Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families
Volunteer Standards of Conduct
Your State AgrAbility Project Peer Support Training
Date
Learning Objectives
• To understand and practice
confidentiality in the role of peer support
• To recognize the ethical standards of a
peer supporter for AgrAbility
• To be aware of personal and volunteer
liability
• To acknowledge personal safety issues
when visiting a peer being supported
Confidentiality
Not sharing or gossiping information
about the person you are providing
peer support to with others who don’t
have a “need to know”
What does this mean?
• Do not share any personal (even the
name), medical, or financial information
about the person to whom you are
providing peer support to anyone who
does not have a professional interest
It also means
• Do not disclose any proprietary or
privileged information you receive
about AgrAbility staff, another volunteer,
or the agencies working with AgrAbility.
Ethics
• Standards governing the conduct of
a person or member of a profession.
Ethics for Peer Support
• Live up to the responsibility of your
volunteer role.
• Be present and on time for every
commitment you make.
• Respect the confidential aspects of your
assignment, and the dignity and privacy
of the person with whom you work.
Ethics
• Become involved, in a warm and natural
manner, without becoming over
involved.
• Show empathy, not sympathy.
• Be optimistic about life in general
without encouraging any unrealistic
goals or attitudes.
Ethics
•
•
•
•
Be honest and genuine at all times
Be friendly
Do no harm
Have fun
Liability
Your State AgrAbility Volunteer
Liability Statement
42 U.S.C.S. § 14503, Limitation on Liability (Example only- insert
your state information!)
Protection for volunteers
A volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental entity is not
liable for harm caused by an act or omission done in the scope
of responsibility on behalf of the organization. This applies if the
volunteer was properly authorized and licensed, if such is
authorization is needed.
Exceptions: the harm was caused by willful or criminal misconduct,
gross negligence, reckless misconduct or a conscious, flagrant
indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed; or if
the harm was caused by the volunteer operating a motor
vehicle, vessel, aircraft or any vehicle for which a license or
insurance is required.
Practical Guidelines for
Liability
Act within the scope of your peer
support volunteer responsibilities
Practical Guidelines for
Liability
Immediately report any unusual
circumstances, events, actions, or
injuries to the State AgrAbility Project
Coordinator.
Personal Safety
• ALWAYS let someone know specifically
where you are going, how long you
expect to be gone, and how to reach
you.
• Follow your basic instincts. If you feel
unsafe, leave.
Personal Safety
• Carry a cell phone on your person at all
times.
• Avoid being an “extra rider” on machinery.
Extra riders account for a significant
proportion of serious farm incidents.
• Avoid all violations of basic, common-sense,
farm safety practices.
Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families