A safety plan is a preparatory approach combining strategic processes and programs to help reduce risk, minimize accidents, offer ongoing training, establish standards, and respond to emergencies. Get started with these twelve questions.

1. Do you have a check-In & out process?
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An effective check-in and out process provides more than just attendance tracking. Whether you use an electronic solution or another method, it is vital to improve safety. To secure your children’s area, you need to have accurate records of who is checking in and out, know who is and is not authorized to pick up children and have quick access to data.

2. What are your current policies?
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Does a child protection policy exist? If so, what does it say? Review the policy in relation to how your organization functions today. Should it be updated or newly created? If there have not been any incidents and volunteers and staff follow proper protocols, check it off the list.

3. What are you doing to build a speak-up culture?
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A speak-up culture improves child safety and helps create a safe environment. It encourages staff and volunteers to raise concerns about illegal practices or policy violations without fear of getting in trouble or retaliation.

4. What are your organization’s top risks?
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Doing a regular risk assessment is a vital component of a good safety strategy. Your risks depend on size, location, classroom ratios, screening practices, communication, transparency, education, and leadership commitment to prioritizing child safety.

5. Is the facility design optimized for child safety?
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For facility design, small changes can make a big difference. Evaluate factors such as visibility, access control, location of safety items, bathroom procedures and location, and threat analysis if something happens while classes are in session.

6. Are you engaging and utilizing the security team?
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Working with a security team may sometimes seem out of scope for children’s area directors. However, there are significant benefits to leveraging their knowledge and expertise. Security teams can fill in resource gaps regarding protection and safety. They should be your number one resource for incident management, conflict resolution, evacuation procedures.

7. Are the training and education initiatives effective and practical?

Is training aligned for internal and external participants, age-appropriate, and include information for volunteers, staff, leaders, and families? Are the policy updates and reminders incorporated into weekly, monthly, or quarterly meetings?

8. Is there a comprehensive screening process for all volunteers, staff, and leadership?

Comprehensive screening prevents bad behavior, protects your organization, and eliminates easy access to kids and youth. Follow the essential elements to screen adults: application, background check, social media check, references, interview, waiting period.

9. Does a well-designed process to document incidents exist?
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Bumps, bruises, and scrapes will happen. Having a process to document incidents is imperative to improve safety. Most insurance companies define an incident as “anytime an accident happens that requires the injured to stop the normal activity or receive first aid or medical attention”. A good incident report helps to reduce risk and should include photos, treatment provided, witness statements, and steps to prevent another occurrence.

10. Is the children’s area prepared to respond to an emergency?
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The worst time to prepare for an emergency is during one. Emergency preparedness should be a top priority in the age of active shooters, natural disasters, and pandemics. To respond effectively, you should have an emergency response plan in place.

11. Does your organization offer an annual safety survey?
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A survey is an excellent way to gather information from families and children on what they expect regarding child safety. A survey helps with decision-making, improves areas that need work, and builds an open dialogue. Consider implementing an annual family survey and safety evaluation.

12. Would families be better served with a Child Safeguarding Committee?
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Child safety is a tremendous job. To do it properly cannot be the responsibility of one person. A child safeguarding committee seeks to create a safe environment for children and youth by developing and implementing safety guidelines such as the child protection policy, screening procedures, incident response, training and education requirements, and ongoing communication with the organization. They also respond to abuse allegations and safety concerns in accordance with law and insurance regulations.

Angela Lewton is KidCheck’s child protection specialist. KidCheck provides secure children’s and youth check-in systems. Angela focuses on the latest child safety research and trends. She is passionate about equipping organizations to improve child safety.