• Introduction
• Chatrooms
• Disruptive Behavior
• Consideration for Reinstatement

Introduction 
Adoption Triad Outreach is a support group dedicated to all members of the adoption triad - adoptees, birthfamilies, adoptive families, and all those touched by adoption, who are seeking information, healing, support, and the truth about their heritage and birthright. In our efforts to bring a peaceful-supportive environment within our chatrooms, we have initiated these Codes of Conduct.

While we set the standards for what is acceptable in the Adoption Triad Outreach chat rooms, Discussion Boards and Reunion Registry, we must all take responsibility for the quality of our experience. In this spirit, we have drawn up some guidelines to help everyone understand what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.

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CHAT ROOMS

• Searchers seeking clients

• Adoptive Parents seeking to adopt

• Birth Parents seeking to place

• Adoption Triad Outreach does NOT perform searches.

• Adoption Triad Outreach, in accordance with it's own guidelines will not tolerate harassment of any type with in the chat rooms.  This includes but is not limited to any type or form of abuse, hatred, bigotry or threats of harm. 

• Adoption Triad Outreach does not allow defamatory comments or abusive behavior.

• Sexually explicit conversations or nicknames are unacceptable.

• Adoption Triad Outreach does not allow it's participants to use multiple nicknames in its chat rooms. 
  

If a chat participant changes his or her nickname, either on a permanent or temporary basis, it is their responsibility to advise the staff and those who participate in the ATO chat rooms of the original nickname and the change in status until such time as this become common knowledge. A temporary nickname change, due to technical difficulties, must also be made known to staff and chat participants. This may be done by email, in the chat rooms or both. Advising people in a private chat aka 1-1 or whisper is unacceptable as this announcement does not make the nickname change common knowledge. If there are circumstances where an individual feels that making a nickname change common knowledge would place that individual in danger, i.e.: if the person is being stalked, this should be brought to the attention of the ATO Staff and the circumstances will be handled on an individual basis. The use of multiple nick names, without following the stipulations within this Code Of Conduct, is a immediate permanent bannable offense in that using a fictitious nik name can be deemed an intentional deception upon the ATO staff and any and all persons participating in the chat room.

• When participating in scheduled chats please stay on topic and accept the guidance of the Staff. Courtesy and mutual respect for others are expected from all participants. Adoption Triad Outreach encourages all users to attack the issue, not the person!

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Disruptive Behavior

 Disruptive behavior WILL NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES be tolerated. 

• Disruptive behavior consists of causing disharmony within the chat room, argumentative or inappropriate actions or words, failure to abide by staff instructions and or disrespect for any individual or group in the room including staff.
  

  • Should a question arise in the room as to what constitutes disruptive behavior, the staff present in the room at that time will make the final determination as to whether or not an action or behavior is disruptive and what action should be taken.

• Adoption Triad Outreach encourages passionate discussion and acknowledges the right of all users to voice their opinions, so long as it does now cause a disruption. Should an individual or group cause a disruption in the chatroom or fail to abide by the ATO Code of Conduct, the ATO staff will eject that individual or group of individuals.
  

• ATO has always maintained the 3-strike rule. That being, if an individual is kicked from the chat room 3 times, then a permanent ban is implemented. Should an individual cause a major infraction of the code of conduct the 3-strike rule will be withdrawn and the person will be permanently banned.. (See Implementation for consideration of Reinstatement below.)

However, A staff member also has the option of issuing a temporary ban This is different from a permanent ban in that it is in effect for only 24 hours to allow for a cooling off period. If an individual is uncertain if the ban implemented was permanent or temporary, they need to contact ATO Senior Staff.

• Courtesy and mutual respect for others are expected from all participants.
  

• Failure to adhere to the standards of the Adoption Triad Outreach Code Of Conduct, could result in a permanent banning from the use of the chat rooms within ATO. Adoption Triad Outreach encourages all users to attack the issue, not the person!
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  Consideration for Reinstatement  

Once an individual has been permanently banned by any ATO Staff , the following guidelines apply to those who wish to be considered for reinstatement.

The Individual that has been banned for cause must:

• Apply in writing to the Adoption Triad Outreach Senior Staff as to the reasons the reinstatement should be considered.

• Wait for an Adoption Triad Outreach Staff Representative to make contact.

• Refrain from entering the Adoption Triad Outreach chat room using your user name and/or an alternative name.

The Senior Staff may be contacted by going to the ATO staff page and emailing your request to any of the Senior Staff.

The Senior Staff will:

• Present the request to the staff at the next regular scheduled staff meeting.

• Make notification of the Vote/Decision of the staff available immediately to the applicant.

The Staff Will:

• Decide if it should be brought to an Arbitration Committee.

• Elect an ATO Arbitration Committee at that time.

The Arbitration Committee shall:

• Consist of 3 Staff members and 1 Senior Staff.
  (The Senior Staff member shall not vote and act as an observer only.)

• Remain anonymous to everyone but the Founders.

• Be elected by a anonymous vote.  All ballets will be sent to the Founders in secrecy.

• Be instructed not to tell anyone including other Staff, and Friends their identity or that they served on the committee.

Senior Staff will contact each committee member selected by staff's vote and inform them they have been voted to be on the committee. 

EMAIL ADDRESS

• An email address will be set up specifically for communication with the person in question and any of the Senior Staff.

• Once the committee has all been notified, they will be given complete access to the email program. 

• At which point, no further communication as it pertains to the arbitration will be conducted via email from any personal email program or web based email program.

• The decision of the committee will be sent to the Senior Staff.

• The password will be changed after each committee has been elected.

Arbitration Room

• Will be set up for the meeting with the person or persons in question.

• Staff and Senior Staff members serving on the Committee will be logged into the room as 

  • Staff1

  • Staff2

  • Staff3

  • Staff4

The arbitration committee will then consider the formal request.

Upon due consideration of the request, the committee will investigate all pertinent information which may include an interview of the applicant.

The arbitration committee will then present the findings to the Founders by the next staff meeting.

A representative of the Senior Staff will make notification of the vote available immediately to the applicant.

Once a person has been banned and reinstated, future requests for reinstatement will not be considered. 

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