Host Family

Welcome to WNCC’s Host Family Volunteer Program! We appreciate your willingness to give your time and talents to help students be successful.

Information & Guidelines

We realize that volunteers need to be provided guidance and supported to be successful and find the experience rewarding. Therefore, we are continually reviewing, refining and updating our information and support to ensure that you have an effective volunteer experience. Please feel free to offer your suggestions on how we can improve our support of your efforts.

Thank you again for your willingness to serve. The following information sets forth program information along with the rules and guidelines governing the Host Family Volunteer Program.

Program Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns during the course of your volunteer service, please do not hesitate to contact the Host Family Program Coordinator at the following:

Molly Bonuchi
Student Life Director
(308) 635-6186
bonuchim@wncc.edu

What is a WNCC Host Family

The WNCC Host Family program was established in the early 1980s as an additional support program for the Cougar Men’s Basketball team. The program has grown to include any WNCC student. The program consists of local families who are willing to “adopt” a WNCC student for the current academic year. The program consists of both traditional and non-traditional families, as well as several grandparents. Not a live-in program, WNCC host families engage in various activities throughout the year with their WNCC student. Each individual host family is allowed to determine for themselves the amount of time they would like to devote to the program. We understand that families have their own priorities, and some families may have the freedom to allot more time to their student.

Goals of the Host Family Program

WNCC has two main goals for the host family program. One goal is to provide WNCC students a home away from home. WNCC feels it is important to help our students become adjusted to the valley area by introducing them to a family that they can connect with over the course of the year. The second goal is to introduce families in the valley to a diverse field of students from all over the United States, as well as internationally. Exposing your family to the different cultures from around the world can be a rewarding experience.

Expectations of a Host Family

As stated previously, WNCC understands that you have your own priorities with your family. For this reason, you are allowed to decide the level of commitment with your student. The main expectation is that each family keeps an open line of communication with the student. We ask that each family understand that students are busy and often are away from home for the first time, and many may not want to spend an extraordinary amount of time with their host family. WNCC truly wants this to be a positive experience for both the families and the WNCC students. Here are some suggestions for things you may want to do with your student:

Invite them to a meal at your home with your family
Invite them to watch a movie at home with your family
Invite them to one of your children’s athletic competitions
Invite them to your house on a Sunday afternoon to have a quiet place to study
Invite them to use your washing machine for a load of laundry
Invite them to other community functions your family may be attending
Making a phone call once a week to check in with your student

Volunteers working with WNCC student-athletes

WNCC’s Host Family Program is available to all students. In order for WNCC’s student athletes to participate in the Host Family Program, the College complies with rules and bylaws enacted by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The College’s Host Family Program is administered by the institution with no direct affiliation to the athletic department and Athletic department staff plays no part in the arrangement of host families. Additionally, Athletic department personnel may not serve as a Host Family volunteer.

For students to remain eligible in the NJCAA, NCAA, and NAIA systems, they must be considered amateur athletes. Even with the advent of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policies, when student-athletes are given benefits or gifts from outside entities, their amateur status can be put in jeopardy. For this reason there are certain actions that ARE NOT PERMISSIBLE within the Host Family Program if you are a host family for one of our student athletes. These actions include:

No financial, fiduciary, or monetary transactions may transpire between a volunteer host family volunteer and a student-athlete. This includes, but is not limited to: loans, co-signing of loans or leases, long distance telephone calls and provision of tickets.
A Host Family Volunteer must not take student-athlete on trips involving excessive mileage and/or expense.
A Host Family Volunteer may not provide tickets or gifts of any kind.

Getting to Know the College

Mission Statement

Vision Statement

Values

Lifelong Learning
Student and Community Service
Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency
Collaboration and Communication
Innovation and Continuous Improvement
Respect for All People and Perspectives

Western Nebraska Community College shall be a student centered, open access institution primarily devoted to quality instruction and public service, providing counseling and other student services intended to promote the success of a diverse student population, particularly those who have been traditionally under served in other educational settings.

