Everything You Need to Serve Effectively
Preparation is a core value at Joining Hands Foundation. These resources provide our volunteers with the knowledge, protocols, and practical tools needed to serve safely, effectively, and with confidence across all six of our community service programs.
Volunteer Orientation Handbook
Every new volunteer receives our comprehensive 42-page orientation handbook at their first training session. The handbook covers the foundation’s mission and organizational structure, code of conduct expectations, mandatory reporting obligations for programs working with minors and vulnerable adults, emergency procedures and chain-of-command protocols, confidentiality requirements for client personal information, liability insurance coverage details and limitations, grievance and conflict resolution procedures, and step-by-step program-specific onboarding checklists.
The handbook is updated annually by our Volunteer Services team in consultation with our legal counsel, insurance provider, and advisory council. All volunteers are required to sign an acknowledgment confirming they have read and understood the handbook contents before beginning active service. Digital copies are distributed via email at orientation, and printed copies are available at our River Park headquarters upon request. Returning volunteers receive an annual update memo highlighting any policy changes from the previous edition.
Handbook Contents
- Chapter 1: Welcome & Mission Overview
- Chapter 2: Code of Conduct & Ethics Standards
- Chapter 3: Mandatory Reporting Obligations
- Chapter 4: Background Check & Screening Process
- Chapter 5: Emergency Procedures & Safety Protocols
- Chapter 6: Confidentiality & Data Protection
- Chapter 7: Insurance Coverage & Liability
- Chapter 8: Grievance & Conflict Resolution
- Chapter 9: Program-Specific Onboarding Checklists
- Appendix: Forms, Contact Directory & Emergency Numbers
Background Check FAQ
Background screening is an essential safety measure that protects the vulnerable populations we serve. Here is what volunteers should know about our screening process.
Who is required to complete a background check?
All volunteers age 18 and older who will have direct contact with minors (Youth Tutoring program), vulnerable adults (Senior Companion program), or who will operate in unsupervised settings are required to complete a DOJ/FBI LiveScan background check. Volunteers for Habitat Restoration, Food Distribution warehouse shifts, and Corporate Service Day participants in supervised group settings may be exempt depending on their role assignment. Your program coordinator will confirm your specific requirements at orientation.
What does the background check include?
Our standard screening includes California Department of Justice criminal history check, FBI national criminal history check via LiveScan fingerprinting, National Sex Offender Public Website registry check, and Social Security number trace for address history verification. For Disaster Response Corps members, we additionally verify identity documents for FEMA access credentialing. All screenings are processed through IdentoGO by IDEMIA, California’s authorized LiveScan vendor.
How long does the process take?
Most DOJ results return within 3 to 5 business days. FBI results typically take 5 to 10 business days. In rare cases involving out-of-state records or name-based checks, processing may take up to 21 business days. Volunteers may begin orientation and training during the processing period but cannot begin unsupervised service until clearance is confirmed.
Is there a cost to the volunteer?
No. Joining Hands Foundation covers the full cost of all required background checks, currently $49 for the combined DOJ/FBI LiveScan. This cost is included in our program budgets and is funded through our general operating grants and individual donations. Volunteers are never asked to pay for screening.
Training & Orientation Calendar
All orientation and training sessions are free and open to prospective volunteers. Registration is recommended but not required unless noted.
General Volunteer Orientation
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM • River Park Community Center • All programs overview, onboarding paperwork, coordinator introductions. Refreshments provided.
Food Distribution Orientation
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • JHF Warehouse, North Sacramento • Food handling safety, cold chain protocols, shift scheduling.
Youth Tutoring Orientation & Training
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM • Meadowview Community Center • Full-day training including tutoring methodology, mandatory reporter certification, and cultural competency.
Senior Companion Orientation
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • JHF Headquarters, River Park • Elder care sensitivity training, companionship visit protocols, technology tutorial basics.
Disaster Response CERT Training (Day 1 of 3)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM • Sacramento County OES Training Center • 8-hour CERT Module 1: Disaster Preparedness & Fire Safety. Pre-registration required.
Habitat Restoration Project Day
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM • American River Parkway, Watt Avenue Access • Native plant installation, invasive species removal. On-site orientation for new volunteers. Gloves and tools provided.
Personal Disaster Kit Essentials
Based on FEMA Ready.gov guidelines and our 47 deployment experiences, every household should maintain a 72-hour disaster preparedness kit containing these minimum supplies:
- One gallon of water per person per day (3-day minimum supply)
- Non-perishable food supply for 72 hours plus manual can opener
- Battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio
- Flashlight with extra batteries and chemical light sticks
- Complete first aid kit with 30-day prescription medication supply
- Copies of critical documents in waterproof container
- Local area map with marked evacuation routes and rally points
- Multi-tool, duct tape, plastic sheeting, work gloves
- Whistle for signaling, dust masks, and moist towelettes
- Cash in small bills and prepaid phone card
Disaster Preparedness Guide
Sacramento County faces a range of natural hazard risks including river flooding, wildfire smoke events, extreme heat emergencies, and seismic activity. Joining Hands Foundation publishes this disaster preparedness resource guide to help community members, volunteer responders, and partner organizations prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. The guide is developed in collaboration with Sacramento County Office of Emergency Services, the American Red Cross Capital Region Chapter, and our Disaster Response Corps advisory team.
Effective disaster preparedness begins at the household level. Every household should establish a family emergency communication plan identifying at least two out-of-area contacts, a local meeting point, and an out-of-neighborhood meeting point. Practice evacuation routes from your home quarterly. Know your nearest emergency shelter locations by checking the Red Cross shelter finder at redcross.org. Register for Sacramento County emergency alerts through the Sacramento Alert system to receive real-time notifications by phone, text, and email during active emergencies.
Group Leader Toolkit
Resources for crew leaders, team captains, and program coordinators managing volunteer groups in the field.
Safety Briefing Template
Standardized five-minute safety briefing script covering site hazards, emergency contacts, first aid kit location, buddy system protocols, and weather contingency procedures. Customizable fields for site-specific information. Required before every project day and service shift.
Volunteer Hour Tracking Sheet
Printable sign-in and sign-out sheets for documenting volunteer hours during service events. Includes fields for volunteer name, program assignment, arrival and departure times, supervisor signature, and notes. Completed sheets are submitted to the Volunteer Services office within 48 hours of the event for entry into our impact tracking database.
Incident Report Form
Standardized incident documentation form for recording injuries, near-misses, property damage, behavioral concerns, or any event requiring follow-up. Group leaders are trained to complete these during orientation. All incidents must be reported to the program coordinator within 24 hours regardless of severity.
Ready to Get Started?
Register for our next volunteer orientation to receive your handbook, begin the onboarding process, and meet your program coordinator.
Register for Orientation →