What is Reporting?
All staff must be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, know how to respond appropriately, and report suspected cases…
Home / Screening & Hiring / Why Do You Need a Screening Process?
One way you can help prevent child sexual abuse within your organization is by screening out those at risk to cause harm—before they are hired or allowed to volunteer. The goal of your screening process should be to recruit and select skilled, qualified individuals for staff and volunteer positions, and to screen out individuals who have sexually abused children/youth, may be at risk to abuse, or may not be safe individuals.
The good news is that most organizations conduct some form of screening—and you may already have some screening and hiring processes in place. Our guidelines can help you ensure that you’re doing as much as possible to keep the children and youth in your care safe. This is especially important in situations where there is a potential for your staff and volunteers to have unmonitored access to minor children, including those who provide transportation to them.
Whether your organization is a large corporation with hundreds of employees, a program with few staff, or a small sole proprietorship, you can implement an effective screening program to protect children. Not every screening method we describe will necessarily apply to your program. Though some organizations have licensing or accreditation standards that outline specific screening requirements, many do not. You can use these as guidelines to help you adopt the best possible screening practices for your environment and risk level. What’s important is that you incorporate some level of applicant screening into your program and treat it as a mission-critical business practice and thoughtful management technique. Screening is not discretionary; it’s vital to a program like yours that serves children and youth.
Screening doesn’t refer to a single event or tool, but more to a process with multiple components—some that occur as you consider a potential applicant for employment or volunteer service, some that apply after an individual joins your organization, and some that can recur periodically during their employment or tenure. Your screening requirements must be outlined clearly and accurately in your policies and procedures. Keep in mind that the very existence of a screening policy can be a deterrent to individuals who would rather be employed or volunteer in an organization with weak or nonexistent screening practices, so that they can access and harm children and youth.
Reporting
All staff must be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, know how to respond appropriately, and report suspected cases…
Screening & Hiring
State and federal laws and regulations require specific types of screening and background checks—particularly criminal and sexual offense records…
Reporting
Staff and volunteers at the YSO (Youth-Serving Organization) should be proficient in discussing abuse and responding to disclosures of abuse. YSO…
Code of Conduct
Along with guiding appropriate behavior, your Code of Conduct should include a clear description of the lines of communication and reporting…
Sustainability
Leadership at Youth-Serving Organizations (YSOs) should maintain regular communication on the culture of safety with staff, volunteers, parents, and…
Reporting
Staff and volunteers should have a detailed understanding of their responsibility to report child abuse and neglect. At your YSO (Youth-Serving…
Screening & Hiring
A personal interview provides an opportunity for you to meet applicants and determine if they are a good fit for your organization. It’s also a …
Policies & Procedures
Sample Policies & Procedures You can find examples of policies and procedures from organizations whose mission is to serve and protect…
Sustainability
Community interaction and involvement is important in maintaining a culture of safety surrounding your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO). In order to…
Screening & Hiring
Finding staff and volunteers you can trust to work with children includes additional steps beyond interviewing and checking references. …
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
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