Equal Opportunity Program

Western Nebraska Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or gender, age, disability, marital status, military veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression/identity, or political affiliation, in its policies, practices, and activities related to employment, admissions, educational services/programming, student services/activities, or financial aid; as expressly prescribed by Institutional policy, state and federal laws, regulations, and executive orders. Inquiries concerning the application of these policies, laws, and/or regulations to the College may be directed to the College's Compliance Officer for the Civil Rights Act(s), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act(s), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Lisa Gion, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, 1601 East 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE 69361-1815; hrdirector@wncc.edu; 308.635.6350 or to the Director, Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, One Petticoat Lane, 1010 Walnut Street, Suite 320, Kansas City, MO, 64106.

Policies and Procedures

Expectations

Persons who assist WNCC students are expected to:

Personal Responsibility:

Be dependable, recognizing the commitment and responsibility to the Host Family Program.
Be positive, encouraging, and optimistic at all times.
Accept feedback from the Host Family Program Coordinator in order to do the best job possible.
Not accept tips, request meals to be paid for, or otherwise accept payment for my volunteer work.
Address ethical concerns by speaking directly with the Host Family Program Coordinator.

Respect

Treat all individuals with a sense of dignity, respect, and worth. Make a personal commitment to be nonjudgmental about cultural differences, living conditions and the life-style of each person with whom I work.
Avoid profane and abusive language and disruptive behavior that is dangerous to self and others.
Abstain from the use of photo, audio or video recording equipment unless authorized.
Respect all confidential information. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all proprietary or privileged information to which they are exposed while serving as a volunteer, whether this information involves a single staff, volunteer, client or other person.
Comply with mandated reporting in cases of suspected child and vulnerable adult abuse or neglect.
Not use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs at any time while serving as a volunteer.
Abstain from all illegal activity.
Report suspicious activities to the Host Family Program Coordinator.
Recognize that I have a responsibility to adhere to the rules and procedures for volunteers at WNCC. Failure to do so or failure to satisfactorily perform my volunteer assignment may cause me to be subject to dismissal.

Gifts and Gratuities

Volunteers are not to solicit or accept personal gratuities or gifts of a substantial nature from students, faculty or staff. Examples of gifts, rewards and favors may include but are not limited to: money, meals, tickets to sporting events, concerts, plays or other community events, trips or vacations. Monetary gifts are not to be accepted under any circumstances.

Grievances

If you find yourself having difficulty working with a particular student, speak directly with the Host Family Program Coordinator. The program director will help to resolve the conflict. This may mean speaking with the student directly or reassigning you to another student to work with. If you continue to have difficulties follow-up with the Program Coordinator.

Departure from Service

Code of Conduct For Interaction with Minors

Western Nebraska Community College is committed to the safety and protection of children and all students at the College. This Code of Conduct applies to all faculty, staff, volunteers and students representing the College who interact with children or young people in a direct and/or unsupervised capacity. It also applies to employees and volunteers from external groups that interact with children or young people in a direct and/or unsupervised capacity in WNCC facilities.

The public and private conduct of faculty, staff, employees, students, and volunteers can inspire and motivate those with whom they interact, or can cause great harm if inappropriate. Especially when working with children and youth, we should at all times be particularly aware that we are responsible for maintaining physical, emotional, and sexual boundaries. We must avoid any sexual behaviors with those for whom we have responsibility. This includes seductive speech or gestures as well as physical contact that exploits, abuses, or harasses.

We must show prudent discretion before touching another person, especially children and youth, and be aware of how physical touch will be perceived or received, and whether it would be an appropriate expression of greeting, care, concern, or celebration. Physical contact with children can be misconstrued both by the recipient and by those who observe it, and should occur only when completely nonsexual and otherwise appropriate, and never in private. One-on-one meetings with a child or young person are best held in a public area; in a room where the interaction can be observed; or in a room with the door left open, and another staff member or supervisor notified about the meeting. WNCC personnel and volunteers are prohibited at all times from physically disciplining a child.

