pressure
• Men’s and Women’s Fellowship: A fellowship for men and
women which includes outings, crafts, bible study, games and
more
Salvation Army Indiana County –
Social Services
• Food Pantry: Open M-F 9:00 am—4:00 pm
• Emergency Assistance: Rent, Utility and Clothing emergency
funding for those eligible
• STRETCH: A 8 week course on financial peace, teaching families
at any income level how to stretch a dollar
• Emergency Disaster Services: Mobile canteen & trained
volunteers always on call to respond in times of a disaster (Such
as: fire, flood or accidents)
Salvation Army Indiana County –
Children’s Services
• Ark of Learning: After-School Tutoring and Educational Enrichment
Activities. T, W, Th from 4pm – 7pm during the school year.
• Summer Day Camp: An extension of the Ark of Learning. 6-week day
camp (T, W, Th) from 8:30am – 4pm during the summer.
• Camp Allegheny: An opportunity for children 6 & up and seniors to
attend a 5 day, residential and fully accredited summer camp in
Ellwood City, PA
• Kicks for Kids: A program to ensure kids in need have a new pair of
school shoes, in August.
• Coats for Kids: Making sure kids in need have a warm winter coat
Salvation Army Ark of Learning Mission:
• Enrich the educational experience of children residing in
Indiana County, PA.
• Provide a mutually supportive and positive learning
environment
• Develop communication and leadership skills in students,
which in turn fosters self-confidence and personal growth
• Promote the arts and creativity
• Support and foster lifelong learning for the entire
community
What We Do
In our first year as a 3-day/week
program, we served 125+ students
in the Indiana County Area.
We help students with homework,
educational games and activities,
individual tutoring, and enrichment
activities such as music, art,
character-building lessons, and
scouting programs.
We also provide students with a hot
meal and access to resources such as
free/reduced summer camps,
clothing, and food assistance.
Schedule
• Began as "Tuesday Night
Supper Club."
• First year of 3-day/week
programming began in
September 2014.
• Serve all students Pre-K
through 12th grade in Indiana
County.
• ***Individual Tutoring: Any
grade on any night convenient
for tutor and student
Day
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Grade Level
Pre-K through
Grade 12
Schedule
4:00-5:00
5:00-5:30
5:30-6:00
6:00-7:00
Open tutoring
Dinner
Music/Art
Scouts
6th Grade
through 12th
Grade
4:00-5:00 Open tutoring
5:00-5:30 Dinner
5:30-6:00
Music/Dance/Art
6:00-6:30 Math Boosters
6:30-7:00 CharacterBuilding
Pre-K though
6th Grade
4:00-5:00 Open tutoring
5:00-5:30 Dinner
5:30-6:00
Music/Art/Recreation
6:00-6:30 Reading/Math
Boosters
6:30-7:00 CharacterBuilding
Volunteer Responsibilities
All tutors and volunteers must
complete a volunteer
application, PA Criminal
Background Check, PA Child
Abuse Clearance, and FBI
Fingerprinting.
Homework
Individual
Help
Tutoring
Monitoring
Assist with
Please sign-in and out each
day. Remember to wear your
name tag/badge.
Children
Lessons
The following categories of
participation are expected of all
ARK Volunteers:
Kitchen
Clean-Up
Homework Help
1. Each night from 4pm to 5pm, the students attending ARK are
expected to complete any homework they have for that night.
2. Ask each student if they have homework. (If they are early
childhood, check their book bags.) Especially if they are not working
on school work.
3. If a student is working, ask them if they need assistance. Look at
their work and make sure they are doing it correctly!
4. ONLY when students are finished with homework may they then
take part in the nightly designated extra activities.
Individual Tutoring
1. Individual tutoring is scheduled for one-hour sessions on any of the three nights
as is convenient for the tutor and the student. This may mean that students miss
some of the regular programming.
2. Students and tutors should share contact information in the event of illness or
other cancellation.
3. Tutors should be prepared to assist the same student for the entire semester. It
benefits the student to build a relationship with a tutor, and it benefits the tutor
to understand how a student thinks and learns.
