Safety of children is our primary concern.  Careful screening and training is in place to ensure children are protected to the best of our ability.   All prospective adult friends complete a Friends Volunteer Application  (PDF application click here).

After receiving the forms, Friends will process the application with the following steps:

°      Screening through a national criminal database

°      Screening through Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Division of Children and Family Services

°      Contact and interview of 3 personal references

°      Employment history review

°      Completion of a 6-hour readiness training session that addresses risk management, ethics, and the dynamics of friendship with a child

 Prospective volunteers receive a handbook at the training, and are asked to sign a statement acknowledging their understanding of rules, guidelines, and expectations. Once all of these steps are fulfilled, the volunteer is then scheduled for a one hour interview with at least two staff members present. The interview will include discussions of:

°      The applicant’s motivation for volunteering

°      Program goals, priorities and boundaries

°      Characteristics and preferences that indicate the greatest likelihood of success and satisfaction in a match.

All volunteers are required to attend a two-hour Refresher Training after they have been matched with a child for at least 4 months.