Protecting children in our programs is a top priority for the Y. Our child protection policies and procedures are strictly enforced to ensure that children in our care are safe and secure. We consider parents/guardians as our partners in protecting children. We welcome your feedback and participation in our most critical and important job – providing quality care and ensuring your child’s safety at all times. 

  1. Hiring and screening process:
    • All new hire candidates are interviewed in person by multiple Y supervisors. 
    • A minimum of three references are checked before an offer is made.
    • All Y staff are fingerprinted and cleared through the Department of Justice (DOJ).The Y will be notified immediately if there is an arrest of any employee thereafter.
    • In addition, all Y staff working on a school campus are fingerprinted and cleared through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
    • No staff members may start work until their fingerprints are cleared.
    • All staff members complete extensive child abuse prevention training programs.
    •  Children must be supervised by staff at all times
  2. Children must be supervised by staff at all times
    • The only exception to this is “self-supervision” for middle school and high school youth on very specific field trips.
    • Self-supervision is planned ahead and only permitted when a parent signs a permission slip.
  3. At no time during a Y program may a staff person be alone with a single child or two children where he or she cannot be observed by others.
    • As staff supervise children, they should space themselves in such a way that other staff can see them.
    • A staff member may supervise a group of three or more children. Two staff members working in program could each have their own group of three or more children to supervise. 
    • If a staff member is supervising a group of children in a building or classroom, he/she must have doors and window blinds open.
  4. There will be a minimum of two staff working at all times in program – no exceptions. 
    • If one of the scheduled staff members does not show up to work, and the other scheduled staff is left with one child, he/she will open all doors and blinds and remain near the doorway in full sight (while still supervising the child). He/she will immediately call a supervisor for a substitute. 
  5. Restroom supervision: 
    • Staff will make sure the restroom is not occupied by suspicious or unknown individuals before allowing children to use the facilities. 
    • Staff will stand in the open doorway of the restroom while children are using the restroom. This allows for audio supervision of children, privacy for children and protection for staff (not placing them in the position of being alone with a child). 
    • In case a younger child needs assistance, doors to the facility must remain open and a second staff is asked to be present. 
    • No child, regardless of age, should ever enter a bathroom alone on a school campus, field trip or at another off-site location. Children must always be sent in threes (known as the rule of three) with a staff member.
  6. Other than diapering, medical emergencies, or in parent approved special needs situations, children are not to be touched on areas of their bodies that would be covered by a swimsuit (the majority of the torso). Staff is trained how to deliver appropriate touch (as long as the child is comfortable) including high fives, a gentle hand on a shoulder, or a shoulder-to-shoulder side hug, if a hug is initiated by the child, etc.
  7. Y staff may not be in contact with participating children outside of the program for any reason. 
  8. Y staff may not babysit participating children outside of the program. Please support this policy by not asking Y staff to care for your child outside of the program.
  9. Y staff members are not allowed to communicate or engage with participating students via Facebook or any other form of social media.  
  10. Y staff may not take photos of children under 18 in our programs on any personal electronic devices.  
    • If a staff member wants to take participant photos for Y communications, parents must first be asked to sign a photo release and the camera must be owned by the Y (or a professional photographer may be engaged).
  11. Staff may not sit in seats with students on buses. 
    • Staff either sit together or by themselves. 
    • Staff will spread out on the bus for supervision. 
    • Staff will visually supervise students at all times.
  12. The first priority of Y staff is always the supervision of the children.
    • End-of-day facility cleaning may not be started until the last child goes home. 
    • On-going cleaning (i.e. wiping a table before and after snack) may continue to be conducted over the course of the day as long as supervisory responsibilities are not interrupted. 
  13. During transitions, early morning and end of day, there will always be one more staff member on duty than the number required by ratio.  
  14. There will be a designated program supervisor on campus at all times.
  15. Parents/guardians of our program participants are invited and expected to observe our operations, ask questions, provide feedback and suggest improvements as appropriate.