NLHSA Child and Youth Protection Plan  

At NLHSA, we take our responsibility to care for children/youth very seriously. These guidelines  are intended to facilitate a safe environment, not only to protect our children and youth, but  also to protect our adult members and volunteers from false allegations. All adult members and  volunteers are required to familiarize themselves with these guidelines and complete any  training applicable to their specific serving area. 

STEP ONE:  

Screening Process 

1.  Adult members will consent in writing to a criminal background check.  This will be recommended for Director, treasurer, nursery volunteers, anyone with access to credit cards 

Adults convicted of child abuse (sexual abuse, physical abuse, or mental abuse), or named as  the perpetrator in a founded or indicated child abuse report through a designated state or  county agency, or who are under investigation for, or who have charges pending for child  abuse, will not be permitted to interact with children or youth, in any NLHSA sponsored activity  or setting. 

Results of screenings shall be kept confidential with the director/co-director/assistant director  and maintained by NLHSA within the limits of the law. 

Background checks will be redone every 3 years. 

STEP TWO:  

Training  

1. Physical Abuse: This is when a caregiver causes any physical injury, or threatens harm or  substantial injury, on a child other than by accident. Physical abuse can range from minor  bruises to severe internal injuries and death. This includes any physical injury to a child that  cannot reasonably be explained by the person responsible for the child’s care, based on a  history of injuries. The following are conditions of physical abuse that should be reported: 

A. Child has suffered an injury that appears to be non-accidental in nature 

B. Child has suffered an injury and the parent or guardian seems unconcerned, denies  anything is wrong, or gives unlikely or contradictory explanations 

C. There is a strong possibility that the child is in immediate danger of physical injury  based on the likelihood that excessive force was used (choking, punching, shaking,  biting, tying, caging) 

2. Mental Injury: This is harm to a child's psychological capacity or emotional stability  evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment of a child's functioning. 

3. Sexual Abuse: Includes criminal sexual conduct or sexual contact by force, threat, or  intimidation that is in violation of the Minnesota Criminal Sexual Conduct statutes. Adult  members/volunteers should have a basic understanding of the characteristics of sexual  abusers and their behaviors in ‘grooming’ a child for sexual abuse. Grooming is the process  used by an abuser to select a child, win the child’s trust (and the trust of the child’s parent  or ‘gatekeeper’), manipulate the child into sexual activity and keep the child from disclosing  the abuse.

A. To equip adult members/volunteers with information necessary to recognize abuser  characteristics and grooming behavior, NLHSA highly recommends all adult members and  volunteers to complete sexual abuse awareness training thru Ministry Safe. This training will be renewed every three years. 

4. Neglect: Neglect is the most common form of maltreatment. This is harm to a child that  results from what a parent or caretaker do NOT do. It differs from abuse though both abuse  and neglect may cause harm. Child neglect is continued failure by parents or caregivers to  provide a child with needed care and protection. Examples of what may constitute a report  of child neglect are inadequate: food, clothing, shelter, medical or mental health care,  education or supervision. 

STEP THREE:  

Reporting  

NLHSA has zero tolerance for abuse. It is the responsibility of every adult member and  volunteer to act in the best interest of all children and students in NLHSA. All questions or  concerns related to inappropriate, suspicious, or suspected grooming behavior should be  directed to the NLHSA director. In the event an adult member or volunteer observes any  inappropriate behaviors or suspected abuse or neglect it is that individual’s responsibility to  immediately report their observations to the NLHSA director. 

If NLHSA knows of or has reason to believe any activity listed in this plan has occurred, it will  report such information to Anoka County Protection Services within 24 hours. NLHSA will notify  our insurance company and consult with an attorney for advice as necessary. NLHSA will  cooperate with any subsequent investigations. 

The alleged offender will be notified of the accusations. NLHSA will be sensitive to the victim  and the offender and encourage any professional counseling where necessary. 

Care must be taken to protect the privacy of the potential victims, the accused perpetrator and  the people who made report to authorities. Never discuss allegations with other people except  law enforcement or designated state investigators. Any questions should be referred to the  NLHSA director or designated board member overseeing the investigation. 

Consequences of Violation  

Any person accused of committing a prohibited act or any act considered by NLHSA to be  harmful to a child or student will be immediately suspended from participation in NLHSA. This  suspension will continue during any investigation by law enforcement or Child Protective  agencies. 

General Safety and On-Site Supervision  

1. All NLHSA adult members and volunteers are responsible for the safety of all the members  of their class/group. They should always be aware of their environment and anything or  anyone that could possibly result in unsafe circumstances or behavior. Immediately notify a  NLHSA board member of any situation or environment that is or could be unsafe. 

2. Adult members/volunteers and teen volunteers should be identified by appropriate  nametags. If a stranger is loitering in any classroom areas, please ask “Can I help you?”. 

3. Two-adult rule Nursery: No fewer than two adults (18+ years of age) should be present on-site at all  times in the nursery.

4. Two-adult rule: Our goal is to have no fewer than two adults(18+ years of age) in closed door classrooms with students.   

5. One adult member will be assigned to a “roamer” position each NLHSA meeting day. This  member will roam between classrooms and keep track of bathroom traffic for compliance with the two-adult rule.

6. Diapering of nursery children should be done in plain sight of other nursery workers/ volunteers. Children will never be left unattended on changing tables. Children should be  re-diapered and re-clothed immediately upon the completion of changing their soiled  diaper. 

7. Open viewing: Rooms where children or youth are gathered should have a window in the  door or a half-door open when children or youth are present. If there is no window or half  door, the door should remain open.

8. Adults are prohibited from being alone with an individual child (other than one’s own child)  in any room. In the event an adult finds himself/herself alone with a single child, that adult  will take the child to a room occupied by others, or to a location easily observed by others.  (Example: if a child is the last in a class to be picked up by a parent, move to an adjoining  room where other adults and/or children are present.)

9. School age children may be accompanied to the restroom for supervision and assistance  when needed. Children should receive the minimum amount of assistance needed based  upon their individual capabilities. An adult should never take a lone child to the restroom.  

10. If an adult must go into the restroom to check on an individual child, he/she should seek  out another adult to accompany him/her. If another adult is not available to accompany, he/ she should go to the exterior bathroom door, knock, and ask if the child needs assistance.  If the child requires assistance, the adult should leave the exterior bathroom door open  when entering the bathroom area and try to verbally assist the child in completing their activities, while the child remains behind the door of the bathroom stall. Any assistance with the straightening or fastening of garments should be done in the presence of another staff member or volunteer. 

Off-Site Supervision  

1. Transportation: Personal vehicles may be used for transportation, if the driver is 21 years of  age, has a valid driver’s license, all passengers have a working seat belt, the adult driver  ensures the vehicle is properly functioning, and the vehicle is properly insured. Written  parental consent must be obtained in advance for all children and/or youth riding in the  vehicle. No youth should ever transport other youth other than their siblings.

High-Risk Activities (not covered under general liability insurance, require approval and  additional premium fees from insurance) 

• Archery 

• Bounce House/Inflatables 

• Day Hike (under 2 hours) 

• Dunk Tanks 

• Events Greater than 500 Attendees 

• Martial Arts - Non-Contact 

• Overnight Camping 

• Overnight Activities (other than camping) 

• Tug-of-War 

• Wilderness Trips (ex: survival skills; trekking; adventure) 

• Woodworking 

• Zip Lining 

Waivers  

• Insurance requires members to sign a waiver and NLHSA to keep the waivers on file. 

• Additional waivers for group transportation may be required and signed as needed.