What’s in a Child Protection Policy?
Policies for youth-serving organizations in Massachusetts should clearly identify the duties and responsibilities of all staff, reflect both Federal…
Home / Safe Environments / Further Considerations for Safe Environments
Safe Environments should be created by having clear sight lines, proper staff-to-child ratios, and safety standards for all personnel and environments. Creating Safe Environments may require additional considerations, beyond the ones previously mentioned. This analysis should focus on child safety and access to safe environments and personnel.
To create a safe environment:
Install cameras and mirrors to adequately monitor the physical space or designate a single-entry point to minimize unauthorized entry or exit. Monitor and observe spaces without clear sight lines. Reduce access points for staff, visitors, and children in order to clarify expectations and make monitoring easier.
Implement additional signage to guide children away from off-limits areas and conduct periodic security checks at locations with public access. Designate and clearly mark spaces children should not access. Continue to monitor these spaces to ensure children and adults are following signage.
Monitor all social media and electronic communication between staff and children. YSO-specific social media policies should be implemented to govern these types of interactions with elements and strategies focused on visibility to parents, transparency, and accountability. Continue to supervise and monitor this type of communication to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct and other safety policies.
Ensure staff and volunteers participating in off-site activities adhere to policies on transportation and overnight activities. Train and confirm staff, parents and volunteers understand and follow policies for off-site activities. Supervise behaviors of staff and volunteers during off-site activities.
Verify outside all vendors are identified, follow entry procedures, and are monitored at all times. Visitors should be required to verify their identity and made aware of procedures regarding child safety, including areas of the organization which are off-limits. Under no circumstances should a visitor be left with children without supervision.
Review your safe environment protocols and update them regularly to remain effective. Continue to look over your YSO’s policies regarding safe environments. Update protocols and procedures as needed.
Utilize monitoring techniques such as cameras and supervision to ensure children are being kept safe at all times at your YSO. Continue to check and examine all aspects of environments inside and outside your YSO to ensure safe environments are being implemented and maintained.
Policies & Procedures
Policies for youth-serving organizations in Massachusetts should clearly identify the duties and responsibilities of all staff, reflect both Federal…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Conduct should cultivate standards of behavior for staff and volunteers at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) which prioritize child…
Training
The approaches in the chart below can provide frameworks that make your organization most effective when training adults and/or children/youth….
Training
Training Contractors, Consultants, and Interns When it comes to training your contractors, consultants, and interns, there is certain core…
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…
Reporting
Staff and volunteers should have a detailed understanding of their responsibility to report child abuse and neglect. At your YSO (Youth-Serving…
Sustainability
Leadership at Youth-Serving Organizations (YSOs) should maintain regular communication on the culture of safety with staff, volunteers, parents, and…
Training
Training for Different Audiences Training programs designed to prevent child sexual abuse take many forms and contain varying levels of detail,…
Screening & Hiring
Finding staff and volunteers you can trust to work with children includes additional steps beyond interviewing and checking references. …
Safe Environments
Along with site safety, visibility issues, physical access, and security procedures, supervision is a critical aspect of creating and maintaining…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
Safe Kids Thrive is managed by the Children's Trust of Massachusetts
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