We try to keep things pretty simple in the Safe Place Program. However, we do have a few rules and policies that we require all participants to abide by.
Confidentiality
In order to foster an atmosphere of trust, students must be guaranteed strict confidentiality under any and all circumstances unless explicitly stated otherwise. Please ensure that all students know that they will be treated with confidentiality and respect.
Views on Homosexuality
While we respect the rights of all individuals to have their own viewpoints on homosexuality, we do require anyone displaying a Safe Place logo to be genuinely supportive of GLBT students and committed to their well-being. The Safe Place Program hopes to define itself by offering a message of acceptance to our GLBT students rather than judging their emotional and sexual orientation.
Student Life Agreement
Because the Safe Place Program operates on the campus of Pacific Union College, students should not be encouraged to behave in any way which would violate the college’s Student Life Agreement.
Reparative Therapies
GLBT students are often referred to reparative therapies (also known as conversion or ex-gay therapies) that attempt to change an individual’s sexual orientation. However, these therapies are not only ineffective, they also serve to degrade the emotional and spiritual well-being of the students that we are trying to support. For this reason, we ask that participants refrain from advocating for reparative therapies. (See Mission Impossible: Why Reparative Therapy and Ex-Gay Ministries Fail for more information.)
References
While we aim to be supportive in any way we can, we also recognize that participants are volunteers with limited training in counseling. In the event of problems beyond our competency, we refer students to a professional counselor.
Relationships with Students
We expect all participants to maintain professional levels of conduct. For obvious reasons, romantic or sexual relationships between Safe Place participants and students are strictly prohibited.
