Draft, pending legal review. This is a plain-language draft and may change.
Last updated: [DATE]
Our commitment
Every child deserves to be safe. Keeping kids safe comes before everything else we do, and it is everyone's job: staff, volunteers, partners, and families.
We serve people of all ages. This policy covers everyone under 18 in our programs. Adult learners are protected by the same screening, training, and code of conduct, and we take extra care with adults who may be vulnerable.
Screening every adult
Before anyone works with children, they must complete:
- An application and an interview.
- Reference checks.
- A criminal background check and a sex offender registry check, repeated every [X] years.
- Safeguarding training, with a refresher every year.
- A signed agreement to follow this policy and our code of conduct.
No one-on-one unsupervised contact
No adult is ever alone with a child out of sight and hearing of others.
- In-person sessions happen in open, visible spaces, with at least one other approved adult present.
- Online sessions use program-approved tools. A parent or guardian is nearby, or a second approved adult can join at any time.
- Adults never give children rides, meet them outside of program activities, or visit their homes without written permission from a parent and approval from Hope Missions.
Communication
- Adults don't send private messages to children. Messages go through parents or guardians, or through program-approved channels with a parent copied.
- Adults don't connect with students on personal social media.
- Gifts to individual children must be approved by Hope Missions.
Photos and stories
We only take or share photos of children with written permission from a parent or guardian. We never share a child's last name, school, or location. We never share photos or stories of families affected by domestic violence.
How to report a concern
Anyone can report a concern, and you don't need proof. If something doesn't feel right, please tell us.
- If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
- Contact our Safeguarding Lead: [NAME], [PHONE], [EMAIL].
- You can also call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
What we do with a report
We take every report seriously. We follow state mandatory reporting laws and report suspected abuse or neglect to child protective services or law enforcement. Any adult under review is removed from contact with children while we look into it. We will never punish anyone for reporting a concern in good faith.