4. Tutors must pre-test their student at the beginning of the semester and posttest the student at the end of the semester. Tutors also should complete a
tutoring session evaluation after each tutoring session.
5. NO STUDENT AND TUTOR pair is permitted to be alone. Tutoring must be done
in the same proximity of another tutoring pair, or adult.
Monitoring Children
1. The volunteer staff share in the responsibility of monitoring
children. Children are expected to respect the authority of the
adults present.
2. Please fill out a behavior report if you observe any student behaving
inappropriately or out of character.
3. Help the students obey the rules and general acceptable behavior.
4. Make sure students put belongings in the appropriate area, and
that they sign-in on the student attendance sheet.
5. Monitor bathroom behavior by standing in the bathroom doorway,
holding the door open.
Assist with Lessons
1. Help in passing out any materials that may be needed for the
lesson. Also help with clean-up of the lesson.
2. Walk around, make sure that the students are on task and ask if
they need help.
3. If a student is being disrespectful (i.e., talking while leader is
talking, etc.), give the student a gentle tap on the shoulder or
another reminder that they need to maintain focus.
4. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TEACH/LEAD A LESSON! This is great
practice for those of you beginning your career in education! Just
see me to arrange a lesson/time.
Kitchen
1. Each night from 5pm to 5:30pm, we serve the students a hot meal. The tutors
and volunteers are ALWAYS welcomed to eat with us.
2. Dinner preparation begins at approximately 4pm. If you are available, please
assist with dinner prep if needed.
3. Help is needed plating and serving dinner and drinks. Volunteers should have long
hair restrained, wash their hands, and wear gloves before touching any readyto-eat foods.
4. NO FOOD is to be served until the students have washed their hands and we say
the blessing.
5. At the completion of the meal, we need help cleaning trays and cups, boxing
leftovers, and sweeping the kitchen floors.
Clean-Up
1. There may be times when the dining hall needs to be prepped for dinner. Please
see if this is necessary when you arrive.
2. As the night progresses, we clean each area/station as we complete activities and
lessons. Please be proactive in returning materials to their storage areas, picking
up objects off of the floor, and wiping down surfaces if necessary.
3. YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL! Encourage children to clean their areas independently
and as swiftly as possible. Sometimes, this means guiding them or giving several
verbal reminders.
4. After-dinner cleaning is needed: wipe tables, chairs, and spills on floor; sweep
crumbs off of the floor; help in the kitchen area; assist students in washing
hands/faces if necessary.
Outreach Opportunities
Wednesday Night Art
Outdoor Recreation!
Behavior of Volunteers
•
Volunteers are expected to be on time for tutoring sessions, and provide
reasonable notification to the program in instances of an absence.
•
While volunteers are permitted to dress in a casual manner, and we do work
with art supplies and occasionally go outdoors, etc.: however, you are expected
to wear modest attire, no profanity or suggestive wording, no shorts or skirts
higher than 2” above the knee, no high heels.
•
Refrain from using profanity and/or offensive slang.
•
Refrain from using your cell phone. If you need to make a text or call, please
step out of view of the students to do so.
•
We also ask that outside food and drink be hidden from view of the students, as
we try to provide them with healthy meals and snacks.
Behavior of Volunteers, CONT.
• Please do not wait to be asked to complete tasks/participate.
• Remember, you are a ROLE MODEL for these students.
Behavior of Students
These guidelines and expectations are in place to ensure the safety of the children and staff:
1.
Listen to the Staff
2.
Respect ARK Staff and Other ARK Participants
3.
Respect ARK Property and Facility Property
4.
Keep Hands, Feet, and Other Objects to Yourself
5.
Participate in ARK Activities
6.
Use an Inside Voice When Indoors
7.
Respect the Bus/Van and Rules of the Bus/Van
8.
Follow Instructions on Field Trips and Outings
9.
Clean Up After Yourself
10. Be Positive and Have Fun!
Discipline Policy
Should a student choose not to follow any of these rules, these are the guidelines that
the staff will follow to handle the situation:
STEP 1: Verbal Warning
STEP 2: “Time Out” or Time Away From the Group
STEP 3: Behavior Warning Report Sent Home
STEP 4: Conference/Phone Conference with Parent(s)
STEP 5: Meeting with the ARK Supervisors, Necessary Staff, Parent(s), and Child.
