Behavior & Discipline Policy
Praise and positive reinforcement are effective methods of the behavior management of children. When children receive positive, nonviolent, and understanding interactions from adults and others, they develop good self-concepts, problem-solving abilities, and self-discipline. Based on this belief of how children learn and develop values, this organization will practice the following discipline and behavior management policy:
We DO
DO praise, reward, and encourage the children
DO reason with and set limits for the children
DO model appropriate behavior for the children
DO listen to the children
DO explain things to children on their level
DO use short supervised periods of “time-out”
DO stay consistent in our behavior management program
Involve the children in the development of the “house rules”
Maintain consistent behavior expectations and reinforce Seeds of Hope core values
Guide children by setting clear, consistent, fair limits for program behavior
Use natural and logical consequences
Redirect children to a more acceptable behavior or activity
Use positive reinforcement, including a positive behavior recognition program
Make eye contact and listen when children talk about their feelings and frustrations
Guide children to resolve their own conflicts through the use of conflict resolution skills
Use effective praise that is immediate, sincere, and specific
Modify and structure the environment to attempt to prevent problems before they occur
We DO NOT
DO NOT spank, shake, bite, pinch, push, pull, slap, or otherwise physically punish the children
DO NOT make fun of, yell at, threaten, make sarcastic remarks about, use profanity, or otherwise verbally abuse the children
DO NOT shame or punish the children when bathroom accidents occur
DO NOT deny food or rest as punishment
DO NOT relate discipline to eating, resting, or sleeping
DO NOT leave the children alone, unattended, or without supervision
DO NOT place the children in locked rooms, closets, or boxes as punishment
DO NOT allow discipline of children by children
DO NOT criticize, make fun of, or otherwise belittle children’s parents, families, or ethnic groups
Consequences & Interventions
Verbal warning: camper is called out on their actions & given a warning before another action is taken.
Relocate: camper changes seat or moves away from peers.
Discussion: private talk with the camper (but with another adult).
Time-out: camper sits alone away from activities for a timed amount.
Silent Lunch: camper has silent lunch at a separate table as well as 10 minutes of lunch detail.
Apology letter/Behavior Contract: Make campers accountable for their misdeeds by requiring them to write an apology letter/sign a behavior contract. Apology letters are particularly useful if a child insults or injures another camper. When a camper’s misbehavior requires an apology, pull them aside and discuss the incident with them. Help the camper empathize with the person who was hurt by their misbehavior. Once the camper has realized the implications of their wrong-doing, ask them to compose a sincere apology letter. Read the letter once the camper completes it and give it to the victim of their misbehavior if it is adequately sincere. A behavior contract gives the camper ownership of the behavior and their buy-in to correct the problem.
Camper calls home: Keep parents informed of camper misbehavior throughout the week. By calling home when a camper misbehaves, you accomplish two things at once. First, you inform the parent of the pattern of misbehavior their child is exhibiting. Secondly, you make the camper accountable for their actions. When a camper misbehaves, take them aside and call their parents. Explain to the parent what the child did, and allow the parent to speak to the child. Often, this small parent intervention is enough to get campers back on track and ensure that they are on their best behavior for the remainder of camp.
Loss of fun time/In Camp Suspension: One of the most common, and easiest punishments to implement, is to deny the offender all or part of their free time or desired activity time. Inform camper if they disrupt camp through misbehavior, they could lose some valuable time with their friends and counselors. While campers may not initially believe that you will take their free time, they will quickly learn that you are serious as you deduct minutes from their individual or group fun times such as:
Lose “free play” minutes
Lose track time
Lose Friday “fun day” time
Volunteer staff leader calls home: Call home and explain the misbehavior of the child and what changes you would like to see with their behavior. Have documentation of their behavior so that you can provide the parent/guardian with accurate details. Please be polite and always approach parents from the point of view that you are working together with them.
Administrator Referral: Three administrator referrals in any camp week will result in the suspension of the child for the remainder of the week at the end of the day of the third write-up. The parent/guardian is responsible for contacting the program director, Jana Elliott, to set up an appointment to discuss the child’s behavior. If the child is reinstated and then receives a fourth behavior write-up, the site director will suspend the child immediately. If necessary, the parent will be notified they need to pick up the child. Upon the fourth report, the child will be terminated without the right of reinstatement.
Suspension: Serious behavior problems will result in immediate suspension from the program.
With each out-of-camp suspension, parents or guardians will be notified prior to suspension.
A parent/guardian conference with the camp administrator, Jana Elliott, will be held prior to suspension from the program. The conference, or notification, can be held by phone upon request of the parent/guardian.
All disciplinary actions are cumulative for the entire program year.
Termination: The Seeds of Hope program cannot serve children who display chronically disruptive behavior. Chronically disruptive behavior is defined as verbal or physical activity which may include, but is not limited to, the following:
Behavior that requires constant attention from the staff,
Behavior that inflicts physical or emotional harm on other children or self,
Behavior that abuses the staff and/or ignores or disobeys the rules.
BULLYING POLICY
Bullying is inexcusable, and we have a firm policy against all types of bullying. Each program participant and staff member is expected to treat all other participants with respect, and to help each other achieve the best possible experience. If a participant has difficulty meeting this expectation, parents/guardians may be called upon to assist. Our leadership takes all incidents of bullying seriously and trains staff to promote communication amongst themselves and the participants in their charge. We work together as a team to ensure that participants gain self-confidence, make new friends, and go home with a positive program experience.
INAPPROPRIATE INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR
Participants and staff shall conduct their personal and social relationships according to acceptable community standards. Inappropriate public displays of affection, as determined by the camp director, will not be allowed.
