Health Care Facility Collaboration
Member Organizations must work in collaboration with healthcare facility administrations and provide a schedule for visits as well as feedback on their work. Clowns are compliant with all health and safety regulations in the healthcare facility where they exercise their profession. Clowns will respect the healthcare site’s code of conduct and code of ethics including confidentiality and discretion.

Providing Services to Care Institutions and Professional Conduct
The purpose of the clowns’ visit is to improve the quality of life and well being of children, adults, elders and their families including other vulnerable and sick people within a health care environment. The clown will not accept any gratuities for their work or enter into any commercial or promotional activity within the health care unit other than that sanctioned by the Member Organization. The clown will not enter into a personal relationship with any participant or family member outside of the artist's professional activities.

Relationship with Healthcare Staff
Clowns must at all times respect the work of healthcare staff. Clowns must not perform any task within the healthcare environment while engaged as healthcare clowns other than the artistic activities that they have been hired to perform by the organization. Clowns will not enter into any discussions or take sides in controversies within the healthcare facility, complaints about service or problems between hospital personnel.

Health and Safety
All artists must abide by the hygiene and infection control procedures of the health care unit. The safety of participants is paramount and artists must not engage in an activity that may put a participant or family member into any physical or psychological danger or harm.

Confidentiality and Discretion
Clowns must respect the privacy of patients and their families and maintain professional discretion and confidentiality (without prejudice to appropriate communication with healthcare staff). Confidential information includes anything that has been explicitly communicated, as well as things seen, read, heard, or understood concerning the patients' state of health. The clown will also not disclose the identity of participants or any information contained in their medical records unless written permission is given. Discretion is mandatory in all locations: inside and outside the hospital and other healthcare institutions (elevators, dressing or locker rooms, and public places).

Child Protection
Clowns must comply with the child protection policies of both the Member Organization and the relevant health care unit.

Artistic
Member Organizations must use artistic methods and techniques , must have a clear artistic policy, and must employ an artistic director or equivalent. Clowns are professionals who are subject to ongoing (artistic, social, medical and psychological) training supported by an artistic director. Artistic directors are selected on the basis of their leadership skills and experience in the performing arts, their professionalism and maturity, and their suitability for work with vulnerable people.

Equal Opportunities
Clowns must retain their professional integrity, regardless of illness, age, gender, ethnic heritage, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, social status, political belief, education, tradition or family affairs of participants.

Working with Artists
All clowns must be professional performing artists who are trained to work in healthcare as clowns. Clowns are selected on the basis of their skills and experience in the performing arts, their professionalism and maturity, and their suitability for work with vulnerable people. Clowns must receive comprehensive training from the Member Organization before working in a healthcare environment. Member Organizations must provide ongoing training to clowns to ensure the highest possible standard.

Anti-Racism
NAFHCO has created a plan of action for anti-racism in our work, our communities and our homes. All the organizations of NAFHCO are listening, educating, and acting upon the changes required to truly be anti-racist. We want our organizations to reflect the diversity of the communities that we serve. To that end, we are committed to more actively recruiting BIPOC performers by partnering with BIPOC led organizations in the communities we serve.