CHAMPION & VOLUNTEER CODE OF CONDUCT & ETHICS

Safety: You will abide by all the Safety Policies of Talentdreams

Respect: You will treat the mentee (Dreamer respectfully, courteously, and professionally. 

Punctuality: You will be on time for your scheduled meetings with Dreamers, or contact the TalentDreams Admin 24 hours in advance. 

Confidentiality: You will maintain the confidentiality of all information by the Dreamer unless there is a clear cause for someone’s safety. In which case you will report this to the TalentDreams admin immediately following the meeting. See note below.

Clear Communication: You will be open and communicate honestly. You will also refrain from using offensive language.

Objectivity: You will be objective and avoid letting your feelings or biases enter the conversation.

Acting in the Dreamers’ best interest: Listening, reflecting, supporting, encouraging, guiding, but not advising or lecturing. 

Reporting Incidents: Report all incidents to a TalentDreams administrator immediately following a meeting with a Dreamer. 

End a meeting: There may be instances when a Dreamer’s behavior is unacceptable. In this event, politely and professionally end the meeting and immediately report the behavior to TalentDreams Admin.

Focus on the Dreamer: Listen to what the Dreamer needs and their goals.

Empowering the Dreamer: Encourage and support them in discovering their own leader and taking actions to get the outcomes they are looking for.

Champion Role

Be yourself: Be authentic, sincere, and real. When applicable, talk about your own experiences, your strengths, and weaknesses.

Listen: Be curious, ask open-ended questions. Offer possible solutions without passing judgment

Discover: Work to identify the Dreamers’ interests and take them seriously. Explore positive and negative consequences and the connection between his/her actions of today and the dreams and goals of tomorrow.

Don’t

Lecture:  Try to think of ways to problem solve together rather than lecturing or telling the member what to do. Refrain from telling the member what they “should have” done.

Try to be something for the Dreamer that you are not: a teacher, parent, disciplinarian, or therapist. It is counterproductive to assume roles other than a dependable, consistent friend.

Criticize or Preach: Respect the uniqueness and honor the integrity of the member and work to provide constructive feedback.

Judge: The Dreamer or make judgments concerning any family conflict or situation. Leave the parenting to the parent.

Divulge: Any personal contact information. This is in direct violation of the Champion Code of Conduct. All correspondence with members needs to go through TalentDreams.

Try to fix: You are not there to fix. You are there to support. Be a sounding board. Provide feedback if appropriate. 

Meet in person: There is to be no contact with the Dreamers/members outside of the TalentDreams scheduled Zoom meetings

Do

Support: the Dreamer, their parents/guardians, role models, teachers

Know your limitations: If a Dreamer/member shares problems regarding substance abuse, molestation, or physical abuse, let TalentDreams know immediately.

Report: Any safety concerns (e.g., child abuse, sexual abuse), report your concern to the TalentDreams staff immediately

Be open and nonjudgmental: The Dreamer/member may be ashamed of poor school performance, family culture and religion, financial problems or any number of other things.

Be optimistic: Always work to find ways to be optimistic. Hope is everything. With it, we can achieve anything. 

Record Meetings: All Zoom meetings are to be recorded. It is the responsibility of the Champion to start the recording at the beginning of each meeting. 

CONFIDENTIALITY

All the information a member shares with you is confidential and sharing that information with others is prohibited. However, you are required to report certain things. Do not promise a member that you will keep confidential information secret. You are required to report certain things. It is critical, not only for the welfare of the member, but also to protect yourself that you adhere to these exceptions:

If a member confides that he or she is the victim of sexual, emotional or physical abuse, you must notify TalentDreams staff immediately.

Note the date this information was reported and to whom it was given.

Remember this information is extremely personal and capable of damaging lives, so do not share it with anyone except the appropriate authorities.

If a student tells you of his/her involvement in any illegal activity you must tell TalentDreams staff immediately.

In addition to the above confidentiality, all information shared with a Champion regarding intellectual property is protected property of the Dreamer/member. No Champion is to take any ideas or concepts of the Dreamer/member and apply them for their own use.

I have read, understand and agree to strictly abide by the TalentDreams Champion/Volunteer Code of Conduct & Ethics. I understand that failure to adhere to these procedures may result in my removal from participation in the program.