CODE OF COMMUNITY
We expect campers and staff to act respectfully at all times when they are participating in our programs. Campers are to behave in a mature, responsible way and respect the rights and dignity of others.
Alternative discipline plan
There are specific behaviors that fall under the following alternative discipline plan due to the type of offense and potential threat to the well-being of Seeds of Hope participants and staff. These offenses and their consequences are addressed below.
Fighting/Physical Assault: Seeds of Hope participants shall not cause or attempt to cause physical or bodily harm to any other participant or staff member at any time while participating in a Seeds of Hope sponsored activity or when the participant’s behavior has a direct and immediate effect on maintaining order and discipline and protecting the safety and welfare of campers and staff.
Consequences-Elementary In accordance with Consequences and Interventions set forth in the above discipline plan. Three or more offenses will result in out-of-camp suspension. 1 to 10 days out of camp suspension with the possibility of long-term program suspension. Law enforcement will be contacted based on the severity of the offense.
Consequences-Middle School+ 10 days out of camp suspension with the possibility of long-term program suspension. Law enforcement will be contacted based on the severity of the offense.
Disrespect or Aggressive Behavior to others: Participants shall respect other persons by utilizing appropriate language and behaviors at all times. Any action which is insulting, physically aggressive, abusive, harassing, profane, obscene, or seriously disrespectful and which disrupts the enjoyment and learning environment or which demeans or degrades another person is specifically prohibited. In addition, any act of retaliation against an individual for reporting insulting, abusive, or harassing actions is expressly prohibited.
Consequences-Elementary In accordance with Consequences and Interventions set forth in the above discipline plan. Three or more offenses will result in out-of-camp suspension.
Consequences-Middle School+
1st Offense –1 Day In Camp Suspension
2nd Offense –1 Day Out of Camp Suspension
3rd Offense –3 Days Out of Camp Suspension
4th Offense –Expulsion from Camp for Remainder of Program Year.
Bus/Van Misbehavior: At all times while riding in a vehicle or Heroes Helping Heroes-owned or operated vehicle, participants shall observe the directives of the vehicle driver and/or vehicle safety monitor. The following conduct is specifically prohibited and may result in revocation of transportation privileges provided by Heroes Helping Heroes: delaying the bus schedule; fighting, smoking, using profanity or refusing to obey the driver’s instructions; tampering with or willfully damaging the vehicle; getting off at an unauthorized stop; distracting the driver’s attention by participating in disruptive behavior while the vehicle is in operation; throwing objects from the vehicle; failing to observe and obey safety regulations; willfully trespassing on a Heroes Helping Heroes-owned or operated vehicle; or violating any other Code of Conduct rule while on the vehicle.
Consequences-All Participants
1st Offense –Warning
2nd Offense – 1 Day Off Vehicle
3rd Offense – 3 Days Off Vehicle
4th Offense –5 Days Off Vehicle
5th Offense – Expulsion from Camp for Remainder of Summer
Prohibition of the Use of Portable Electronic Devices by ALL Participants: Use of any Portable Electronic Device, including but not limited to cellular phones, digital cameras, and iPods, during the mentor or camp day is strictly prohibited. No participant shall use, display, transmit or have in the “on” position any wireless communication device or personal entertainment device during the camp day. Participants and their parent(s)/guardian(s) are solely responsible for any loss or damage to their portable radio, tape recorders, tape/CD/DVD players, cell phone, or any other similar electronic equipment while it is in their care, custody or control. Heroes Helping Heroes accepts no responsibility for theft, loss, or damage to a camper’s personal electronic equipment.
Consequences-All Participants
1st Offense – Warning. Camper may pick up the device at the end of the day
2nd Offense –Warning. The parent must pick up the device at the end of the day
3rd Offense — In-Camp Suspension (loss of fun time) and parent must pick up the device at the end of the day
Any subsequent infractions will result in confiscation of the electronic device and/or loss of a camp privilege. Out-of-Camp Suspension may ultimately be required. The decision will be made at the discretion of the camp director.
Mandatory Reporting to Law Enforcement of Certain Offenses
All Seeds of Hope staff must report immediately to law enforcement agencies the following acts:
Assault resulting in serious bodily injury or involving the use of a weapon
Rape
Sexual assault or sexual offense
Assault on school personnel
False report concerning destructive devices (bomb threat)
Kidnapping
Indecent liberties with a minor
Possession of a firearm or powerful explosive
Possession of a weapon
Possession of a controlled substance or alcoholic beverage
Death
Burning of a school building
Making a bomb threat or engaging in a bomb hoax
Appropriate Use of Physical Restraint/Seclusion/Time-Out
The two goals that these administrative procedures enforce, only after less intrusive methods have been attempted or considered are:
1To administer a physical restraint only when needed to protect a camper or member of the program community from imminent, serious physical harm: and,
To prevent or minimize any harm to the participant as the result of the use of physical restraint.
Physical Restraint may be defined as “the use of bodily physical force to limit a participant’s freedom of movement.” and describes the following situations in which restraint or reasonable force could be used to remove a person from the scene:
To maintain order or prevent or break up a fight;
To obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects on the person or within the control of the person;
For self-defense;
To ensure the safety of any person present; to teach a skill, to calm or comfort a participant, or prevent self-injurious behaviors.
To escort a camper safely from one area to another.
As provided in a camper’s IEP or Section 504 plan or behavior intervention plan.
As needed to prevent imminent destruction to school or another person’s property.
If a child cannot adjust to the program setting and behave appropriately, the child may not be able to return to the program. Reasonable efforts will be made to assist children in adjusting to the program setting.