Volunteer Screening Policy

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Special Olympics Maryland. Our athletes are clearly why we exist, but our volunteers are how we exist. We hope that you will decide to join us in fulfilling our mission of providing outstanding Special Olympics sports training and competition opportunities to children and adults with intellectual disabilities throughout Maryland .

Our objective is to provide a safe environment for Special Olympics athletes, volunteers, staff and spectators. Not everyone is well suited to the Special Olympics environment. Although Special Olympics wants to include as many volunteers as possible in its activities, the organization will continue to do its best to protect the well being of all participants.

In accordance with the Special Olympics Inc. Volunteer Screening Policy, Special Olympics Maryland requires that all prospective volunteers :

• Attend a General Orientation and Protective Behaviors session. This session is the nuts and bolts of the organization. It includes a look at the history, our constituency, the sports and training side of SOMD, challenges of the organization, appropriate interactions with athletes and current initiatives.
• Complete a Volunteer Application (application will be provided at the General Orientation session). Signing the Volunteer Application authorizes a criminal background screening, which is required for any adult volunteer who has direct contact with our athletes (including adult Unified Partners). The background screening is limited to criminal history and, in certain cases, motor vehicle operation records.
• Provide the following information when completing the Volunteer Application and attending a General Orientation: Social Security Number and Date of Birth; Contact information for 2 non-family references (Student/Minor volunteers must use the Student/Minor Reference Form); Photo identification (driver’s license or United States Government issued photo identification card)

Special Olympics Maryland contracts with a national investigative consumer reporting agency to conduct the background screenings, using a screening program available only to qualified nonprofit organizations. The background screening program attempts to identify people who may pose a danger or threat to Special Olympics athletes and other participants.

Thank you again for your interest in Special Olympics Maryland. We look forward to welcoming eligible volunteers into our program. We hope you will have an excellent experience volunteering with our organization and serving our athletes.

Sincerely,

Patricia Krebs, Ph.D.

President and CEO