Summary

A website providing publications and advice on child protection strategies and policies as well as a step-by-step plan for reducing the risk of sexual abuse in child-serving organisations.

Type of intervention

Online/app

Target groups, level of prevention and subgroups

• Situations/Places | Children and other organisations who work with children and young people | Online/app | English, French

Target population

Organisations who work with children, including schools, child care centres and providers of extra-curricular activities e.g. sports.

Delivery organisation

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection

Mode and context of delivery

Via the Commit to Kids website, including printed materials for organisations and parents

Level/nature of staff expertise required

Open to all organisations working with children.

Intensity/extent of engagement with target group(s)

As this is a web based facility, it can be accessed as much or as little as desired.

Description of intervention

Commit to Kids is a programme/website devoted to creating safer environments for children. The Commit to Kids programme provides strategies, policies and a step-by-step plan for reducing the risk of child sexual abuse. The programme encourages organisations to take an active and participatory role in protecting children in their care.

Commit to Kids helps organisations to:

• Prevent child sexual abuse through increased awareness and education
• Teach employees/volunteers (who will then teach children) the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behaviour
• Provide employees/volunteers with specific strategies on how to prevent abuse
• Design programmes that focus on child safety and supervision
• Establish clear boundaries between employees/volunteers and children
• Ensure that allegations of abuse are handled in a sensitive, timely and effective manner
• Understand their legal obligation to report child sexual abuse
• Ensure highest standards of practice when working with children

The Commit to Kids programme is designed to be used by:

• Non-profit organisations
• Emergency/temporary child care and children’s hospitals
• Foster-care and residential care facilities
• Recreational programmes (sports, dance, music and art etc.)
• Schools and childcare facilities
• Programmes and services for children with special needs
• Religious organisations
• Community groups, after-school programmes and camps

The website lists 10 steps that organisations should take to provide a safe and nurturing environment, based in part on the assumption that, because the organisation works with children, it is vulnerable to attracting employees/volunteers who want to access and sexually abuse children. The steps are:

• Complete the child protection questionnaire provided to highlight strengths and gaps in the organisation, for preventing child sexual abuse
• Understand child sexual abuse
• Manage risk, including plans to reduce risk in physical space and environments
• Create a code of conduct
• Hire the right people
• Supervise and monitor
• Report abuse and misconduct
• Write policies and procedures
• Create a Child Protection Manual
• Train everyone, including employees/volunteers, parents and children in the care of the organisation

The website is available in both English and French and has a very practical focus. It uses a step-by-step approach to conveying and reinforcing safety messages and providing practical examples of documents such as risk management plans and free tools to assist in reporting child abuse and inappropriate conduct.

Evaluations

An online evaluation is available for those using the website

References

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Contact details

Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Website: www.commit2kids.ca

INFORMATION CORRECT AT JULY 2021

RATING: Pioneering