As defined by the Bylaws of Breastfeeding USA, all volunteers of Breastfeeding USA agree to follow the Volunteer Expectations Policy as well as following the Code of Ethics. These two components in turn serve the members of this organization by protecting both individual volunteers as well as the integrity and values of Breastfeeding USA as a whole. Protecting the individual and the organization is at the core of the Ethics committee’s efforts.
Purpose
The ethics committee works in a variety of capacities:
- to outline new policies and build human resource infrastructure for Breastfeeding USA
- to mediate conflicts at all levels, as well as between volunteers and non-members
- to respond to complaints or concerns from dissatisfied individuals served by Breastfeeding USA and to provide tools for served members to provide feedback.
- to investigate violations to the Code of Ethics and act on such investigations, in conjunction with the Compliance Officer and Board of Directors as needed
- Provides guidance and structure if a volunteer needs to be removed from a Workgroup
- Provides guidance and structure if a volunteer needs to be removed from Breastfeeding USA entirely.
- Provides support and guidance in other endeavours as identified by the Ethics Committee, another committee or the Board of Directors
- Provides tools for feedback throughout the organization
In addition to the Bylaws, the Ethics Committee’s actions are guided by these organizational documents.
1. The Mission statement
The mission of Breastfeeding USA is to provide evidence-based breastfeeding information and support, and to promote breastfeeding as the biological and cultural norm.
2. The Code of Ethics
1.4 Communication. Participants in Breastfeeding USA will communicate in a manner
that demonstrates honesty, fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for
self and others. Respectful and ethical communication is fundamental for decision
making, for developing relationships, and for enhancing human worth and dignity.
2.9 Volunteers. Volunteers are essential to the mission of Breastfeeding USA.
Individuals in Breastfeeding USA shall honor commitments to each other and shall
maintain communication to ensure the smooth functioning of procedures and services.
2.10 Feedback and Grievances. Breastfeeding USA shall provide resources to deliver
feedback and facilitate filing and resolving grievances.
3. All members of the Ethics Committee shall act within the following guidelines:
- Confidentiality. Discussion and details of Ethics Committee related work are limited only to the members of the Ethics Committee. Records will be kept in a manner to ensure confidentiality among the members of the Ethics Committee and those individuals involved in the situation.
- Fairness. All committee work will be undertaken without bias. Ethics Advisors shall be aware of potential conflicts of interest and pass these situations on to another Advisor.
- Timeliness. A prompt response provides the best opportunity for a
successful outcome. - Free of unfair repercussions. Requesting assistance from the Ethics Committee shall be viewed as a positive step in improving volunteers’ activities and the overall functioning of Breastfeeding USA. Individuals should not experience unfair repercussions or victimization during or after an intervention with the Ethics Committee.
- Any member or volunteer of Breastfeeding USA or any concerned individual outside our organization can contact the ethics committee to request help or to submit feedback. They can do so by emailing ethics@breastfeedingUSA.org, or submitting one of the following forms:
Volunteer requesting assistance:
Member or person outside the organization requesting assistance can email feedback@breastfeedingUSA.org This email will be forwarded to the Compliance Officer.
- Contact the Ethics Committee (ethics@breastfeedingUSA.org) for more information and directions on the following topics:
- Removing a Volunteer from a Committee
- Removing a Volunteer from Breastfeeding USA
- The Ethics Committee will respond to all inquiries within 7 calendar days.
- The Ethics Committee will document all requests and contacts.
-Ethics related emails will be saved in a folder in the Advisor’s breastfeeding USA email.
-Paper records of phone calls will be kept or summarized in either Google drive or email.
-Confidentiality of these records will be maintained
-If a committee member leaves the Ethics Committee during an active case, she can turn over the confidential files to whichever committee member is most appropriate. - The Ethics Committee will report to other individuals in the organization as necessary:
- The Ethics Committee will report to an individual that has been identified by another member of the organization as either being in violation of the Code of Ethics or needing the support of the Ethics Committee.
- The Ethics Committee will report a summary of its activities to the Board of Directors bi-annually. The summary will include-
- number of reported cases and whether they are resolved or unresolved
- number of volunteers removed from a committee and a brief description of the case(s)
- number of volunteers removed from the organization and a brief description of the case(s)
- Any new policies being drafted or that have been approved
- Any new members to the Ethics Committee
- The Ethics Committee may report to the Compliance Officer, Board of Directors or the Grievance Committee for help resolving more complex cases or if there is a conflict of interest between a Committee Member and the individual she is helping.
Ethics Committee Structure:
The Chair of the Ethics Committee is the Compliance Officer from Breastfeeding USA.
The Ethics Workgroup Manager is the lead Ethics Advisor
Workgroup Members are additional Ethics Advisors and may include the Compliance Officer
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