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.
An excellent article from Nature magazine explores the research showing that children benefit from risky play. Mental health professionals are discovering that children allowed to stretch their limits in uncertain and adventurous play benefit both physically and emotionally. Those opportunities allow them to develop coordination and spatial awareness, but also confidence and resilience. A study…
Having a claim of abuse is every youth organization’s worst nightmare. Fortunately, there are things you can do now to be better prepared to deal with such a claim. By planning ahead, you and your team will be better able to guide your organization through the process and help it heal from tragedy. – Put…
As you review your child protection policies and consider changes, you need to know the standards in your field. We lawyers call it the “standard of care,” a term that means the policies and procedures that similar youth-serving organizations (YSOs) in your area follow. Camping programs, for example, will have different standards than schools, and…
One important part of auditing and developing child protection policies for your youth-serving organization (YSO) is to understand all of the risks that your organization faces. We have seen a tendency, for example, for youth-servicing organizations (YSOs) to concentrate all of their efforts on preventing sexual predators from entering the organization. While hardening your organization…
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…