Keeping Kids Safe

The safety of kids is a priority in Young Life. Our staff and volunteer leaders know they are responsible for modeling lives of hope and integrity.

Young Life's Standard Practices for Keeping Kids Safe

• All Young Life staff and volunteer leaders go through a careful screening process that consists of an application, interview(s) and character references. Criminal background checks are completed on all staff and volunteers.
  
  
• As part of the screening process, staff and volunteer leaders are given access to our Staff Resources Site to read Young Life’s Faith and Conduct Policies. The policies include Young Life’s:
• Statement of Faith
• Mission Statement
• Conflict Resolution Guidelines
  
  
• The Faith and Conduct Policies are followed by an acknowledgment page where staff and volunteer leaders indicate they have read, believe in and agree to support the Statement of Faith and Mission Purpose Statement. This agreement also indicates they understand and agree to abide by Young Life's Faith and Conduct Policies.
  
  
• Applicants also complete a Background Questionnaire in which staff and volunteer leaders must disclose, as permitted by state law, any misonduct.
  
  
• Young Life is structured so that field staff and volunteer leaders all have trained supervisors.
  
  
• The Human Resources department trains new Young Life field staff on maintaining appropriate boundaries in relationships with kids. The Human Resources department also trains area directors on how to screen and train their volunteer leaders.

Creating an Atmosphere of Acceptance

At a time when bullying between middle school, high school and college students is a growing concern among parents and educators, Young Life seeks to have a positive impact in the communities of which we are a part. Young Life leaders model acceptance and love for all kids, and we encourage students involved in our programs to do the same.

Keeping Kids Safe at Camp

• All campers must submit a Health Form signed by their parent or guardian before arriving at camp.
  
  
• Once at camp, no camper is allowed to leave the camp without written consent to leave from their parent or guardian. No one under the age of 21 can pick up a camper from camp.
  
  
• Each camp has procedures and guidelines for visitors at camp.
  
  
• All camps are staffed with at least one licensed medical professional. All of Young Life’s camps — with the exception of two — are 30 minutes or less from a hospital. Therefore, these two camps are staffed by two physicians and one emergency medical technician.
  
  
• When a camper is at the infirmary, he or she is never privately examined. Any camper visiting the infirmary is accompanied by a Young Life staff person or volunteer leader for the entire duration of the examination.
  
  
• Young Life staff assigned to serve at the camps during the summer receive comprehensive training for their roles at camp.
  
  
• Work crew and summer staff, which are groups of high school and college students who volunteer to serve at the camp, complete a Background Questionnaire that requests the disclosure of misconduct. Criminal background checks are also run on those volunteers who are 18 or older.
  
  
• Each camp is equipped to execute general safety plans and crisis management plans when necessary.
  
  
• The presence of between 100 and 150 caring adults on camp during any given week ensures that the activities of kids are closely monitored.

Young Life Amicus

Amicus, Young Life’s International Student Exchange, takes great care to make sure the students coming from other countries to live with U.S. host families are safe during their stay. Host families complete an extensive application, which includes recommendations, and members of the host family who are 18 years and older undergo a background check.