Code Of Conduct To Protect Children

Code Of Conduct To Protect Children

Camrose And District Soccer Association has created a Child Protection Code of Conduct to help guide our organizations administrators,volunteers and team personnel in their interactions with children. The safety,well-being and rights of children are extremely important to our organization. We encourage building relationships in a supportive environment while balancing appropriate boundaries.

Treating Children With Dignity and Maintaining Boundaries

All staff/volunteers must establish, respect and maintain appropriate boundaries with children and their families who are involved in any activities or programs through our organization. All staff and volunteers must also treat all children with respect and dignity.

 As an organization member it is very important to maintain and monitor your own and your peers' relationships and actions towards children. It is also important to monitor the behaviour of your peers to ensure that their behaviour is appropriate and respectful.

Interactions with children:

• Must be known and approved by the board and the parents of the children
• Interactions must be tied to duties & designed to further their development and skills in their specific sport program.

 Always be aware of all children’s reactions, behaviour and interactions with other children and adults. If you have to question whether an interaction is appropriate or unacceptable you should report to your executive board members.

Examples of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour towards children:

• Shaming
• Embarrassing
• Blaming
• Using inappropriate language

General Rules Of Behaviour

All members and volunteers must not:

• Engage in any behaviour that goes against the organization’s policies and Code of Conduct to Protect Children. 
• Engage in any sort of physical contact with any children that may make the children or any observers or members feel uncomfortable or question if it is violating boundaries.
• Engage in any communication that may make a child uncomfortable or that is seen by an observer to be violating reasonable boundaries. This includes during duties within the sports program or outside of the duties of the sports program.
• Take it upon themselves to investigate suspicions or allegations of inappropriate behaviour or potentially illegal behaviour between a child and an adult. A report to the Executive Board, law enforcement or a Child Welfare Agency should be made .

What Is Inappropriate Behaviour?

Inappropriate behaviour includes:

1. Inappropriate Contact

• Planning or spending any unauthorized time with a child outside of the organization and your duties within the organization.

1. Inappropriate Communication

• Phone calls not tied to the duties with the child
• Electronic communication outside the duties with the child including: emails,text message,social media networks, instant messages and online chats
• Personal letters outside the duties with the child
• Excessive communication both in person and online

1. Taking Photos or videos for personal use

• Any photos or videos taken but only be used for the organization (example CDSA social media platforms) and not for personal use.
• All children in photos shared to social media platforms must have a signed a photo release at . If the parents of child in a photo has not signed a release they must be blurred or removed from the photo before posting.
• Taking photos or videos within your job duties is acceptable for organization use only.

1. Favourtism

• Always provide the same amount of attention to all children. No singling out certain children or providing more attention, special privileges or allowing privileges that are unwarranted, excessive or inappropriate.

1. Showing a child any sexual content of any nature on electronic devices, in photos and in any avenue that the child may see unintentionally.
2. Telling sexual jokes to any children or in the presence of any children. As well as making any comments that are suggestive or explicit and inappropriate.
3. Threatening or making a child feel intimidated by your behaviour.

Any inappropriate behaviour will be swiftly dealt with by the executive board members. Inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated as it specifically effects the welfare of children within the organizations sports programs.

Reporting Requirements

All organization members and volunteers must report any and all suspected inappropriate behaviour or incidents, any child sexual abuse, physical abuse or verbal abuse that they become aware of. 

Where to report inappropriate behaviour:

1. Any and all allegations/suspicions of potentially illegal behaviour such as any physical or sexual abuse that a organization member/volunteer witnesses themselves, must be  reported to police and or child welfare. 
2. Police and or child welfare will make the determination as to whether the allegation or suspicion requires further investigation. 
3. All allegations or suspicions of inappropriate behaviour that a organization member or volunteer learns of or witnesses themselves, must be reported to the designated executive board members of CDSA.

If you are not sure whether the situation or behaviour you have witnessed or heard about from a third party or child that involves potentially illegal behaviour or inappropriate behaviour- reach out to the executive board members who will guide and support you. All organization members and volunteers have an independent duty to report all suspicious illegal behaviour to the police or child welfare.

Follow Up Reporting:

When an allegation of potentially illegal behaviour or suspicious behaviour is made to police or child welfare , the organization members must follow up internally. 

When an allegation of potentially illegal behaviour or suspicious behaviour is made to the executive board members they will follow up on the matter, gather information to determine if the situation is deemed inappropriate and requires further action including disciplinary action.

If the executive board members deem the situation is inappropriate and there are multiple reports, recurring reports or reports of an illegal nature the members will report to police and or child welfare.

I agree to comply with the Code of Conduct to Protect Children for Camrose And District Soccer Association

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Signature Of Volunteer/Organization Member                       Date