Principles of Youth ProtectionPrinciples of Youth Protection

John C. PattersonJohn C. PattersonSenior Program DirectorSenior Program DirectorNonprofit Risk Management CenterNonprofit Risk Management CenterMarch 2, 2005March 2, 2005

IntroductionIntroduction

Children should be Children should be protected from harm protected from harm while receiving while receiving services from services from nonprofit, youth nonprofit, youth development development organizations. organizations.

Duty to CareDuty to Care

The relationship that a child has with your The relationship that a child has with your organization places responsibility on the organization places responsibility on the organization to exercise reasonable care organization to exercise reasonable care to protect the child from foreseeable harm.to protect the child from foreseeable harm.

NegligenceNegligence

Failure to fulfill the Failure to fulfill the organization’s duty of organization’s duty of care causing harm to care causing harm to a child.a child.

Risk ManagementRisk ManagementA way of coping with the A way of coping with the possibility that the future possibility that the future may be significantly may be significantly different from what may be different from what may be expected.expected.

The Seven Principles of Youth The Seven Principles of Youth ProtectionProtection

1) Know your clientele. 1) Know your clientele. 2) Select the right staff. 2) Select the right staff. 3) Train for the position and the organization. 3) Train for the position and the organization. 4) Provide proper supervision. 4) Provide proper supervision. 5) Communicate with children, youths and their 5) Communicate with children, youths and their

families or caregivers. families or caregivers. 6) Control the environments in which services are 6) Control the environments in which services are

delivered.delivered.7) Take prompt action upon any allegation or 7) Take prompt action upon any allegation or

suspicion of possible abuse. suspicion of possible abuse.

Know your clientele.Know your clientele.

Developmental Developmental characteristicscharacteristics

Select the right staffSelect the right staff

Are you a target?Are you a target?

““Well guys, signed up to be a big recently. I'm Well guys, signed up to be a big recently. I'm supposed to be assigned a match sometime this supposed to be assigned a match sometime this week. I can't help thinking, why don't more BLs week. I can't help thinking, why don't more BLs do this??? I mean, come on now, in my area at do this??? I mean, come on now, in my area at least, they have 75 kids on their waiting list. least, they have 75 kids on their waiting list. Down from 150 over the summer. They're Down from 150 over the summer. They're BEGGING for folks to be AFs over there. They BEGGING for folks to be AFs over there. They even let you profile what you want your yf to look even let you profile what you want your yf to look like and be interested in. Am I missing like and be interested in. Am I missing something here???” something here???”

Actual posting on Internet WebsiteActual posting on Internet Website

How to meet kidsHow to meet kids““I don't know how old you are or what your I don't know how old you are or what your interests are but here are a few ideas that work. interests are but here are a few ideas that work. Get involved as a tutor with the area school or Get involved as a tutor with the area school or work with the local boy scouts. Both groups are work with the local boy scouts. Both groups are usually looking for adult assistance. Someone usually looking for adult assistance. Someone who can spend a few hours a week working with who can spend a few hours a week working with a youngster. Check with the local boy scout unit a youngster. Check with the local boy scout unit and see if they need someone to help with merit and see if they need someone to help with merit badges. Then choose what you are good at. All badges. Then choose what you are good at. All of these will help you get to know some of the of these will help you get to know some of the local boys. local boys.

Then you're on your own.”Then you're on your own.”

Another Posting on the WebsiteAnother Posting on the Website

Train for the Position and the Train for the Position and the OrganizationOrganization

Provide proper supervisionProvide proper supervision

Communicate with children, youths Communicate with children, youths and their families or caregiversand their families or caregivers

Control the environments in which Control the environments in which services are delivered.services are delivered.

Take prompt action upon any allegation Take prompt action upon any allegation or suspicion of possible abuse.or suspicion of possible abuse.