Child Protection Policy – WonderHood

1.0 Purpose

WonderHood Project is committed to the safety and well-being of children involved in all its activities. This Child Protection Policy (the “Policy”) was developed to protect children from abuse, neglect and other forms of mistreatment.

2.0 Scope

2.1 This Policy applies to WonderHood Project directors and employees, including administrators, faculty, and staff, and to directors and employees of any entity affiliated with WonderHood Project. This Policy also applies to all independent contractors, volunteers, interns, and any other person involved in WonderHood Project activities of any kind. All covered persons are referred to hereinafter as “WonderHood Staff Members.”

2.2 This Policy applies to WonderHood Staff Members whether they are in the United States or overseas, including WonderHood Staff Members on assignment with the High School’s Discovery program, retreat experiences, or on service, educational, or athletic travel.

2.3 As used in this Policy, (A) “child” refers to any individual under 18 years of age; (B) “Child Safety Officer” refers to the person designated by the WonderHood board of directors to hold the responsibilities described in this Policy; (C) “Child Safety Response Team” or “CSRT” refers to the WonderHood Project Child Safety Officer, and such other individuals as may be appointed by the WonderHood board of directors from time to time; (D) “parent” refers to a biological parent, an adoptive parent, or a legal guardian; “parent” includes a parent having sole or joint custody, or one allocated parental responsibilities with respect to a child, regardless of whether the parent is designated as the primary residential custodian of the child; (E) “Persons Involved in a WonderHood Activity” includes members of the public present to observe a WonderHood Activity, as well as all persons participating in any way in the WonderHood Activity; (F) “Prohibited Conduct” refers to those activities described in detail in section 4.0 below; (G) “Staff Member” means “WonderHood Staff Member;” (H) “WonderHood” refers to WonderHood Project; (I) “WonderHood Activities” refers to any program, event, curricular or extracurricular activity, or student activity sponsored, organized, staged, housed, managed, or otherwise affiliated with WonderHood; and (J) “WonderHood Staff Members” refers to all persons covered under this Policy, as stated in section 2.1 above.

3.0 Expectations

3.1 WonderHood expects all its employees, volunteers, and other Staff Members to understand and comply with this Policy. Questions about this Policy and its application in individual cases should be referred to WonderHood’s Child Safety Officer.

3.2 A minimum of two adult WonderHood Staff Members must be present at all times when children are being supervised during WonderHood Activities. This includes both indoor and outdoor activities, and applies to vehicles (except in emergency situations). In some cases, a WonderHood Activity may have only one adult WonderHood Staff Member in attendance; in such case the door(s) to the room must remain open and there must be no fewer than three students with the adult WonderHood Staff Member.

3.3 WonderHood expects all WonderHood Staff Members to comply with the internal reporting procedures described in this Policy when (A) they become aware or have reason to suspect that another WonderHood Staff Member has engaged in Prohibited Conduct, as defined below; and (B) when they become aware or have reason to suspect that a WonderHood Staff Member’s dependent, a vendor, or a Person Involved in any WonderHood Activity have engaged in Prohibited Conduct.

3.4 WonderHood expects WonderHood Staff Members to comply with mandatory child abuse and neglect reporting laws applicable to them with regard to any child. In some jurisdictions, WonderHood Staff Members may be subject to requirements and standards relating to child abuse and neglect and reporting that are more stringent than this Policy. Where more stringent requirements and standards apply, WonderHood expects WonderHood Staff Members to comply with the more stringent requirements and standards.

3.5 Failure to abide by this Policy may result in immediate termination, suspension, reprimand, exclusion from WonderHood Activities, and/or other corrective action, at WonderHood’s sole discretion.

3.6 Failure by any WonderHood Staff Member to timely report child abuse or neglect as described in this Policy or in applicable law may result in discipline, up to and including termination, at WonderHood’s sole discretion.

4.0 Forms of Prohibited Conduct

The following types of conduct are prohibited under this Policy.

4.1 Physical Abuse

4.1.1 Except as provided otherwise below, WonderHood Staff Members are prohibited from physical abuse of a child, which includes the prohibition of physical contact with a child with the intent to cause pain, or causing the child to engage in physical behavior intended to cause the child pain, whether or not physical contact with the child occurs, and whether or not the child in fact experiences pain. Physical abuse includes causing bodily injury (which includes skin bruising, bleeding, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, substantial pain, or impairment of physical condition), causing a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury, striking or hitting a child, kicking, biting, burning, throwing, stabbing or cutting a child, unreasonably restraining or confining a child in a manner that endangers a child, forcefully shaking a child, interfering with a child’s breathing, pushing a child so that the child falls or is thrown against a wall or object, injuring a child with a weapon or a sharp or hot object or hot or caustic liquid, or grabbing or jerking the child. Causing physical neglect of a child is also prohibited. (See Section 4.5 below.)

