Community Care Standards

At Antara Pathways, Inc., we are committed to creating safe, respectful, and inclusive spaces for clients, families,
volunteers, staff, and partners. These standards express how we treat one another and the communities we serve.

Last updated: November 1, 2025

Guiding Principles

• Dignity & Autonomy: We honor each person’s choices, culture, beliefs, and self-expression.
• Compassion & Presence: We meet people where they are with patience, humility, and care.
• Equity & Access: We remove barriers and prioritize those most impacted by poverty and marginalization.
• Cultural Humility: We listen first, avoid assumptions, and adapt care to each person’s context.
• Trauma-Informed Practice: We emphasize safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and choice.
• Confidentiality: We protect the privacy of all clients, families, and volunteers.

Community Expectations

• Respectful Communication: Use person-first language; avoid slurs, stigmatizing terms, or coercion.
• Consent-Based Interactions: Ask before touch, photos, recording, or sharing any personal information.
• Boundaries: Maintain professional, compassionate boundaries; do not offer medical or legal advice unless qualified/authorized.
• No Harassment: Zero tolerance for harassment, discrimination, bullying, or retaliation.
• Reliability: Be punctual; communicate cancellations or concerns as early as possible.
• Substance Use: Come to service sober and unimpaired; follow facility/hospice rules at all times.

Accessibility & Accommodations

• We provide accommodations upon request (ASL/interpretation, plain-language materials, sensory-aware options, mobility-friendly setups).
• Language access is available; we strive to provide interpreters and translated materials as needed.
• Virtual participation options are offered whenever feasible.

Confidentiality & Privacy

• Personal information shared in sessions, groups, or services is treated as confidential.
• Do not record, photograph, or share any identifying details without explicit, informed consent.
• Store documents securely; only authorized personnel may access client records.
• Follow all Antara policies and applicable laws regarding data privacy and recordkeeping.

For website data practices, please see our Privacy Policy.

Non-Discrimination

Antara Pathways does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation,
national origin, immigration status, age, disability (physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental, psychiatric), neurodivergence,
veteran status, family or marital status, or any other status protected by law. We welcome all faiths and none, all cultures, and all
identities, including LGBTQ+ and non-traditional kinship structures.

Safety & Reporting

• Immediate Danger: Call 911 first. Notify Antara staff as soon as practical.
• Concerns & Incidents: Report safety concerns, policy violations, or boundary issues to your program lead or Contact Us.
• Mandatory Reporting: Volunteers and staff must follow all applicable mandatory-reporting laws (e.g., suspected abuse, neglect, threats of harm).

Scope of Support & Boundaries

• Volunteers offer non-medical, non-legal support (comfort measures, presence, education, navigation, rituals, recording legacies).
• Do not provide clinical counseling, medical advice, diagnostics, or legal counsel unless credentialed and authorized by Antara.
• Coordinate with hospice/healthcare teams; follow facility rules and professional instructions at all times.

Consent & Media

• Obtain explicit, informed consent before touch, rituals, recording, photography, or sharing stories.
• For Legacy Recording, secure written consent that outlines how recordings will be stored, shared, and accessed.
• Do not post client information on social media or personal sites.

Feedback & Grievances

We encourage feedback. If you experience harm or feel a boundary has been crossed, please tell us so we can respond.

• Talk with your program lead or facilitator.
• Use our Contact page to submit a concern in writing.
• We will acknowledge receipt, review the concern, and follow up with next steps.

Acknowledgment

Participation in Antara programs signifies your agreement to follow these Community Care Standards.
Thank you for helping us create spaces of dignity, safety, and love.