Implement Trainings
Once you have identified your training expectations and standards and have researched current and available local and national training, explore…
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.
Training
Once you have identified your training expectations and standards and have researched current and available local and national training, explore…
Code of Conduct
It’s essential that interactions between your employees/volunteers and the youth you serve are appropriate and positive, support positive youth…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Ethics helps to guide the behavior and decision-making of your staff, volunteers, and participants by clarifying the standards and…
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 Contractors, Consultants, and Interns When it comes to training your contractors, consultants, and interns, there is certain core…
Code of Conduct
Every YSO has certain risks associated with its activities, functions, and responsibilities—and thinking about those risks is an important part of…
Sustainability
Depending on the size of your youth-serving organization, the data you’ll need to collect and analyze—or even simply summarize—could be…
Training
A Model for Evaluation: Kirkpatrick’s Four Levels of Training Every training course needs a method of collecting feedback to ensure a course is…
Safe Environments
Safe Environment Strategies: Access Complementing the physical aspects of safety are the procedural aspects of safety and security, and how…
Policies & Procedures
Sample Policies & Procedures You can find examples of policies and procedures from organizations whose mission is to serve and protect…
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.