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Elements of Prevention

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Home / Elements of Prevention

The best prevention plan is a proactive one.

The following Elements of Prevention form the foundation of a comprehensive child abuse prevention plan at your youth-serving organization.

Elements of Prevention

Code of Conduct

A Code of Conduct establishes acceptable interactions and outlines the expectations and responsibilities of any person with access to children at your organization.

Monitoring Behavior

Monitoring behavior is the responsibility of all staff to hold each other accountable for appropriate behaviors and to report inappropriate conduct to leadership.

Policies & Procedures

Policies and Procedures are an essential backbone of your prevention strategy, providing an overarching written structure that demonstrates your commitment to the safety and well-being of children and youth entrusted to your care.

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 immediately.

Safe Environments

Ensuring a safe environment for children includes targeting the five major areas of safety: visibility, access, supervision and communication, transportation, and safe technology use.

Screening & Hiring

Finding candidates you can trust includes additional steps beyond interviewing and checking references such as periodic criminal and sexual offense background checks.

Sustainability

Long-term organizational change is a process of continuous review and evaluation and includes regularly examining what is working and what requires improvement.

Training

Training programs are offered to staff at least annually to heighten awareness of your commitment to safety and help create a culture of zero-tolerance for child abuse.

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