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Proactive Volunteer Screening Policy for Child Safety

Learn about implementing a proactive volunteer screening policy to safeguard children in sports. Includes procedures, roadblocks, and importance of background checks. Protect children's well-being with proper screening measures.

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Proactive Volunteer Screening Policy for Child Safety

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  1. Volunteer Screening SUSAN J. HENDRICKEN Manager Parks and Recreation City of Charlottetown

  2. FIRST STEP • PUTTING THE CHILDREN FIRST

  3. OUTLINE • INTRODUCTION OF ISSUE • BACKGROUNDER FOR POLICY • ROADBLOCKS • BECOMING PROACTIVE • ACCESSING USEFUL RESOURCES

  4. BECOMING PROACTIVE • COACHING CERTIFICATION • VOLUNTEER SCREENING • EDUCATING PARENTS • JOB DESCRIPTIONS • CODE OF ETHICS

  5. Being Reactive • Addressing the issue after the fact…closing the barn doors after the horses get out….setting yourself up for liability out of negligence and most importantly …… a child may have already been harmed!!!

  6. Purpose of Screening • To implement a preventative measure to assist organizations in successfully recruiting appropriate leaders for our resident youth. • To reduce the liability or element of risk to both the City and volunteer based organizations in the matter of recruitment of volunteers. • To act in a proactive manner to protect children involved in sport, recognizing the significant role a coach can play in a child’s physical, social and emotional development

  7. Procedure • SDA delivers form to potential volunteer • Waiver/Consent Form optional • SDA submits completed forms to Police • Police return checked forms to SDA or volunteer (if waiver not signed) • Master List created of all volunteers and screening results at P&R DEP’T

  8. Confidentiality • One person in SDA assigned task of receiving completed forms • Same person assigned to address anything relevant that shows up on a form • Forms destroyed after or kept under lock and key in a central place

  9. Roadblocks • Human Rights Stance • Level of Police involvement in process • Paperwork for SDA • Frequency • Confidentiality

  10. Nothing is ever full proof! • Never been fingerprinted and/or photographed - no readout • Under the age of 18 • Volunteer reserves the right not to submit the report….but should then be declared ineligible to coach/volunteer

  11. What is Unacceptable?? • Activities under Narcotics Control Act • Food and Drug Act (i.e..trafficking magic mushrooms prescription drugs) • Criminal code Offences (i.e. assault, weapons,theft and fraud and impaired driving)

  12. Outline • Issue • Backgrounder for Policy • Purpose of Screening • Procedure • Roadblocks • Proceeding from here

  13. Background Municipalities and Parks and Recreation Departments, in particular, play a key role in ensuring that Recreation and Sport is a safe place for children in every sense of the word.

  14. The Big Picture • Action steps for parents • Boundary setting by SDA • Talk it up.. Silence is the #1 enemy here • Recognize many forms of abuse…emotional ,physical, sexual, and neglect • Use of resources available - MARS

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