About This Blog
Youth-serving organizations take on a serious responsibility when they open their doors to children and other vulnerable people. Fulfilling that responsibility well requires two things working together: a safety culture strong enough to prevent harm, and independent investigations credible enough to find the truth when someone alleges mistreatment.
Youth Services Law covers both. Posts examine the legal landscape, practical decisions, and organizational choices that shape how schools, camps, churches, colleges, faith-based groups, and community organizations protect the people in their care and respond when something goes wrong. The goal is the same in every post: precise, useful guidance for child protection and investigations.
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Featured Post
September 8, 2026
Every plaintiff's attorney in a youth sexual abuse case asks the same question: did the organization follow accepted safety practices? Many organizations assume the answer required two adults present at every activity. That assumption does not hold up under scrutiny. No universal legal standard...
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A study of Dutch school children indicates that participation in team sports correlates with increased executive function in children. The study followed 880 Dutch children from 2006 through 2017. The researchers used meters to measure physical activity in children at ages 5 to 6 and questionnaires to assess sports participation in children ages 10 to…
The decision to bring in an external investigator represents a turning point for your organization. You’re facing allegations of misconduct that require more than good intentions—they require expertise, objectivity, and an investigative process everyone can trust. Finding the right investigator isn’t just about checking credentials or comparing hourly rates. It’s about ensuring the integrity of…
This article presents general guidelines for Georgia nonprofit organizations as of the date written, and should be not be construed as legal advice. Always consult an attorney to address your particular situation. Licensing Requirements for Summer and Other Exempt Childcare Programs By Deborah Ausburn, Esq.[^1] If your organization is gearing up for a summer program…
As part of auditing your policies, it is important to recognize that you need not, and likely cannot, do it by yourself. Particularly in regard to auditing and drafting your child protection policies, you need to put together a team to help you. A Child Protection Team (CPT) and Incident Response Team (IRT) will not…
The beginning of a new year is a traditional time to make new plans. For youth organizations, it is a good time to take a close look at your policies and records to determine which ones to keep going forward. Not only will the process make your program more efficient, but it will help you…
One area that we’re seeing many youth organizations get caught these days is lack of clear rules about contact between adults and young people on social media. Social media is an area where groups can encourage positive communications. Welcome messages, group chats and email lists can be great ways to build morale among team members…
A story from California illustrates a couple of important principles that youth organizations should follow when dealing with disclosures of long-ago abuse. In this instance, an adult approached the owner of a gymnastics school and told him that one of the instructors, who was her cousin, had sexually abused her when she was a child….
A case from the New Jersey Supreme Court has some important lessons for youth organizations. The immediate issue involved defamation claims by a fired teacher against an Orthodox Jewish school. The trial court had concluded that resolution of the claims would require inquiry into the religious beliefs of the school and therefore the First Amendment…
When your youth organization faces allegations of serious injury or abuse, the first question you need to decide is whether to commission an internal investigation or an independent one. You will have to weigh several factors when deciding which is best. Internal Investigations – Some organizations faced with reviewing a child abuse claim prefer to conduct…
All youth organizations need to guard against grooming. The problem is that the characteristics used to describe both good mentors and predatory groomers are often similar, making it hard to tell the difference from outside the relationship. We’ve had numerous clients say, “Until we found out about the abuse, we thought he was the best…