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Apply to volunteer with a Good Neighbor Team!

Thank you for your interest in joining a Good Neighbor Team (GNT)! By now your church has already committed to forming a team and you should be starting or preparing to start GNT training. This application is to help us officially onboard you as a GNT volunteer so you can begin your background checks and other volunteer processing.

Volunteer Expectations and Agreements

Be willing to learn, grow and be flexible – Working with people from other cultures is challenging and exciting, but it can also be difficult and frustrating. The most successful volunteers are those who keep an open mind, are willing to stretch themselves, and who understand that there aren’t always easy answers or quick fixes. Take time to practice self-care and stay connected with your community.

Cooperate with World Relief staff – If you feel a participant’s needs are not being met, please reach out to the GNT Coordinator to discuss you concerns. Please understand that we have the participants’ best interests in mind and want to see them become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. We would be happy to talk in-depth about any of these matters and value your sensitivity and care.

Work alongside World Relief’s Mission, Vision and Values – As a Christian organization we are committed to serving, working alongside, and advocating for refugees and immigrants. We recognize that our volunteers and participants come from a variety of backgrounds and faith practices, and we seek to respect and learn from each of them. We ask that volunteers agree to work alongside the mission and vision of World Relief, even if these are not personally held values. Conversely, we strongly discourage any form of proselytizing (attempting to coerce or convert someone to your religion). If you have any questions or concerns about this, please speak with our GNT Coordinator.

Complete the volunteer screening process – For the protection of our participants, volunteers must complete a background check. If your volunteer role involves driving you must also pass a driver’s license check. Your information is confidential and will not be used for any other purpose.

Keep your time commitment – Volunteers agree to various time commitments, depending on their roles, and are asked to communicate with the GNT Coordinator if unable to fulfill this time commitment, either temporarily or long term.

Track your volunteer hours – Volunteers are required to consistently track all hours volunteered and any donations given in Track it Forward. This is very important as volunteer hours can be matched with grants and funding that helps refugees pay their rent, utilities and find their first jobs in the United States.

Communicate – Volunteers are encouraged to communicate with the GNT Coordinator with any questions or feedback. If a concern about the health and safety of a participant is in question, please contact a World Relief staff or GNT Coordinator as soon as possible. After each commitment, volunteers will take time to debrief with the GNT Coordinator. This is an important time for the volunteer to process their experience and for the Coordinator to learn how World Relief can better serve its volunteers and participants in the future.

Maintain confidentiality – As volunteers build relationships and hear stories from refugee and asylee friends, we ask that volunteers honor that relationship by keeping personal information private. Do not share stories or post pictures to social media without the express written permission of the individual. Concerns for health and safety should be communicated to World Relief immediately (see above). If you have any doubts or questions, talk with the GNT Coordinator.

World Relief retains the right to terminate any volunteer service by dismissing the volunteer. A volunteer will receive a written explanation for his or her dismissal. Reasons for dismissal include a participant’s desire to end the relationship and volunteer behavior that is in violation of the mission statement and purpose of World Relief.

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Application Information

Name*
Address*
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- Speaking/Reading/Writing - Beginner/Intermediate/fluent
What type of assignment would interest you the most? (Check all that apply.)

Emergency Contact

Please provide contact information for someone we can call in case of an emergency.
Emergency Contact

Acknowledgements and Consents

Mission, Vision and Values of World Relief

World Relief Seattle is fostering a movement among local churches to create a welcoming community where refugees and immigrants thrive. In community with the local church, we envision the most vulnerable people transformed economically, socially, and spiritually. These are our core values:

The Example of Jesus We serve those who are suffering from poverty and injustice, regardless of color, belief, or gender, as part of God’s plan to redeem, reconcile, and restore the world. We seek to follow Jesus by living holy, humble, and honest lives individually and corporately.

People

Staff, volunteers, clients, beneficiaries, donors, and partners are all important actors in fostering peace, love, and justice. We recognize and affirm World Relief as a multicultural organization and seek to understand and respect the multiplicity of cultures among us. As we seek change in the world, we recognize that we, too, are changed, by those we serve.