4.1.2 As an exception to subsection 4.1.1, acts that are a reasonable exercise of parental discipline by parents as to their own children will not be considered physical abuse under this Policy.

4.1.3 In addition, it shall not be considered physical abuse for WonderHood Staff Members, including parents responsible for their child’s welfare, to use reasonable force in a justifiable manner for or against a child, when, for example, (A) the use of force is incidental and minor physical contact with the child or other actions that are designed to ensure safety, provide appropriate supervision of the child, or safely guide the child; or (B) the use of the reasonable force is necessary (i) to remove a child from the scene of a disturbance that threatens physical injury to the child or other persons or significant damage to property; (ii) to prevent the child from serious self-inflicted physical harm; (iii) for self-defense or the defense of another individual under imminent threat of death or serious physical harm; or (iv) to obtain possession of weapons that are on the child or within the control of the child. Acts which are performed for bona fide medical or first aid purposes and which accord with established standards of care will not normally be considered abuse.

4.1.4 If WonderHood Staff Members, including parents, are located in a jurisdiction where they are subject to more stringent legal requirements or standards relating to physical treatment of children, the more stringent requirements or standards will apply in addition to the requirements and standards of this Policy.

4.2 Sexual Abuse

4.2.1 WonderHood Staff Members are prohibited from engaging in sexual abuse of a child. Sexual abuse includes sexual conduct or a sexual advance, or other oral, written, visual, or physical activity of a sexual nature, directed toward a child.

4.2.2 Acts that are part of normal program supervision responsibilities, and acts performed for bona fide emergency medical or first aid purposes by staff trained in first aid and/or CPR and in accordance with established standards of care, will not normally be considered misconduct. WonderHood Staff Members are not expected to provide ongoing medical treatment or personal care services beyond such emergency assistance.

4.2.3 Where a WonderHood Staff Member uses his or her position of power and authority in order to engage in any of the sexual activity described above with a person (including another Staff Member) 18-21 years of age, such behavior is also considered a violation of this Policy.

4.2.4 If WonderHood Staff Members, including parents, are located in a jurisdiction where they are subject to more stringent legal requirements or standards relating to sexual abuse of children, the more stringent requirements or standards will apply in addition to the requirements and standards of this Policy.

4.3 Emotional, Verbal, or Psychological Abuse

4.3.1 WonderHood Staff Members are prohibited from engaging in emotional, verbal, or psychological abuse of a child. This includes behavior that is degrading or harassing of a child or that otherwise constitutes behavior intended to cause a child to feel demeaned, neglected, or unwanted, or that causes mental injury, including injury or impairment to the child’s psychological or social capacity, functioning, or development.

4.3.2 Giving a child firm and measured instruction or direction that is developmentally-appropriate and age-appropriate, and administering proportionate and otherwise reasonable non-physical punishment, are excluded from the definition of emotional, verbal, or psychological abuse.

4.3.3 If WonderHood Staff Members, including parents, are located in a jurisdiction where they are subject to more stringent legal requirements or standards relating to emotional/verbal/psychological treatment of children, the more stringent requirements or standards will apply in addition to the requirements and standards of this Policy.

4.4 Harboring a Child

WonderHood Staff Members are prohibited from providing shelter to a child without the consent of the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian, except in emergency situations.

4.5 Neglect

WonderHood Staff Members are prohibited from engaging in neglect of a child. Neglect includes denying a child under their care, or allowing another to deny the child, basic needs and support, such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision.

4.6 Criminal Conduct

4.6.1 Some forms of Prohibited Conduct may constitute a criminal offense against a child. As used in this Policy, the term “Prohibited Conduct” includes criminal offenses against a child, although certain types of Prohibited Conduct may not be a criminal offense.

4.6.2 When a WonderHood Staff Member is charged with a criminal offense, or becomes the subject of a criminal investigation that concerns or includes an allegation of a criminal offense against a child, or learns that another WonderHood Staff Member is the subject of such a charge or investigation, the Staff Member shall report the matter immediately according to the internal reporting procedure in Section 6.0 below.