Under Nebraska law you must report to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services if you have reasonable cause to suspect that children are being physically or sexually abused or neglected in any way. To make a report, call the Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-652-1999. Then call the Scottsbluff Police Department, at (308) 630-6261 during Business Hours M-F 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and (308) 632-7176 after Business Hours. Then call WNCC’s Vice President of Student Services at (308) 635-6104. If it is an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Faculty, staff, employees, and volunteers should refrain from the illegal possession and/or illegal use of drugs and/or alcohol at all times, and from the use of tobacco products, alcohol and/or drugs when working with children. Adults should never buy alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, videos, or reading material that is inappropriate and give it to young people. Staff members and volunteers should not accept or give gifts to children without the knowledge of their parents or guardians. Staff members and volunteers working with student-athletes may not provide tickets or gifts of any kind.

WNCC Volunteer Agreement

Volunteers may be utilized from time to time to assist Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) with a variety of activities and projects. This agreement is to verify that the individual whose signature appears below clearly understands that his/her services are being donated to Western Nebraska Community College.

Volunteer Services are usually donated for a specific program and/or period of time and may be terminated by the volunteer or WNCC at any time. Volunteers are not employees of Western Nebraska Community College and are not eligible for pay, insurance, retirement, workers compensation or other employee benefits. Volunteers understand that they may come in contact with information that is protected by federal law. Volunteers understand and agree that such information will not be inappropriately used or disclosed during or after their volunteer service.

Waiver & Release Agreement

As a Host Family participant, I understand that:

There are certain risks associated with my participation in the Host Family Volunteer Program (Program). Typically these activities may include, but are not limited to, hosting participants for activities at home, transport in personal vehicles to shop, commute to/from campus, dining out, community events, family recreational activities, etc.
These risks may also include but are not limited to personal injury, damage or loss to me and or my personal property.
Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) is not responsible or liable for any personal property which may be lost, damaged or stolen during my participation in the Host Family Program.
WNCC is not in a position to guarantee my personal health or safety during my participation in the Program.
Neither WNCC nor any of the Releasees (as defined below) will have a role in the preparation, operation or day to day activities of the Host families or students while they are participating in the Host Family Program.
As a Host Family Program participant, the College does not provide medical, property, or personal liability insurance for me or my family and it is my responsibility to maintain such insurance for my benefit if I so desire.

Therefore, I acknowledge and agree as follows:

To the best of my knowledge, I am able to fully participate in this program.
I am fully aware of risks and hazards connected with my participation as a Host Family member in the Host Family Program.
I hereby elect to voluntarily participate in the Host Family Program and engage in such activities associated with that Program knowing that the activities may be hazardous to me and to my property.
I VOLUNTARILY ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILTY FOR ANY RISKS OF LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH, that may be sustained by me, or any loss or damage to property owned by me, as a result of being engaged in such an activity, whether caused by the negligence of the releasees or otherwise.
Knowing these risks, and in consideration for being permitted to participate in the Host Family Program, I agree, on behalf of my family, heirs and personal representative(s), to assume all the risks and responsibilities surrounding my participation in the Program. I understand that, although the College has made every reasonable effort to assure my safety while participating in the Program, there are unavoidable risks in taking part in voluntary programs and activities with students, individuals and providers who are not employed by the College, and I hereby release and promise not to sue the Western

Community College Area, Western Nebraska Community College, WNCC, the College, its Board of Governors, and the officers, employees or agents of any and all of them (“RELEASEES”), for any damages or injury (including death) caused by, derived from, or associated with my participation in the Program, except for such damages or injury as may be caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the officers, employees or agents of any of them.

I agree, that should any provision or aspect of this Release be found unenforceable, that all remaining provisions of the Release will remain in full force and effect.
This Release represents my complete understanding with the College concerning their responsibility and liability for my participation in the Host Family Program. It supersedes any pervious or contemporaneous understandings that I may have had with the College on this subject, whether written or oral, and cannot be changed or amended in any way without my written concurrence.

Host Family Agreement