Code of Conduct for Third Party Party Organizations/Vendors Employed by the WWFY
Third Party Code of Conduct
Youth Supervision:
- Third-Party Organizations may not be alone with children where they cannot be observed by staff or volunteers.
- Third-Party Organizations may not be alone with children from the YMCA in activities such as babysitting, sleepovers and inviting children to your home.
- Third-Party Organizations shall never leave a child unsupervised.
- Third-Party Organizations will not allow 2 or more children to be alone without supervision as this could allow child on child abuse.
- Third-Party Organizations shall not abuse children. Types of abuse include:
- Physical – An injury or injuries that happen to a child that are not accidental. These may include burns, bruises, bites, welts, broken bones, strangulation, or even death.
- Neglect – Neglect occurs when adults responsible for the well being of a child fail to provide for or protect the child. Neglect may include not giving food, clothing or shelter; failing to keep children clean; lack of supervision; and withholding medical care.
- Emotional – Any chronic and persistent act by an adult that endangers the mental health or emotional development of a child including rejection, ignoring, terrorizing or mean or constant criticism.
- Sexual – Sexual abuse, is the sexual assault or sexual exploitation of children. Sexual abuse includes rape, incest, sodomy, fondling, exposing oneself, oral copulation, and penetration of genital or anal openings as well as forcing children to view or appear in pornography.
- Third-Party Organizations will respond to children with respect and treat all children equally regardless of sex, gender, identity, race, religion and culture.
- Third-Party Organizations will respect children’s rights to not be touched in ways that make them feel uncomfortable. Staff will always touch children in a respectful and appropriate manner. Children are not to be touched in areas that would be covered with a bathing suit or in ways that can be considered intimate or inappropriate.
- Third-Party Organizations will refrain from intimate displays of affection in the presence of children, parents and staff.
- Third-Party Organizations must be free from any condition that could risk harm to a child’s physical, mental or emotional safety and well-being.
Examples of appropriate contact
- Side Hugs
- Pats on shoulder
- High Fives and Handshakes
- Verbal Praise
- Pats on head if culturally appropriate
- Holding hands of small children when escorting them
Examples of inappropriate contact
- Full frontal hugs
- Kisses
- Showing affection in isolated area
- Lap sitting
- Wrestling
- Piggyback rides
- Tickling
- Allowing child to cling to leg
- Massage given by or to a youth
- Affection that is unwanted by the youth
- Compliments relating to physical or body development
- Touching of the chest, bottom or genital area
Examples of Appropriate Verbal Interactions
- Positive Reinforcement
- Appropriate Jokes
- Encouragement
- Praise
Examples of inappropriate verbal interactions
- Name calling or derogatory remarks about child or family secrets
- Cursing or harsh language that may scare a child
- Off-color or sexual jokes
- Shaming/belittling
- Discussing sexual or romantic encounters
- Involving youth in personal problems or issues
Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting
- As a vendor working in a childcare facility, if you become aware, suspect, or witness any perceived or actual child abuse, you must notify a Westport Weston Family YMCA (“WWFY”) employee. WWFY takes abuse allegations seriously and any information you share will be acted on appropriately and promptly. Remember confidentiality is very important so do not share information with other staff or anyone outside the YMCA other than DCF or other appointed agencies investigating.
- If you would like to report a concern or situation regarding staff, volunteers or children to YMCA Management, you may do so in writing or in person to a Program Director, Human Resources Director, CFO or CEO.
- If you would like to report a concern but wish to keep your report anonymous to the investigating staff, you may make the report to the HR Director or the CEO and ask that they not share your name. They may come back to you for more information to help protect the child(ren) in question, but they will not share your name with others.
Responding to a Disclosure of Abuse
- If a child tells you something, it is important to remain calm if a child discloses abuse to you. React in a calm and reassuring way. While you can ask questions, do not ask leading questions that may make the child nervous or may make them say something that is not true. Do not promise that you can keep it secret, tell the child that it is your job to keep them safe and you hope that they trust you to only tell people who want to keep them safe.
- If you see something, if you observe a person abusing a child, a child abusing another child or two children behaving in a sexual or abusive manner, stop the behavior immediately and notify a WWFY employee, a Program Director, the Director of Human Resources, the CFO, or the CEO. supervisor or another YMCA Director.
- If you observe suspicious or concerning behavior, tell a WWFY employee as soon as you can.
Third Party Organization/Vendor Name: ___________________________________
Third Party Address: __________________________________________________
Third Party Phone Number: ____________________________________________
Individual Name (Please Print): _________________________________________
Individual Signature: __________________________________________________
Date: _______________