Shasta Head Start welcomes volunteers to join our program. It’s a great way for parents, community members, students, etc., to get involved at Shasta Head Start and spark an interest in our field of work! Most volunteers are placed in the classroom, but we have had food services and family services volunteers as well.

Volunteers must:

Be old enough to apply for a work permit
Have a social security number
Have/maintain a clean criminal record
Complete enrollment packet
- This step is not required for parent volunteers unless an exception is necessary
Have HT/SS and Area Manager approval

Any questions or concerns about the volunteer process should be addressed to Operations Clerical Support in Human Resources.

Types of Volunteers

Community Members
Students
- ROP
- Practicum
- Observation
Parents
- - Past parents
  - Current parent/guardian

Please Note:

Observation students under a mentor teacher who will be purely observing (not participating in the class/interacting with the children) do not need to complete the enrollment packet or have immunizations.

Parents who are visiting or observing their children are not required to have vaccinations. If parents wish to remain in the classroom on a regular basis to participate in the classroom and are interacting with children, they will be required to provide proof of immunizations.

Important note: upon request from SHS or CCL, any volunteer will need to receive fingerprint clearances.

What do volunteers do?

Important note: volunteers are not a part of classroom ratios and should never be left alone with children unsupervised.

Volunteers are welcome to participate in the classroom, especially with the fun stuff! Below are some examples:

- Play and interact with the children
  - Reading
  - Blocks
  - Dramatic play
  - Art
- Help prepare/clean-up activities
- Help with nap time
- Small office projects

Enrollment Packet

The Volunteer Enrollment Packet must be completed for any community volunteer or parent volunteering more than 16 hours per week who are participating in the classroom and interacting with the children. Shasta Head Start will not pay for any vaccinations, testing, or fingerprinting necessary for volunteers.

Additional Required Information:

- Negative Tuberculosis (TB) Test results within the last calendar year
- Pertussis vaccination within the last ten years
- Measles vaccination
- Influenza vaccination (optional – can be waived)
- Fingerprints
  - Fingerprints are only required for those working over 16 hours per week or those that are requested by SHS or CCL

Approval Process

Once a volunteer completes the Volunteer Enrollment Packet, the Head Teacher/Site Supervisor needs to sign the packet and scan/deliver it to their Area Manager. The Area Manager should review, sign, if approved, and scan/deliver it to Human Resources. HR will perform the final audit and approval. Once all approvals are in place, HR will notify the Head Teacher/Site Supervisor and Area Manager so the volunteer may begin!

Volunteer Training Packet

Once a volunteer is approved, they will be provided with a Volunteer Training Packet. This packet covers guidelines, policies, and a supervisor’s checklist of information to cover. The final page of the Volunteer Training Packet is an End of Volunteer Services Form. When the volunteer is no longer with the agency, please complete the form and scan to HR.

Supervisors, please be sure to spend time with volunteers, consultants, & contractors reviewing center-specific rules/expectations/duties to ensure the Acknowledgement of Requirement to Report Child Abuse | Spanish is signed and kept on file.

Resources: