Annual Renewal Information

KIDS HOPE USA AFFILIATION EXPECTATIONS

It is important to maintain the integrity and quality of the Kids Hope USA Program because any departure from the time-tested principles developed by Kids Hope USA may compromise program quality for the Church, the Partner School, and the children. The Church acknowledges and agrees that if its director(s) and volunteers do not comply with the following obligations, this Agreement may be terminated by Kids Hope USA.

Therefore, the Church agrees to the following:

• Separation of Church and State – The Church and its volunteers strictly adhere to the separation of Church and State in all aspects of its Kids Hope USA Program.
• Director Leadership – The Church has a screened director(s) (the “Church director(s)” or “director(s)”) to lead all aspects of its Kids Hope USA Program as directed in Kids Hope USA training, ensuring the Church honors the Church’s commitments of the Kids Hope USA Program. The director(s) must have regular access to, and the skills to operate, a computer with internet and e-mail capability.
• Training – Training for the director(s) and for all volunteers shall be completed in accordance with the Kids Hope USA training program. In the event the Church’s trained director(s) resigns, the Church will appoint a replacement director(s) and ensure they participate in and complete Kids Hope USA director training.
• Mentor Recruiting – The Church recruits volunteer mentors exclusively from their own Church.
• Mentor Screening – All volunteers who have direct one-to-one contact with children must be screened according to Kids Hope USA required policies, which includes an application, reference checks, interview, criminal background check, and pastoral review. Beyond the required standards and best practices outlined from Kids Hope USA, each program must adhere to the highest level required policies of the local school district and/or the policies of each county in which the Church’s Partner School operates.
• Mentor Matching – Each screened and trained mentor shall be matched with one – and only one – child whose parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have approved participation in the Kids Hope USA Program at the child’s school.
• Mentor Supervising – Each mentor must submit a progress report for every mentoring session, with both the school and the director receiving the report. The director must review progress reports at least weekly and follow up on any concerns promptly. The director must regularly encourage and support mentors.
• Prayer Partner Identification – A volunteer prayer partner shall be identified to pray for each mentor-student pair.
• Child Participant Information & FERPA – All identifying information about the children participating in the Kids Hope USA Program will be treated as and held confidential by Church staff and volunteers. The Church will limit access to information about each child participant to only those necessary to receive the information to carry out the terms of this Agreement. The Church will maintain such information for 10 years after the termination of this Agreement or for the duration required by the applicable state law that governs this Agreement. Further, the Parties acknowledge that this obligation will survive the termination of the Agreement.
• Volunteer Information – All Kids Hope USA Church volunteer mentors and prayer partners shall be added to the mailing list of Kids Hope USA. Periodic communication to these volunteers from Kids Hope USA will affirm their participation in a growing national organization, invite their prayers and other engagement, and occasionally invite them to provide financial support to further expand the mission and work of Kids Hope USA. Kids Hope USA commits to maintaining the privacy of all volunteer information and will not share or sell any volunteer information with/to third parties.