Developing the Code of Conduct
For your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) to ensure the safety of the children it serves, there must be a set of principles to guide the environment…
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Home / Code of Conduct / Why Create a Code of Conduct?
It’s easier to identify behaviors that may be intended to harm children and youth when all staff and volunteers see the Code of Conduct as protective of all members of the organization, and comply with the guidance it contains. In this way, the Code of Conduct functions as an “early warning system” that can uncover and stop what are known as grooming behaviors—and prevent abuse before it occurs.
Building a “culture” that supports and encourages open communication about behaviors involving children and youth is one of the most effective ways for you to ensure that staff will not be afraid to come forward if needed. Your Code of Conduct should stress that there will be no adverse consequences for staff who come forward to report.
In addition, training and educating your staff and volunteers about your Code of Conduct reinforces its purpose: to protect them as well as your children/youth, and provide the information and skills your staff and volunteers need to distinguish between inappropriate behaviors that could be corrected internally, and those that should be reported to MA Department of Children and Families or law enforcement.
Code of Conduct
For your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) to ensure the safety of the children it serves, there must be a set of principles to guide the environment…
Monitoring Behavior
Protocols should be developed in order to inform staff and volunteers about supervision, communication, and reporting procedures at your…
Code of Conduct
Leadership at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) should implement the Code of Conduct by including it in many aspects of the organization. The…
Code of Conduct
Once your Code of Conduct is in place, it’s important to implement it through training and by disseminating the information widely, in a variety…
Safe Environments
Safe Environments should be created by having clear sight lines, proper staff-to-child ratios, and safety standards for off-site personnel and…
Monitoring Behavior
Your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) should develop a protocol to keep staff and volunteers accountable for their behaviors. Identify the…
Reporting
The term Human Trafficking is used by Department of Children and Families (DCF) as an umbrella term used to include two specific allegations of…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Conduct is an essential tool to help you ensure the safety of the children and youth in your care, and prevent child sexual abuse.
Training
Training programs are offered to staff at least annually to heighten awareness of your commitment to safety and help create a culture of…
Training
Ideally, all children/youth should receive training and education on issues of personal safety and abuse prevention. Personal safety and child…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
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