Assessing your Current Policies and Procedures
In order to create concrete and detailed Policies and Procedures at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO), it is necessary to analyze what policies…
Child sexual abuse is a difficult topic. If you find yourself triggered by any of the website’s content, please stop and take the time you need to talk with someone to get support. If you need help now, please contact one of these resources today.
Home / Screening & Hiring / Screening Toolbox: Observation of the Applicant & Home Assessment
When possible, it can be informative to observe an applicant in your environment with the child(ren) and youth you serve, to look for potential red flags. If this is done pre-hire, and before the background checks are complete, make sure the individual is supervised and monitored at all times by current (cleared) staff. If there are behaviors, actions, or statements that are concerning, do not ignore them. While it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem, it may be a potential issue that needs further observation or inquiry.
For certain positions such as respite providers, tutors, or mentors that involve children and youth meeting with staff in their homes, it’s especially important to immediately discuss concerns, reiterate the child safety policies of your organization, and be clear that your Code of Conduct is taken seriously and strictly enforced when it comes to the safety of children and youth you serve. In addition, depending on the mission of your organization, you may need to assess an applicant’s home environment. For example, a home assessment would be essential for a mentoring program where youth meet with mentors at their homes, but may be irrelevant and inappropriate for other organizations, such as overnight camps or afterschool programs.
Policies & Procedures
In order to create concrete and detailed Policies and Procedures at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO), it is necessary to analyze what policies…
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
Training should be used to increase knowledge and awareness of child abuse prevention, to teach staff about responding to children who disclose…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Conduct will be unique to your organization, based on your size, purpose, location, staffing, ages served, additional vulnerabilities…
Code of Conduct
Your Code of Conduct will provide your staff, volunteers, and others responsible for children and youth with very specific guidelines that will…
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…
Screening & Hiring
To determine what screening tools are most appropriate to use for a particular position and to ensure consistency in your screening protocols, we…
Screening & Hiring
For positions that specify an educational requirement, you should verify any credentials listed on the employment application by requesting and…
Screening & Hiring
A written application provides you with the information you need to assess the background and interests of applicants for your organization’s paid…
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…
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.