Protecting children in your sports league, school, or other youth-serving organization takes a commitment. Yes, implementing a robust background screening process with advanced technology like Biometric Verification can help screen out threats to your organization and is a crucial child abuse prevention strategy.
But it takes a commitment to build a community culture built on trust and safety.
3 Steps to Creating a Safe Environment for Kids
Build a Foundation
Setting clear expectations can reduce misconduct. Codes of conduct have been shown to lower the risk of inappropriate behavior in youth-serving organizations and give adults a framework for recognizing and responding to red flags. Try using this Sample Code of Conduct from Darkness to Light.
Show Kids They Can Feel Safe
Review your physical spaces for visibility and supervision gaps, implement two-adult policies, and train for situational awareness. When you create spaces that are actually safe, children have the freedom to learn and grow to their fullest potential.
Maintain Accountability
Creating a safer environment isn’t a one-time achievement—it’s an ongoing responsibility. Policies, screenings, and training sessions are important, but without regular review, real-time monitoring, and community feedback, even the strongest systems can weaken over time.
Conduct annual policy reviews, encourage anonymous feedback, and celebrate this new culture of accountability by rewarding transparency. These tips can help maintain this culture of safety in your organization.
Of course there are many additional steps you can take to build a safe youth serving organization.
We compiled those steps, additional research, and downloadable guides and checklists into one child abuse prevention toolkit you can download for free.
Download the Every Child. Every Day. Abuse Prevention Toolkit today by clicking HERE!