Whistleblower Policy

Families to Freedom requires directors, officers, employees, and volunteers to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As volunteers and representatives of the Families to Freedom, we must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling our responsibilities and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Reporting Responsibility

This Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage and enable volunteers and others to raise serious concerns internally so that Families to Freedom can address and correct inappropriate conduct and actions. It is the responsibility of all board members, officers, employees and volunteers to report concerns about violations of Families to Freedom’s code of ethics or suspected violations of law or regulations that govern Families to Freedom’s operations.

No Retaliation

It is contrary to the values of Families to Freedom for anyone to retaliate against any board member, officer, employee or volunteer who in good faith reports an ethics violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as a complaint of discrimination, or suspected fraud, or suspected violation of any regulation governing the operations of Families to Freedom. A representative who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.

Reporting Procedure

Families to Freedom has an open door policy and suggests that volunteers share their questions, concerns, suggestions or complaints with their supervisor or the Executive Director. If you are not comfortable speaking with your supervisor or you are not satisfied with your supervisor’s response, you are encouraged to speak with any member of the Leadership Team including the Board of Directors, Advisory Council, or Committee Leaders. Recipients of a claim are required to report complaints or concerns about suspected ethical and legal violations in writing to Families to Freedom’s Co-Chair or Treasurer who have the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints. The Leadership member who receives a claim is responsible for ensuring that all complaints about unethical or illegal conduct are investigated and resolved.

Recipient of a claim will advise the Executive Director and/or the Board of Directors of all complaints and their resolution at least quarterly.

Accounting and Auditing Matters

The Families to Freedoms representative shall immediately notify the Treasurer or Co-Chair of any concerns or complaint regarding corporate accounting practices, internal controls or auditing and work with the committee until the matter is resolved.

Acting in Good Faith

Anyone filing a written complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

Confidentiality

Violations or suspected violations may be submitted on a confidential basis by the complainant. Reports of violations or suspected violations will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.

Handling of Reported Violations

The Families to Freedom’s representative will notify the person who submitted a complaint and acknowledge receipt of the reported violation or suspected violation. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted by the investigation.

Incident Report

Families to Freedom accepts and investigates allegations of suspicious or malicious activity by volunteers, staff and committee members where Families to Freedom is potentially a target of wrongdoing. In order to undertake investigations with adequate cause, we need as much evidence as possible to corroborate any allegation(s) such as documents, witnesses, and other relevant and specific information. Access an incident report and instructions for how to submit a claim here. An email to Investigations@FamiliestoFreedom.org does not go to the inbox of the Executive Director.