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PPO Administration |
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New
Policy Decisions
PPO
– Addendum Policy #1
Interim
Policy – PPO Prison Committee re. volunteers having ‘access
to inmates’ files’
31,
03, 2003
Situation:
A. We
do feel that there are times when staff chaplains need to
give us information on certain inmates or situations for the
sake of the wellbeing of the inmates (or ourselves).
B on the other
hand,
i) we have no
past precedent re. having access to information on inmates’
files and do not want to set one (reviewing such a file
at the inmate’s request is a different matter, because it
does not break any expectations of confidentiality)
ii) we do not
feel that gaining information (as in A) requires chaplaincy
volunteers having direct or indirect access to inmates’
files - and that the information we get should be offered
as general items of concern on the part of staff chaplains
iii) although
we have not been given a clear statement on CSC policy re
access to files, it has been suggested that it possibly
would only be the ‘contractor’ who might have access, and
not the volunteers.
iv) our
having direct or indirect access to inmates’ files could
be seen, quite understandably on the part of the inmates,
as a breach of the trust that is so important to our work
with them
v) it is
likely that if it is known that this has happened in one
case, the inmates will assume that it has in many (i.e.
their own), and therefore would cause a loss of the specialized
relationship we have with them as ‘not part of the prison
system’.
Therefore,
at the present time, the PPO Prison Committee does not approve
of any of the volunteers working under its name having direct
or indirect access to inmates' files, nor any more information
about individual inmates than raised by discussions with staff
chaplains regarding matters affecting the wellbeing of inmates
or the PPO volunteers.
PPO
– Addendum Policy #2
Clarification
of voting membership in PPO
Situation:
Voting membership in PPO is intended to be for those who are
working in a ministry directly under the auspices of PPO (Elder,
Associate or supervised Visitors).  People
who are interested in pastoral concerns but not directly involved
in them, or actively involved in ministries that are not under
the auspices of PPO, may want to join PPO for the
sake of shared information and connection - especially given
that opportunities for such sharing in the Pagan community
are rare. Such
people are welcome to be members-at-large and participating
in discussions over issues, but as their ministry is not accountable
to PPO, it is not appropriate for them to participate in deciding
directions within PPO.
Minute (February 22, 2004):
Anyone who is interested in Pagan pastoral concerns are welcome
to join PPO, as a member-at-large (no voting status). Voting
members will be limited to those who are active in ministries
directly under the auspices of PPO.
PPO
– Addendum Policy #3
Policy regarding minimum age of
pastoral visitors
Situation: We
recognize the special requirements of pastoral visitation
- in particular, that it is important that 'clients' (whether
inmates, patients, etc.) need to feel assured that their visitor
has the life experience to understand the impact of the crisis
that they are facing. We also recognize that any
formal visit made to an institution, on behalf of PPO, effects
the general reputation of Paganism, and therefore, must be
under the supervision of a PPO Elder or Associate.
Minute
(May 9, 2005) With the above in mind, applicants
for the role of formal PPO pastoral visitor must be at least
25 years of age. This requirement does not
limit a PPO Elder or Associate from including younger people
in their visitation (if appropriate), or casual visitors who
are included to provide a specific skill. However,
such visitors must be accompanied by a PPO Elder or Associate
at all times.
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