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  Step 3: Complete the forms and send them to CHADD National

Avoiding Real or Perceived Conflict of Interest

As policy, CHADD does not endorse products, services, publications, medications or treatments.  CHADD’s staff and volunteers strive to avoid any situation or communication that could be construed as a conflict of interest, where we appear to be favoring or endorsing any product or service for gain.  As a nonprofit advocacy group we are always under a great deal of scrutiny by members of the public and even the Internal Revenue Service.  CHADD has an official policy on Conflict of Interest that is important for every volunteer to read and follow.  In addition, this document is a short list of Do’s and Don’ts to help you manage the day to day implementation of the policy.

DOs

1.  At every meeting and in notices when appropriate, always state or use the following disclaimer statement. 

“This ADHD Support Group does not endorse any product, service, publication, medication or treatment.”

In order to make this a regular and automatic function we suggest the following:

a.    All sign in sheets should include the disclaimer at the top.

b.    Get a sign made that you can post at every meeting.

c.    Verbally remind meeting participants as part of your regular introduction at the beginning of every meeting.

d.    Include this statement at every Board meeting to keep all board members focused on the maintaining an affiliate that is free of conflict of interest.

e.    Make this your mantra!

2.  Do give guidance to all your volunteers.

If you are using the disclaimer language on a regular basis, then this will be familiar to all your volunteers.  It is your job to ensure each volunteer understands what it means, and to address any possible conflict early on.

3.  Do give guidance to all speakers on conflict of interest.  When a speaker comes to give a presentation at a meeting, they are doing so as a volunteer, not to promote their services or products.  Help them to understand that there is a firewall in place.  Do this when you first ask a speaker to volunteer, not just before they speak at the meeting.

a. Speakers may not promote their practice, books, products, medications, etc.   A speaker may put brochures or flyers in the back of the room for information dissemination.  It is important to separate these activities.

b. If an author is speaking and wants to sell his books, he/she may not promote the book while speaking.  But the books may be sold at a table in the back of the room, or even better in the hall outside your meeting room.  Once again we are separating the activities.

c. If you have a speaker on an alternative, complementary or unproven approach to the treatment of AD/HD, the coordinator has a responsibility to make the following statement at the beginning of the presentation:

“CHADD disseminates information about treatments of AD/HD that are supported by a body of research demonstrating effectiveness.  There are many complementary or alternative treatments that do not yet have a body of research studies supporting them.  Our presentation today is on a topic that fits in that category.  If you would like more information on Alternative and Complementary Treatments, please check out the National Resource Center on ADHD for more information. 

All 'What We Know' on this site are statements on the science of AD/HD and are developed by the consensus of CHADD’s National Professional Advisory Board”

4.  Do ask for guidance from the national office.

Sometimes it is tricky to sort out what may or may not be conflict of interest.  PLEASE ASK US!   

DON’T’S

While all of the above will help you avoid situations of conflict of interest, there are also a number of things that a CHADD coordinator or volunteer should never do.   Please be sure your volunteers are also aware of the DON’T’S.

1.  Don’t ever use contact information for any activity related to a business in which you have a financial interest.  This would include promoting a health care practice, a coaching business, or a publication.

2.  Don’t ever share contact information with other individuals or groups, including other organizations that may address ADHD related issues.  Any volunteer who has access to the data base must sign a confidentiality agreement. 

3.  Don’t ever use your volunteer status with CHADD for any activities or correspondence that is not a CHADD related function.  Do not list CHADD Volunteer on a business card unless you are using this ONLY for CHADD functions.  Your work with CHADD should not be included on any business website, brochures, or other communications related to the business.

4.  Don’t guess.  If you are not sure about potential conflict of interest always ask.  Contact us and we will provide guidance.

STATEMENT OF POLICY

No support group facilitator shall allow his or her personal, financial, business or other concerns of an organizational decision-maker to influence any organizational decision in a manner not related to the organization’s best interests.

1. No CHADD volunteer shall use his or her position, or the knowledge gained therefrom, in such a manner that a conflict between the interest of the organization or any of its affiliates and his/or her personal interests arises.
2. No CHADD volunteer shall act in a manner in which his or her actions give the appearance of exercising inappropriate influence for the purpose of advancing his or her own personal interests or financial, business or personal gain.
3. No CHADD volunteermay obtain for themselves, their relatives, or their friends a material interest of any kind from their association with an organization.
4. If a CHADD volunteer has an interest in a proposed transaction with the organization in the form of a significant personal financial interest in the transaction or in any organization involved in the transaction, or holds a position as a trustee, director or officer in any such organization, he or she must make full disclosure of such interest before any discussion or negotiation of such transaction.
5. Any CHADD volunteer who is aware of a potential conflict of interest with respect to any matter coming before the group shall recuse himself or herself from voting on such matters and, as appropriate, refrain from participation in relevant portion of the meeting.
6. At all times CHADD volunteers shall take steps to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.

DISCLOSURE AND OVERSIGHT

1. CHADD volunteers of the organization will submit annually a disclosure form and, if not previously disclosed, will make disclosure of actual or potential conflicts of interests (form provided below.
2. These reports will be reviewed by the affiliate services department, which will attempt to resolve any actual or potential conflict(s) and, in the absence of such resolution, refer the matter to CHADD’s legal counsel.