I, the undersigned volunteer of The Healing Place, understand that by virtue of my volunteering, I have been given access to proprietary and confidential business and client information:

I further recognize that persons with mental illness, emotional disorders, development disabilities and/or chemical dependency are vulnerable and that mental health care professionals have a duty to report statutory and ethical violations to certain state agencies and professional licensure boards;

I. Definition of Confidential Information: Confidential Information shall include but not be limited to the following:

A. Information contained in case records, histories, personnel and regular files which pertains to clients, staff members (including specific practice privileges granted or denied), or committees (including date compiled by the Personnel/Staff Development Committee and the Research and Evaluation Committee involving the professional conduct or competence of a staff member); and

B. All documents related to matters described above, and all business records (including interoffice correspondence, procedures, strategies, compilations, programs, data, techniques, manuals, client/patient lists, research projects, or internal review of critical incidents).

II. Use of Confidential Information: With respect to the Confidential Information, the undersigned shall:

A. Maintain Confidential Information in full confidence and not reveal to any other clients, firms, professional or other organizational groups with whom I am associated or neither to which I belong nor to make any disparaging remarks which relate to the Confidential Information;

B. Utilize the information disclosed to me for the purpose of carrying out the responsibilities of my position and take special care not to incorporate any of the information disclosed to me by one client regarding care rendered to another client;

C. Restrict disclosure solely to those employees, committee or board members with a need to know and
advise them of their concomitant duty not to disclose Confidential Information to third parties.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the undersigned's obligation to maintain the confidentiality of Confidential Information shall not supersede an obligation to report (or to be satisfied that The Healing Place has properly reported) required information to a state agency and/or professional licensure committee or to otherwise comply with federal, state or local laws.

Understanding the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) for Volunteers

The Kentucky Department of Corrections mandates zero tolerance toward all forms of sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

WHAT IS PREA?
The Prison Rape Elimination Act of September 4, 2003 (Public Law 108-79) was enacted by Congress to address the problem of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and sexual harassment in all US penal facilities. PREA supports the elimination, reduction and prevention of sexual assault/rape within our prisons, community corrections centers and local jails. PREA applies to Offender-on-Offender and Staff-on-Offender sexual misconduct. Any resident or inmate of a KDOC facility or its contractors is considered to be at disadvantage, and is not legally capable of consent to any sexual activity.

WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE?
Sexual abuse is defined as any type of undesired behavior of a sexual nature. This includes any unsolicited attempted sexual contact, any voyeurism, or coercion to engage in any sexual act. When sexual contact is accomplished or solicited through fear, threat of bodily harm or implied threat, it is considered to be sexual abuse.

WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?
Sexual Assault is defined as any undesired contact of a sexual nature. It is against Kentucky state law for any staff member, contractor or volunteer to engage in any type of behavior or act of a sexual nature with an offender or resident. This includes any sexual contact or intercourse of any kind.

WHAT IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT?
Sexual Harassment is defined as undesired verbal statements or comments of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is prohibited by offenders, staff members, volunteers, contractors, official visitors or agency representatives, and includes any demeaning reference to gender or derogatory comments about body or clothing: profane or obscene language or gestures.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED?
If you have been abused, get to a safe place. Any victim of sexual abuse is encouraged to report any necessary event as soon as possible. It is important to know that victims do not have to identify their assailant. But, all staff and authorities are required to report any criminal activity to Law Enforcement.

The Department of Corrections provides multiple ways to report sexual abuse or sexual harassment:

Written report to any staff member

Verbal report to any staff member

Call the confidential PREA Hotline (855-700-7732)

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, DO NOT: Shower, brush your teeth, use the restroom, change your clothes, eat, drink or smoke. Doing any of the above prior to reporting the abuse may destroy important evidence.

HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN AVOID INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Stay away from isolated areas such as closets, stairwells and isolated/unoccupied restrooms.

Stay within the eyesight of facility staff member whenever possible.

Be aware of your body language.

Avoid conversations involving sexual topics, family relationships, sexual experiences, financial status.