A facility that regularly uses volunteers to work directly with children in care shall meet the following requirements:

1. (1) The facility must have a written description of duties and specific responsibilities for volunteer positions;
2. (2) The facility must have at least three references for each volunteer. The references may not be related to the volunteer. References must reflect positively on the volunteer and the provider must check the references before the volunteer performs services. The provider shall document the contacts with the references. Documentation must be in the form of a written letter or documented conversation;
3. (3) The facility shall designate a staff member to supervise and evaluate volunteers;
4. (4) The facility shall develop a written plan for the orientation and training of volunteers in the purpose of the facility's treatment program and the needs of the children in care;
5. (5) The facility shall ensure that volunteers who work 30 or more hours per week or who are used to meet the required staff-child ratio to meet the training requirements of § 67:42:07:04;
6. (6) The facility shall inform the volunteers of their obligation to report and the method of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect; and

7. (7) The facility shall screen each volunteer applicant's name for substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect before the volunteer performs services to children. A volunteer may not have on record a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect.

   Cross-References: Staff-child ratio, § 67:42:07:03.; Persons required to report child abuse or neglected child -- Intentional failure as misdemeanor, SDCL 26-8A-3; Oral report of abuse or neglect -- To whom made -- Response report, SDCL 26-8A-8; Revocation or refusal to issue or renew license or registration for child abuse or violence, SDCL 26-6-23.1; Screening for substantiated reports of abuse and neglect, § 67:42:01:05.02; Issuance of child welfare license -- Criminal record of applicant to be secured -- Waiver by applicant -- When application denied, SDCL 26-6-14.3; Persons to whom criminal record requirement applies, SDCL 26-6-14.4; Waiver, fingerprinting and declaration as condition of employment -- Time -- Immediate termination of employee, SDCL 26-6-14.5.

Source: 7 SDR 66, 7 SDR 89, effective July 1, 1981; transferred from § 67:42:06:13, 12 SDR 4, effective July 25, 1985; 15 SDR 162, effective May 4, 1989; 20 SDR 223, effective July 7, 1994; 34 SDR 200, effective January 30, 2008; 39 SDR 220, effective June 27, 2013.

General Authority: SDCL 26-6-16.

Law Implemented: SDCL 26-6-16.