Excellence & Improvement

In all our program initiatives and support services, following best practices and standards in a manner that is sustainable to the community from a spiritual, social, and economic perspective. We also seek to apply our human and financial resources in ways that maximize impact and sustain benefits to the greatest number of people.

Empowerment

By prioritizing the leadership and participation of those we serve, whether people, churches, or local institutions, as critical to creating and sustaining change. We seek to catalyze a movement of worldwide volunteers to multiply impact, and we value capacity-building as a means towards that end.

Partnership

By seeking, facilitating, and promoting collaboration among all stakeholders, including local governments, the worldwide church, mission agencies, other NGO’s, and the business community, recognizing partnership as essential to serving the most vulnerable. We believe each expression of the worldwide Church has a unique and interdependent role in bringing peace and justice to the world.

Prayer

As the priority and foundational to accomplishing our mission.

Mission, Vision and Values of World Relief Acknowledgement*
Please Check One*
Background Check*

A criminal background check must be passed in order to volunteer with World Relief. World Relief Seattle asks our volunteers to help cover the cost of the background check so that funding can go towards serving refugees and immigrants. If the cost of a background check would be a barrier to volunteering with us, please let us know!

I understand that I must pass a criminal background check in order to volunteer with World Relief.

Motor Vehicle Check*
All interns/volunteers must have a valid driver’s license and pass a Motor Vehicle Records Check in order to operate a World Relief vehicle, or a personal vehicle while on company business. By signing this form, I confirm that I am covered by personal liability and property damage automobile insurance that meets the minimum state requirements. I understand that I am responsible for all damage and liability claims to my personal vehicle. I affirm that any vehicle I operate while interning or volunteering with World Relief is owned by me or that I have express permission granted by the owner to operate this vehicle. I understand that if I permit anyone other than myself to operate my vehicle, I do so at my own risk and that my insurance may be implicated in the event of any injury or damage to property.
Photography Release*
I give World Relief permission to photograph me and use such photos in World Relief promotional materials and related publications without remuneration to me.
Financial Agreement

By selecting the "I Agree" option at the end of this form, I confirm that I do not expect any financial compensation for my services.

PSEA

World Relief defines the term ‘sexual exploitation’ as any actual or attempted abuse of position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially, or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term ‘sexual abuse’ means actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force, coercion or under unequal conditions. World Relief has a zero-tolerance policy for exploitative and abusive relationships. Likewise, we will also not tolerate any actions that jeopardize employee security or the reputation of our organization. It follows, therefore, that interns and volunteers should have:

- No sexual contact with children under the age of 18 (mistaken belief of age is not a legitimate defense)

- No sexual contact with or intimate relationships with World Relief beneficiaries/clients.

Acts of sexual exploitation and abuse will result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

By signing this form, I agree to act in a professional and ethical manner in accordance with the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Code of Conduct.

Release of Liability*

Confidentiality and Health Policy

By signing this form, I confirm that I am aware that World Relief clients or staff may have communicable diseases and I should use good hygiene practices and Universal Health Precautions when interacting with clients or staff. I recognize that client and staff health information is confidential, in accordance with state and/or federal law. World Relief cannot disclose information regarding medical status unless legally authorized by the client or other legal authority.

Universal Health Precautions:

• Use gloves when administering first aid

• Avoid contact with blood and bodily fluids

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Other good health practices include:

• During times of outbreaks of illness, avoid shaking hands or otherwise touching clients or other individuals while volunteering for World Relief, if at all possible

• Refraining for volunteer work while having any symptoms of illness

• Self-quarantining in accordance with CDC guidelines if exposed to any communicable disease that can be ready transmitted in World Relief volunteer scenarios

I acknowledge that World Relief may suspend volunteer activities in order to safeguard public health, and I recognize that I could become ill from communicable diseases encountered during World Relief volunteer activities, despite taking Universal Health Precautions and practicing other Good Hygiene Practices. I assume this risk in my role as a volunteer.

I understand that at any time, I may advise World Relief that I will suspend volunteering due to my concerns regarding any communicable illnesses. I also understand that if I have any symptoms of illness, I am not permitted to volunteer in any capacity that involves contact with others.

Health and Confidentiality Policy*
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