At this point, your program’s guidance and touch policy probably feels very familiar to you. You might even take it for granted. It can be a very valuable exercise to focus on reading and reflecting on the policy and what it means for your staff members. Get a copy of your program’s policy. Read it carefully. Then answer the questions below. Use this time to think about common concerns you experience about staff members’ guidance practices. Think about how you typically respond and how you might respond to situations you have not encountered yet. Begin to think about how you can promote positive guidance in your program. You will learn more about this in the next course.

1. Are there parts of the policy that staff members tend to struggle with? Why? Under what circumstances?
    
2. What support or training do you think staff members will need to follow the policy? Think about new staff and seasoned staff.
    
3. How do the supports you provide differ if a new staff member violates a policy versus a seasoned staff member?
    
4. Are there things you don’t know about the policy? For example, are there any “gray areas” or inconsistencies that you have a hard time discussing with staff? What would make things clearer for you?