At This Time Expulsion from the Program May be Discussed.
In the event that a student engages in behavior which poses a threat of bodily harm to
himself, others, or facility property, an immediate meeting with the parent(s) may be
called. If the behavior warrants it, an immediate expulsion may result.
Situations that will result in an automatic Behavior Warning Report are (but not
limited to): stealing, use of profanity, use of electronic devices, proper attire, excessive
violence (hitting, kicking, biting, etc.), and property damage.
Ten Strategies for Managing Behavior
1. Reinforce Desirable Behavior – Think positively and your children
will often react positively.
2. Clearly State Privileges, as Well as Rules – Too many “don’ts”
violate strategy #1!
3. Tolerate SOME Unacceptable Behavior – Too much attention will
reinforce undesirable behavior.
4. Use Non-Verbal Cues – Make your disapproval of unwanted
actions clear (eye contact, frown, gesture, etc.)
5. Consider Redirection or Change of Activity– Problems can
sometimes be a result of dissatisfaction or boredom.
Ten Strategies for Managing Behavior
6. Clarify Consequences of Undesirable Behavior– Every child needs to understand
the alternatives available to them. Ex: “If you do not stop pushing Billy, the
following will happen…”
7. Clarify Benefits of Desirable Behaviors– Remember, pointing out the benefits of
acceptable will be most effective if it occurs immediately after desirable
behavior.
8. Use “Time Out” (Removal Procedures)– Once removed, the child should be
allowed to return after a short period of time
9. Use Punishment with Caution – It should only be used as a last resort, as it
allow the child to experience #7. Emergencies or situations involving personal
safety, however, are examples of situations which may dictate immediate use
of punishment.
10. If in Doubt, SEEK HELP– Use this whenever you are unsure of what action to
take or you are unable to deal with the situation. Be sure you know what the
appropriate steps are and who you need to approach when requiring
assistance.
Mandated Reporters
That’s You!
Mandated Reporting
Who is a Mandated Reporter?
A mandated reported is someone obligated by law to report
the suspected abuse of another person. In this position, we
deal specifically with children/young adults, but it is always
the right thing to do if you suspect that ANYONE is a victim
of abuse.
23 PA. CONS. STAT. § 6311.
Persons required to report suspected child abuse.
(Truncated as related to a position at The Salvation Army):
Mandated Reporting
Mandated reporters.--The following adults shall make a report of suspected
child
abuse, subject to subsection (b), if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is
a victim of child abuse:
(4) A school employee.
(5) An employee of a child-care service who has direct contact with children in the
course of employment.
(6) A clergyman, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer
or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization.
(7) An individual paid or unpaid, who, on the basis of the individual's role as an integral
part of a regularly scheduled program, activity or service, accepts responsibility for a
child.
(8) An employee of a social services agency who has direct contact with children in the
course of employment.
(12) An individual supervised or managed by a person listed under paragraphs (1), (2),
(3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11), who has direct contact with children in
the course of employment.
Mandated Reporting
As you can see, a position here whether paid or volunteer,
falls under several of the law’s specifications of a mandated
reporter.
In addition the law also specifies the basis on which to
report suspected abuse:
Mandated Reporting
(b) Basis to report.-(1) A mandated reporter enumerated in subsection (a) shall make a report of suspected child abuse or cause a report to be made in
accordance with section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure), if the mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child
is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:
(i) The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation and practice of a profession
or through a regularly scheduled program, activity or service.
(ii) The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child, or is affiliated with
an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization or other entity that is directly
responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child.
(iii) A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.
(iv) An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has
committed child abuse.
(2) Nothing in this section shall require a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a
report of suspected child abuse.
(3) Nothing in this section shall require the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse to make a report
of suspected child abuse.
Mandated Reporting
This section means that if you have reasonable cause to suspect any form of child
abuse, you MUST report it. The child is not required to come to you and inform
you of abuse.
You do not have to know who the abuser is, just that it is occurring. (That is left
up to the investigative authorities.) The important part is getting the child out of
harm’s way.
