Child Safety Policy

The Winners Efi Hope Foundation is unconditionally committed to the safety, well-being, and protection of all girls and young people involved in our programs. This policy establishes clear guidelines and mandatory procedures for identifying, reporting, and responding to concerns of abuse or harm.

I. Definitions and Scope

• Child/Participant: Any young person under the age of 18 involved in a WEHF program or activity.

• Abuse: Includes any form of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

• Mandatory Reporter: All WEHF staff and volunteers are considered mandatory reporters and are legally or ethically obligated to report any suspicion or disclosure of child abuse or neglect.

• Designated Child Safety Officer (CSO): A specific, high-level WEHF staff member trained to receive and handle all safety reports. (A name/title should be inserted here, e.g., “The Program Director”).

II. Proactive Safety Measures

All volunteers and staff must adhere to the following operational standards:

• Screening and Vetting: All volunteers must successfully complete a formal application process, reference checks, and a criminal background check prior to program participation.

• Training: All volunteers must complete mandatory initial and annual refresher training on the WEHF Code of Conduct, Child Safety Policy, and recognising signs of abuse.

• Supervision: Participants will always be supervised by at least two vetted adults (the two-adult rule) when engaged in organisational activities, where possible.

• Digital Communication: All communication between volunteers and participants must be conducted via WEHF-monitored channels, or as a group/cc’ing a staff member. Personal, one-on-one communication (text, social media, email) is strictly prohibited.

III. Recognition of Harm

Volunteers are trained to look for and report the following indicators of potential harm:

• Physical Signs: Unexplained injuries, frequent sickness, poor hygiene, or signs of neglect.

• Behavioural Changes: Sudden changes in mood, extreme withdrawal, aggression, fear of specific adults, or inappropriate knowledge of sexual matters.

• Direct Disclosure: A child directly telling a volunteer that they, or another child, have been harmed or abused.

IV. Mandatory Reporting Procedures (The 4 R’s)

If a volunteer suspects, witnesses, or receives a disclosure of abuse, they must follow these steps immediately and strictly:

1. Receive and Record: Listen calmly and non-judgmentally. Do not promise confidentiality. State that you must tell a safe adult who can help. Record the facts (who, what, when, where) accurately using the child’s exact words, without probing or leading questions.

2. Report Internally: Immediately (within the hour) report the concern to the Designated Child Safety Officer (CSO) or the on-site supervisor.

3. Report Externally: The CSO or authorised WEHF staff will then be responsible for reporting the information to the relevant local child protective services (CPS) or law enforcement as required by law. Volunteers must fully cooperate with this external reporting process.

4. Respond and Review: WEHF management will isolate the volunteer or staff member involved (if applicable), investigate the incident promptly, and review procedures to prevent recurrence.

🛑 Note to Volunteers: Your primary duty is to report. Do not attempt to investigate the situation yourself or contact the family before notifying the CSO.

V. Non-Compliance

Any failure by a volunteer to adhere to this Child Safety Policy, including the failure to report a suspicion of harm, will result in immediate termination of their volunteer role and potential reporting to external authorities.