Preparing for the New School Year 

Thousands of kids in Massachusetts will be embarking on their first day of school and afterschool programs this fall. Youth-Serving Organizations (YSOs) are responsible for keeping these kids safe from harm. By prioritizing safety, these YSOs can prevent child sexual abuse.  

Review the following Elements of Prevention in preparation for the fall: 

Code of Conduct 

Your Code of Conduct must communicate your commitment to upholding safety standards at your organization. The Code of Conduct should be regularly addressed at all staff meetings, supervision meetings, and in trainings to ensure continuous communication.  

Policies and Procedures 

All policies and procedures at your organization are provided by leadership and must be acknowledged by all staff and volunteers. It’s good practice to run an audit and evaluation annually and a comprehensive assessment every three years.

Monitoring Behavior 

All staff and volunteers must view safety as a priority and mutual responsibility. Everyone is responsible for holding each other accountable to displaying appropriate behaviors towards all other adults as well as children.  

Every single kid who walks through the doors of a YSO should be protected from child sexual abuse. For more information on how to prevent child sexual abuse at your YSO, visit safekidsthrive.org.