volunteer screening

VOLUNTEER SCREENING

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Presenter: Sandra MillerConsultant/Trainer, Volunteer Centers of Michigansaltzmiller@gmail.com

Administrator: Chelsea Martin Program Manager, Volunteer Centers of Michigancmartin@mivolunteers.org

Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Volunteer Centers of Michigan, Michigan Campus Compact, and the LEAGUE Michigan with support from the Connect Michigan Alliance Endowment Fund and the Corporation for National and Community Service, are proud to support the ENGAGE Volunteer Management training series.

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Goals

• Identify the purpose and importance of volunteer screening.

• Provide specific examples for each step.

• Share tips and tools.

THE PURPOSE IS TO

Recruit and place the right person in the right position.

Resulting in. . .• Risk Management

• Rapid Onboarding

• Puts a Face to the Organization

• Effective Engagement

• Increased Retention

Risk Management

Vulnerable Populations

High Degree of Trust

Highly Skilled

• Children• Elderly• Disabled

• Confidential Information

• Money/Finances

• Licensure/Certificate• Other

Volunteer Positions Description

Recruitment Messaging & Strategies

Application

Interview

Background & Reference Checks

THE APPLICATION

Follow up the volunteer inquiry with

Information

• Contact• Availability• Skills• Interests• Relevant Experience• References• Agreements

– Volunteer Code– Background Check– Confidentiality

• “Truth Statement” (verification/consequences)

Example

Hospice of Michigan

“Volunteer Tab”

Greater Lansing Food Bank

Other Examples

• What are your expectations?• What do you hope to gain?• A skills checklist

Languages other than English Technology SkillsWritingSpeakingArtistic

• Any additional skills

Use Technology

Acrobat FormsCentral

Volunteer Registration Software—HandsOn Connect, Volunteer Match

THE INTERVIEW

Phone, in-person, team

Two Types

• Explore prospective volunteer’s interests, skills, and expectations

• Match a volunteer’s skills, interests, and expectations to a particularly volunteer position.

Interview StepsCreate A Connection

Thank the volunteer

Make Introductions

Introduce Purpose

Brief Orientation

Assessment

Ask about skills

Determine expectations

Set expectations

Respond to Questions

Anything you’d like to know

Asks about concerns

SAMPLE QUESTIONS What are your hobbies? What is your experience with ___ What attracted you to our organization? Would you rather work alone or in a group? What type of volunteer work have you done before?

What did you like best about it? Case studies/situation—How would you deal with

Questions not to ask• Age/Birthdate• Birthplace• Height & Weight• Nationality• Sex• Martial Status• Sexual Orientation• Race• Religious Affiliation• Arrest Record Anything not directly associated

with the position

BACKGROUND & REFERENCECHECKS

Establish a policy and a process

POLL

Do your volunteers work with any “vulnerable populations”?

• Children• Elderly• Disabled• Those in health care settings

Health Care Facilities“Nursing homes, county medical care facilities, hospitals with swing bed services, Medicare-certified home health agencies, intermediate care facilities for mentally retarded, and psychiatric facilities and inpatient programs shall comply with Section 333.20173a of the Public Health Code. . .These laws state that criminal background checks, including fingerprint checks, be conducted for staff hired after April 1, 2006. Individuals who have regular direct access to patients and/or their medical records or provide direct services to patients, including independent contractors and those with clinical privileges, are to be included”

www.michigan.gov

Michigan.gov

“If your program utilizes volunteers or members who work with vulnerable populations such as children or the frail elderly, it is important to perform a criminal history background check on every person who works with them. This is necessary both for the safety of those you serve and for the credibility of your program.

The Michigan State Police provides the Internet Criminal History Access Tool, or ICHAT”

Background ChecksVolunteers for Child Protection Act

• Volunteers may be fingerprinted, but are not required to be.

• Michigan provides fingerprint checks for a reduced fee

RESOURCES• iCHAT

– Free to nonprofits– 2-3 week turnaround– Michigan crimes only

• PSOR – Free and accessible list of those

on sexual offender registry

• CREDIT REPORTS

• MOTOR VEHICLE RECORD

Reference Check

Sample Reference Questions:• In what capacity have you known the applicant

and for how long?• What strengths would this person bring to the

volunteer position?• How does the candidate handle frustration and

criticism while on the job?• Do you know any reason why this person

should not be considered for a volunteer position?

THE ONBOARDING PROCESS

Engage them or lose them

Map Your Organization’s Onboarding Process

Coyotecommunications.org

Speeding it up

• Use volunteer leaders• Train staff in the process• Establish email contact with

electronically generated “welcome messages” and newsletters

• Use technology—online applications, email reference forms,

• Move volunteers into short-term positions

SharingDoes you organization have any suggestions or examples of

• Ways to speech the screening process

• Application or interview questions or methods that may serve to make a good match.

• Other resources for a background check

THANK YOU

Please respond to the evaluation that you will receive by email.

Your input is valuable

January 31 —

Volunteer Orientation & Handbook

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