GSEM Volunteer Essentials

Episodic volunteers are short term volunteers who volunteer for a specific purpose and are under the direction of a staff member or Girl Scout volunteer responsible for program implementation. Episodic volunteers are encouraged to become a Girl Scout member and pay membership dues. There may be instances when an episodic volunteer will be required to complete a Criminal Background Check. This will be determined by the type of program and will be announced with the volunteer opportunity. All the foregoing information in the Criminal Background Check information applies to episodic volunteers. It is the applicant's responsibility to challenge the report received from reporting agencies and to arrange for any corrections, if necessary. The Council has no control over the information maintained by these reporting agencies. The Council cannot be liable to any person or entity for the information provided by reporting agencies, to the Council or its agents, or for any actions taken by the Council in reliance on such information. The Council is entitled to and shall rely upon the information contained in the criminal history report and other reporting agencies until such time as a corrected criminal history transcript has been provided. Even if an applicant submits corrected criminal background information, the Council retains exclusive discretion to exclude or limit an applicant's participation. In addition to all the foregoing Council has the right to consider information about a prospective or current volunteer or participant that it might learn about in a way outside of, or in addition to, information contained in a criminal background check. Council has the right to base determinations about volunteer status or individual participation on such information if such information is valid and accurate. Volunteer Mandatory Training Protecting the emotional and physical safety and well-being of Girl Scouts is our shared top priority. Your partnership as a volunteer for our Council helps to ensure that Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) is a safe place for all girls. The purpose of the training is to equip volunteers with the knowledge and skills to recognize signs of child abuse or neglect and understand our responsibilities as mandated reporters. As a youth serving organization, Missouri law requires those who are responsible for the care of children to report to the Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division (Children’s Division) when there is reasonable cause to suspect a child may be subject to abuse or neglect. Your role in protecting our girls is invaluable, and this training will empower us all to be even more effective in our respective roles. Council also has the right to check records on Case.net as needed, in its sole discretion. Case.net contains on-line records for the Missouri court system.

The mandatory courses are: •

Girl Scouts Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: Course available in the Content Library in gsLearn. Course completion will be required annually for any active volunteer. • Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Mandated Reporter Training: Course available in the Content Library in gsLearn. Course completion will be required biennially for any active volunteer.