X-LIFE Policy Regarding Professional Conduct with Young People.

X-LIFE believes in absolute professional propriety with regard to its work with young people. As such all the following policies are mandatory for X-LIFE staff and volunteers. It is the responsibility of the individual volunteer or staff member and their immediate supervisor to ensure compliance with these policies.

1. Male leaders shall not hug female youth. Female leaders shall not hug male youth.
    

2. No staff member or volunteer should have any young person connected with the work of X-LIFE under the age of 18 stay in their house overnight. On exceptional occasions where this is deemed necessary, other staff or volunteers are to be present and parents or guardians must give written permission. No staff member or person acting in a capacity as X-LIFE volunteer is to stay overnight alone with any such young person.
    

3. It is recognised that private conversations are sometimes a necessary part of the work. These will be conducted in a public building or public place.
    

4. X-LIFE workers are under legal obligations with respect to the knowledge they possesses regarding young people under the age of 18. As such the relevant authorities will always be contacted immediately, should we come into any knowledge regarding underage runaways or allegations of any form of abuse. The relevant ministry is the Ministry of Children and Family Development and a duty worker there should be immediately contacted, as should the X-life supervisor.
    

5. Notwithstanding our obligation to disclose, workers agree to keep confidence where non-public information is shared.
    
6. No X-LIFE worker or volunteer will be alone in a vehicle with any young person, of the opposite sex, connected with the work of X-LIFE between dusk and dawn. If a journey needs to be conducted after these hours, a third person, preferably a staff or volunteer, should always be present. In exceptional circumstances where such a journey is of crucial importance [medical emergency etc] and no other staff or volunteer is available, the staff member must ensure that the youth rides in the back seat only.
    

7. All X-LIFE staff and volunteers must submit to criminal record checks.

Agreed to:

Print Name Here: ____________________________________________

Signed _______________________________________    Date___________________

Fax to 604-905-0931