Parent/Volunteer Safety Protocols

Family parent volunteers donate their time to help create and deliver arts education programs. It is all hands on deck at CYT and parents do everything from building show sets and sewing costumes to selling refreshments, helping backstage, or being a chaperone. This opportunity brings parents and students working together therefore we are devoted to child safety in this creative environment. We expect parents & volunteers to be educated and dedicated to the commitment of being in the forefront of the highest ethical, moral, technical, and artistic standards of excellence. All Volunteers are required to undergo a thorough background check via Live Scan Fingerprinting through the DOJ, complete the Child Safety Training and Mandated Reporting materials.

Kidpower

What is Kidpower?
CYT cares deeply for child safety. We want to make sure that CYT is as safe for students and families as possible, but we would be remiss if we didn’t consider the implications of child safety and the work we do one step further. We know that at CYT, students are afforded the opportunities to grow in areas of character and confidence both on and off the stage. Why wouldn’t we use that as a springboard to give them life-skills that will serve and protect them within our walls and as they leave us? That is where Kidpower comes in.

Young mother Irene van der Zande was inspired to found Kidpower after a frightening incident in 1985. As she was leading a group of small children on a field trip, a man charged towards them and threatened to take one of the children. Irene put herself between the man and the children, including her own son and daughter, and shouted at the man and at people around her to help. With the help of bystanders, she forced the attacker to leave. The children were unhurt and soon recovered – but Irene was shaken and determined to do something to help people, especially children, build the skills and confidence to take charge of their own safety. Irene used her experience as a community organizer, author, and child development expert to bring together other experts in martial arts, education, mental health, child safety, and law enforcement to work on the issue. She encouraged parents and teachers to get involved in the creation of effective programs that make a real difference in preventing violence and abuse and in developing positive relationships to enrich people’s lives.

The organization “Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International” responded to the demand for “People Safety” education to protect people of all ages and abilities from bullying, harassment, sexual abuse, abduction, and other emotional and physical violence – and to empower them with skills. They go by the name “Kidpower” for short, providing education and skills to people who are kids or who used to be kids, or as we might say “kids of all ages.” CYT has partnered with Kidpower in order to bring this education to leaders, students, and families in all the CYT Branches, and we pray that it is not only useful and effective, but fun!

CYT Safety Rules

3 Rules
Recognize inappropriate behavior & boundaries
Resist any inappropriate behavior
Report any inappropriate behavior

6 Boundaries
1. Modesty at all times
2. No "1 on 1" when others are not present
3. Use appropriate talk & not inappropriate talk
4. Use appropriate touch & not inappropriate touch
5. Zero tolerance for bullying
6. Your space is your territory

National & San Diego Reporting

If you suspect a child is being abused, neglected, or exploited, contact the San Diego Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 344-6000 to give all known information and follow all of the dispatcher’s instructions. If a Law Enforcement or Social Services investigator is assigned- request “Forensic Interview & Forensic Medical Exam” at nearest Rady’s Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center or the Palomar Medical Center Child Advocacy Center.

For a complete list of each state’s mandated reporting requirements and contact information, please see the US Department of Health & Human Services guidelines for reporting abuse: 
https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/can/
 

National Reporting Hotline

CYT National is now hosting a National Reporting Hotline that you can make public and available to all local participants.  In the event that someone felt uncomfortable reporting through a confidential safe box or directly to leadership, they can enter their report anonymously through this hotline. Once we receive a report, CYT National has a multi-level accountability process in place to investigate and document any report.  We also manually enter into the system any reports we get personally through email or phone calls as a way to keep record.  

This hotline matters because it communicates that we want to know and care for all that come into contact with CYT.  Please use this verbiage when sharing the hotline on your webite:

A toll-free telephone number (1-855-222-0283) and website www.lighthouse-services.com/cyt have been set up for any local CYT participants, volunteers, or employees to report concerns. This confidential number and website is staffed by a third-party firm and will report any concerns to the CYT Inc Staff and Board of Directors.

The National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD) is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse.  The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. All calls, texts, and chats are confidential.

Click the link below to view the graphic of our process once a report is received.  
Questions? Please submit a HelpDesk ticket using the category "Safety".

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