We would like to thank you in advance for taking the time to read this document thoroughly. At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, the safety of our participants is our number one priority. Our policies and processes guide us in supporting, inspiring and defending the potential in the youth we serve while maintaining the health and safety for our children, families, volunteers and staff. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, we suspended in-person meetings with our program in order to protect the health and safety of everyone involved in our programs and also to comply with recommendations from the Governor’s Office and Centers for Disease Control (CDC). As our state has started to reopen, we must try to find a way to safely resume in-person meetings. With that in mind, we have adopted the waiver and guidelines listed below for our Community-based program. If any match party does not have access to masks, sanitizer, etc. please let your Match Specialist know and we’ll do our best to assist you.

As we strive to resume in-person meetings, you are encouraged to have a conversation with your Match Support Specialist. We expect this to be an individualized process and will do our best to meet the needs and comfort level of each match moving forward. Virtual contact will remain an option for all matches as well. Upon review of the waiver, if you have any questions, or concerns, please feel free to contact Kiranda Robbins Watts, Director of Programs, your Match Support Specialist, or me. We’re so proud to have your support of our mission and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Thank you for all you do! Sue Johnson, CEO

VOLUNTEER MENTOR FORM:

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly from person-to-person contact. As a result, federal, state, and local governments and federal and state health agencies recommend social distancing.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham, Inc. (BBBSGB) provides the following guidance to participants in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please check each statement to indicate you have read the statement. *

Community-based Match activities are restricted to virtual platforms from March 16, 2020 until both the Parent/Guardian and volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister have signed off on this waiver.

Once both the Parent/Guardian and Volunteer have signed the waiver and they are received by BBBSGB, BBBSGB will allow in-person match activities that include the following requirements until further notice:

A social distance of 6ft and when transporting, both the child and volunteer will wear a mask. To ensure appropriate separation in a vehicle, child must be transported in a rear seat.

When transporting, Bigs are asked to wipe down their car with sanitizing wipes before transporting and to pay special attention to high touch surfaces.
If any party has been in contact with an individual known to have COVID-19 or who is experiencing symptoms such as a fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, etc., the match is not allowed to meet in-person and should notify your Match Specialist.
Matches should try to avoid handshakes, high fives and hugs during this time.
Matches are asked to follow current CDC recommendations including frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer.
Match activities are encouraged to be outside and discouraged to include additional individuals as well as crowded or populated venues. Bigs shall only take Littles to places the Parent/Guardian has approved in advance. Venues where congestion is likely, or places where 6ft of distance cannot consistently be maintained, are prohibited until further notice. Match meetings outside, in open-air spaces are strongly encouraged.

Match outings may occur with Parent’s permission at the child’s home while maintaining 6 feet distance in the child’s driveway, yard, or outside space at the child’s home.
If any party is a frontline worker who could be exposed to COVID-19 through their profession, both the Parent/Guardian and Volunteer must be aware and conduct a temperature check before an approved in-person match meeting. If either party has a fever, the outing must be cancelled.
Bigs may not allow Littles to enter a Big’s home until further notice.
Even with the above measures in place, BBBSGB cannot guarantee that you will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, permitting contact between match parties could increase your risk of contracting COVID-19.

By signing this agreement, I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by participating in in-person match activities and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death. I understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, BBBSGB and its employees, volunteers, and program participants and their families. I voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that I may experience or incur in connection with my participation in BBBSGB program activities. The decision to re-engage in in-person meetings is my decision, not the decision of BBBSGB.
I attest that:
* I am not experiencing any symptom of illness such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell.
* I have not traveled internationally within the last 14 days.
* I have not traveled to a highly impacted area within the United States of America in the last 14 days.
* I do not believe I have been exposed to someone with a suspected and/or confirmed case of the Coronavirus/COVID-19.
* I have not been diagnosed with Coronavirus/Covid-19 and not yet cleared as non contagious by state or local public health authorities.
* I am following all CDC recommended guidelines as much as possible and limiting my exposure to the Coronavirus/COVID-19.

I hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless BBBSGB, its employees, agents, board members, and representatives, of and from all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, costs or expenses of any kind arising out of or relating to my exposure to or infection by COVID-19 resulting from my participation in BBBSGB program activities (“Claims”). I understand and agree that this release includes Claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of BBBSGB, its employees, agents, board members and representatives, whether a COVID-19 infection or any other contagious or infectious disease occurs before, during, or after participation in any BBBSGB program.

_______________________________

Print Name

_______________________________

Sign Name

_______________________________

Date

___________________________________

BBBS Staff

PARENT FORM:

Community-based Match activities are restricted to virtual platforms from March 16, 2020 until both the Parent/Guardian and volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister have signed off on this waiver.

o A social distance of 6ft and when transporting, both the child and volunteer will wear a mask. To ensure appropriate separation in a vehicle, child must be transported in a rear seat.

o When transporting, Bigs are asked to wipe down their car with sanitizing wipes before transporting and to pay special attention to high touch surfaces.

o If any party has been in contact with an individual known to have COVID-19 or who is experiencing symptoms such as a fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, etc., the match is not allowed to meet in-person and should notify your Match Specialist.

o Matches should try to avoid handshakes, high fives and hugs during this time.

o Matches are asked to follow current CDC recommendations including frequent hand washing or use of hand sanitizer.

o Match activities are encouraged to be outside and discouraged to include additional individuals as well as crowded or populated venues. Bigs shall only take Littles to places the Parent/Guardian has approved in advance. Venues where congestion is likely, or places where 6ft of distance cannot consistently be

maintained, are prohibited until further notice. Match meetings outside, in open-air spaces are strongly encouraged.

o Match outings may occur with Parent’s permission at the child’s home while maintaining 6 feet distance in the child’s driveway, yard, or outside space at the child’s home.

o If any party is a frontline worker who could be exposed to COVID-19 through their profession, both the Parent/Guardian and Volunteer must be aware and conduct a temperature check before an approved in-person match meeting. If either party has a fever, the outing must be cancelled.

o Bigs may not allow Littles to enter a Big’s home until further notice.

o Even with the above measures in place, BBBSGB cannot guarantee that your child will not become infected with COVID-19. Further, permitting contact between match parties could increase your risk of contracting COVID-19.

By signing this agreement, I acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19 and voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by participating in in-person match activities and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death. I understand that the risk of becoming exposed to or infected by COVID-19 may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, BBBSGB and its employees, volunteers, and program participants and their families. I voluntarily agree to assume all of the foregoing risks and accept sole responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that I may experience or incur in connection with my participation in BBBSGB program activities. The decision to re-engage in in-person meetings is my decision, not the decision of BBBSGB. I attest that: * I am not experiencing any symptom of illness such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell. * I have not traveled internationally within the last 14 days. * I have not traveled to a highly impacted area within the United States of America in the last 14 days. * I do not believe I have been exposed to someone with a suspected and/or confirmed case of the Coronavirus/COVID-19. * I have not been diagnosed with Coronavirus/Covid-19 and not yet cleared as non contagious by state or local public health authorities. * I am following all CDC recommended guidelines as much as possible and limiting my exposure to the Coronavirus/COVID-19.

negligence of BBBSGB, its employees, agents, board members and representatives, whether a COVID-19 infection or any other contagious or infectious disease occurs before, during, or after participation in any BBBSGB program.

_______________________________

Print Name

_______________________________

Sign Name

_______________________________

Date

__________________________________

BBBS Staff

VOLUNTEER MENTOR FORM:

PARENT FORM:

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