You must also report any “confessions” of abuse to a child made by a person 14
years or older. There is no expectation of privacy or privilege between you and any
client/parent/visitor here.
Mandated Reporting
(23 Pa. C. S. § 6312.
Persons encouraged to report suspected child abuse.
Any person may make an oral or written report of suspected child
abuse, which may be submitted electronically, or cause a report of
suspected child abuse to be made to the department, county agency
or law.
Mandated Reporting
This section means that you can contact any agency that addresses child abuse,
either in writing, by phone, or email (or other electronic media).
You can also report the abuse to the Director or Captains of the program. We will
help you get in touch with the appropriate agencies.
Keep in mind YOU MUST REPORT ANY ABUSE FOR WHICH YOU HAVE
REASONABLE CAUSE, and YOU MUST COOPERATE WITH REPORTING
AGENCIES AND INVESTIGATIONS!
Child Abuse - Definitions
By law, the term “child abuse” shall mean intentionally, knowingly or recklessly doing any of the
following:
1.
Causing bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act.
2.
Fabricating, feigning or intentionally exaggerating or inducing a medical symptom or disease which
results in a potentially harmful medical evaluation or treatment to the child through any recent
act.
3.
Causing or substantially contributing to serious mental injury to a child through any act or failure
to act or a series of such acts or failures to act.
4.
Causing sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any act or failure to act.
5.
Creating a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act.
6.
Creating a likelihood of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any recent act or failure to
act.
7.
Causing serious physical neglect of a child
Child Abuse – Definitions, CONT.
8.
9.
Engaging in any of the following recent acts:
i.
Kicking, biting, throwing, burning, stabbing or cutting a child in a manner that endangers the child.
ii.
Unreasonably restraining or confining a child, based on consideration of the method, location or the
duration of the restraint or confinement.
iii.
Forcefully shaking a child under one year of age. forcefully slapping or otherwise striking a child under one
year of age.
iv.
Interfering with the breathing of a child.
v.
Causing a child to be present at a location while a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 7508.2 (relating to operation of
methamphetamine laboratory) is occurring, provided that the violation is being investigated by law
enforcement.
vi.
Leaving a child unsupervised with an individual, other than the child’s parent, who the actor knows or
reasonably should have known:
a) Is required to register as a Tier II or Tier III sexual offender under 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 97 Subch. H (relating to
registration of sexual offenders), where the victim of the sexual offense was under 18 years of age when
the crime was committed.
b) Has been determined to be a sexually violent predator under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.24 (relating to
assessments) or any of its predecessors.
c) Has been determined to be a sexually violent delinquent child as defined in the 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.12
(relating to definitions).
Causing the death of the child through any act or failure to act.
Reasonable Cause
Reporting in PA
If you suspect that a child is being abused, abandoned or neglected, contact
the agency listed below, call your local child protective services agency, or call
9-1-1. Here is a link to the Pennsylvania state agency for children services
and the telephone number to report child abuse and neglect in Pennsylvania:
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Toll-Free: (800) 932-0313
TDD: 866-872-1677
If you do not get an answer at the above number Childhelp® USA (800422-4453) for assistance. Childhelp® USA is a non-profit agency which can
provide reporting numbers, and has Hotline counselors who can provide
referrals
Mandated Reporter Training
You can go to www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu for the free online
training that is required for anyone working with children - Pastors,
Sunday school teachers, nursery workers, and youth group leaders in
the state of PA in accordance with Act 31 of 2014.
The online course is free of charge and will give you a certificate of
completion at the end that you can print.
We are in this together!
Again, you can always come to the Director or the
Captains to report suspected abuse.
If you need further information or clarification on the laws
or guidelines, see the Director for printed materials.
"For just as each of us has one body
with many members, and these
members do not all have the same
function, so in Christ we, though
many, form one body, and each
member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to
the grace given to each of us.“
~Romans 12:4-5
We need YOU!
When
youyou
havefor
completed
this training,
the
Thank
your services.
Weplease
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code to Kim atexperience!
you have a great
volunteering
kimberly.stanek@use.salvationarmy.org
~Kim Stanek
Director, ARK of Learning