What are Policies and Procedures?
Policies and Procedures are an essential backbone of your prevention strategy at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO), providing an overarching…
Home / Code of Conduct / What is a Code of Conduct?
A Code of Conduct establishes acceptable and prohibited types of behaviors and interactions between staff, volunteers, and children. Your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) should create a Code of Conduct to outline safety standards and identify clear lines of communication to be followed if the Code of Conduct is violated.
At minimum, your Code of Conduct should include:
Your organization’s mission statement outlining your commitment to safety and guiding ethical principles and standards (Code of Ethics). The Code of Ethics are your organization’s core standards and principles and should focus on values guiding behavior and policies at your organization. This aspect of your Code of Conduct acts as the foundation for behavioral expectations at your organization and can be referred to in situations that are uncommon, unexpected, or not specifically defined in the Code of Conduct.
Guidance on and definitions of specific behavior and interaction, including appropriate, inappropriate, and harmful and prohibited. Defining categories of behavior, including appropriate, inappropriate, and harmful, helps staff and volunteers understand what is expected of them. Be sure to include behaviors and situations specific to your organization to provide clarity for all staff and volunteers.
Reporting obligations, procedures, and process, investigation, and monitoring procedures. Clear explanations of reporting standards and processes should be outlined, including the expected timeframe and how to report concerns. Your reporting standards should follow your state’s child abuse reporting requirements as well as your organization’s procedures for reporting any concerns.
Statement of Receipt and Agreement as well as a Signature Block to ensure the Code of Conduct is included and addressed within the organization. The Code of Conduct should be part of your organization’s screening and hiring process. New staff and volunteers should have a chance to read and discuss safety and reporting standards and sign an agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct at hire.
The creation, implementation, and reinforcement of the Code of Conduct are critical in your YSO’s mission to keep children safe. In order to outline your YSO’s commitment to safety, the Code of Conduct should provide staff and volunteers guidance for behavior, lines of communication should violations of the Code be observed, and reporting standards.
Policies & Procedures
Policies and Procedures are an essential backbone of your prevention strategy at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO), providing an overarching…
Policies & Procedures
Your Policies and Procedures must be adhered to by all staff and volunteers to maintain safety standards at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO)….
Screening & Hiring
Here’s how you can develop a screening policy that fits your organization’s role, size, and resources: Know the screening rules and…
Safe Environments
Your youth-serving organization may provide transportation to children and youth—either on a regular or occasional basis. If you’re a larger…
Safe Environments
In the past, youth-serving organizations needed to worry about safety only within the physical environment—the building(s) where their services…
Policies & Procedures
Whether your organization is evaluating an existing policy or creating a new one, we’ve provided a convenient Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (CSA)…
Training
Training programs are offered to staff at least annually to heighten awareness of your commitment to safety and help create a culture of…
Reporting
The “Protective Intake Policy” framework was designed “to clearly articulate a primary and immediate focus on child safety in screening and…
Code of Conduct
Along with guiding appropriate behavior, your Code of Conduct should include a clear description of the lines of communication and reporting…
Reporting
When a member of your staff suspects that a child is being abused and/or neglected, they are required to immediately call your local Department of…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
Learning Center Registration
Sign up for an account and start your learning experience.
Free Online Assessment
Let us help you find out where to start.