4.6.3 If WonderHood Staff Members, including parents, are located in a jurisdiction where they are subject to more stringent criminal requirements or standards, the more stringent requirements or standards will apply under this Policy.

4.7 Poor Boundaries and “Grooming”

WonderHood Staff Members are expected to maintain proper boundaries with children, and to avoid grooming behaviors. In some instances, adults may engage in physical touch or communication with a child that may not constitute sexual abuse, but that is nonetheless too familiar, crossing the lines of proper behavior for a WonderHood Staff Member, or that could cause misunderstanding or discomfort for the child. Also, while not explicitly sexual in nature, certain behaviors are sometimes used by perpetrators with the intent of developing a relationship with a child, and eventually engaging in sexual contact with a child, and therefore constitute grooming.

5.0 Prohibited Conduct by Dependents and Persons Involved in WonderHood Activities

5.1 On occasion, there may be instances when a dependent of a WonderHood Staff Member or a non-Staff Member engages in behavior that constitutes Prohibited Conduct as described above.

5.2 WonderHood prohibits WonderHood Staff Members’ dependents and all Persons Involved in WonderHood Activities from engaging in Prohibited Conduct. WonderHood Staff Members, their dependents, and any other Person Involved in WonderHood Activities may report Prohibited Conduct under Section 6.0.

5.3 WonderHood Staff Members are expected to be vigilant concerning possible violations of this Policy. WonderHood Staff Members who become aware of Prohibited Conduct committed by WonderHood Staff Members’ dependents or by any Person Involved in WonderHood Activities shall report immediately according to the reporting procedure in Section 6.0 below.

6.0 Internal Reporting to WonderHood

6.1 A WonderHood Staff Member shall immediately make a report to WonderHood according to this Policy if he or she observes or has reason to suspect that a WonderHood Staff Member has engaged, or is engaging, in Prohibited Conduct, or has failed to make an internal report under this Policy when required.

6.6 Reporting of abuse or other Prohibited Conduct must be accomplished immediately and without delay.

6.7 To make a report under this Policy, the WonderHood Staff Member shall notify WonderHood’s Child Safety Officer or, if the Child Safety Officer is unavailable, another member of WonderHood’s Child Safety Response Team (“CSRT”).

6.8 A WonderHood Staff Member who becomes aware of, or has reason to suspect the occurrence of, Prohibited Conduct or a failure to report by Staff Member should not attempt to investigate or verify the alleged violation before making a report.

7.0 Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect to Law Enforcement

7.1 All states in the United States have child abuse and neglect reporting laws. WonderHood Staff Members working in Colorado may be mandatory reporters under Colorado law if they meet the statutory definition.

7.2.2 The Staff Member who has reportable information must make a report immediately to a local law enforcement agency, to the Custer County Department of Human Services (719-783-2371), or to Department of Social Services at 719-783-2371 or the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437).

8.0 Retaliation

Retaliation against anyone who makes a good-faith report or cooperates with an investigation is prohibited.

9.0 Consequences

9.1 WonderHood Staff Members who engage in Prohibited Conduct or other violations of this Policy may be subject to disciplinary action, at the discretion of WonderHood.

9.2 WonderHood Staff Members who fail to make timely reports of suspected Prohibited Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action, at the discretion of WonderHood.

9.3 Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: a warning or reprimand; corrective action and/or suspension of the perpetrator’s employment, volunteer work, affiliation, or WonderHood Activity; termination of the perpetrator’s employment, volunteer work, affiliation, or WonderHood Activity; and/or a ban on the perpetrator’s presence on WonderHood property or at WonderHood Activities.

10.0 Screening and Selection

10.1 For all WonderHood Staff Members hired, engaged or employed by WonderHood, WonderHood conducts criminal history background screens for final candidates.

10.2 WonderHood may also conduct additional periodic background checks on its employees during their years of service.

10.4 During the hiring or onboarding process for a position as a WonderHood Staff Member, and annually thereafter, WonderHood Staff Members are expected to sign a document affirming that they have read, understand, and agree with this Policy.

11.0 Training

During the hiring or onboarding process for a position as a WonderHood Staff Member, all successful candidates will be required to complete training concerning child abuse, neglect, and other Prohibited Conduct and this Policy. Following hire, all WonderHood Staff Members will be required to complete such training on a schedule determined by WonderHood.

12.0 No Express or Implied Contract

No part of this Policy constitutes an express or implied contract or a legally enforceable promise or representation by WonderHood. WonderHood reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time.

Contact Us

Email: info@whproject.org