Staff Resource Page
Code of Conduct
Included:
Guidelines for Appropriate Behavior with Minors
Preventing Harmful Relationships with Minors
Appropriate & Inappropriate Interactions
How to Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect of a Minor
Confirmation of Understanding
1. Guidelines for Appropriate Behavior with Youth Participants
As Mirror Image Arts employees and volunteers it is our duty to prevent harm towards all youth participants in our care. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a safe environment for both staff and minors, and to raise awareness of how to manage risk when minors are present in our programs and our facility. Youth Participants include any youth under the age of 26 years old. “Staff” includes both employees of Mirror Image Arts and volunteers. This policy will be provided to all new staff upon hire, and reviewed with returning staff on an annual basis. These guidelines emphasize the responsibility that staff and volunteers have in ensuring a safe and successful program and environment.
Best Practice For Safely Working with Youth Participants
I will…
Avoid being alone with a single youth participant where I cannot be observed by staff or other adults (‘two-adult rule”).
Not discipline minors by use of physical punishment or by failing to provide the necessities of care.
Treat all youth with respect, dignity, and fairness and acknowledge that physical, verbal, emotional, or sexual abuse of minors is unlawful and is prohibited by state law and the Mirror Image Arts Policy.
Serve as a positive role model in my language, actions, and appearance and will wear clothing that is modest, appropriate, and free from offensive language or images.
Actively supervise youth and ensure their safety in all spaces.
Use only verbal methods to de-escalate conflicts between youth; use physical intervention only if necessary to prevent harm, and report any such incidents to my supervisor immediately.
Communicate to my direct supervisor all situations that may be questionable or a possible breach of these guidelines. If I believe someone has perpetrated abuse or neglect, I will immediately and confidentially report such violation to Child Protective Services or the police, and follow MIA guidelines for internal reporting, as applicable.
Cooperate fully with any investigation of misconduct or safety concerns.
Not have off-hours contact with youth participants. For my well-being and the well-being of the organization, I will separate my private life from my work or volunteer activities.
Provide clear communication about the program at all times. Communicate the codes of conduct/rules/behavior to staff and youth participants at the onset of each program or event.
Clearly communicate to all Youth participants that they are not allowed on program premises without a staff member present.
Conduct no Internet social networking with minors for personal reasons.
Follow the program emergency plan for responding to a crisis situation. In case of emergency, I will contact emergency contacts as soon as possible.
I will not…
Engage in private communication with youth outside of official program channels (including texts, calls, or social media).
Allow bullying, hazing, or harassment of any kind.
Withhold basic needs (food, water, bathroom, medical care) from any youth. Allow minors to supervise other minors without adult oversight.
Ignore or fail to report any suspected abuse, neglect, or policy violations.
2. Preventing Harmful Relationships with Minors: The following are specific actions staff can follow in order to avoid harmful relationships with minors.
Establish clear boundaries with minors, i.e. stating what are or are not appropriate conversation topics.
Do not have inappropriate physical contact (see chart below).
Treat all minors equitably, i.e. fairly and consistently. Avoid showing favoritism
Follow appropriate professional attire guidelines and avoid provocative or revealing attire.
Do not allow youth participants in your living quarters.
Do not transport minors in a private vehicle without explicit program permission.
Do not discuss your own or participant’s sex life or activities.
Do not smoke or drink alcohol in the presence of youth participants.
Do not share sexually explicit literature, magazines, books, music, or videos.
Seek support for high risk situations, such as discussions of very personal stories.
When in doubt, seek assistance from a supervisor.
3. Appropriate & Inappropriate Interactions:
The following chart lists unacceptable and acceptable behaviors and actions with youth participants. It is intended to give clarity to unacceptable interaction between staff (employee or volunteer) and minors and the consequences for those actions. The lists are illustrative and not all-inclusive; other behaviors may be identified.
Consequences of inappropriate behaviors: Mirror Image Arts will take these matters seriously. In the case of suspected abuse or neglect of a minor, the organization will adhere to existing policies and procedures for corrective action. Actions taken will first and foremost consider the need to ensure the safety of minors participating in the program.
4. How to Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect of a Minor:
All MIA employees are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the authorities, as outlined below.
Abuse can occur:
1. At home or away from the program; signs of abuse may be observed at the program, or a minor makes a written or oral disclosure.
2. During the program by an employee, volunteer or other adult or minor:
a. Staff can break rules or cross boundaries of appropriate interaction with minors.
b. Minors can act out by themselves or with other minors, including bullying, intimidation or other prohibited acts.
If you have reasonable cause to believe a minor has been abused, or if a minor has disclosed an abuse to you, you have a duty to report that abuse to the proper authorities. Failure to do so is a violation of MIA Guidelines for Working with Minors and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
Even if you’re not sure whether something constitutes abuse, it’s better to have others help you decide, rather than keep information to yourself.
As mandatory reporters, we are required by law to report known or suspected instances where a minor has been abused or neglected. Not doing so is considered a gross misdemeanor.
At the first reasonable cause to believe that abuse or neglect occurred (off-site or on-site), or if you witness abusive behaviors, you must:
1) If the safety of a minor is of immediate concern, call the police:
Call 9-1-1 for immediate intervention.
2) For all other cases, call either Child Protective Services (CPS) or local law enforcement within 48 hours:
CPS reporting Hotline - 1-844-264-5437 Colorado’s free hotline.
Alternatively, call local police, specifically the jurisdiction where the incident occurred. If the incident occurred on MIA property, call (720) 898-6900, Arvada Police.
Questions that will be asked when you call:
The name, address and age of the minor.
The name and address of the minor’s parent, guardian or other persons having custody of the minor.
The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, including location and description of the incident.
Any knowledge of previous incidents.
Any other information which may be helpful in establishing the cause of the minor’s abuse or neglect and the identity of the perpetrator.
You do not need to have all of the above information when you call to make a report, but the more accurate information you can provide, the better equipped the office will be to assess the child's risk. Provide the information you are able to obtain, as clearly and objectively as possible. Describing actions, symptoms, physical observations or telling what is said, is more helpful than giving your opinion.
If you are unsure about whether a report is justified, immediately reach out to your supervisor for support.
For cases involving abuse occurring in a MIA program or on MIA property, contact your supervisor immediately after making your report to CPS or law enforcement, and follow the MIA instructions on internal reporting. Describe what occurred and who was involved, and any details regarding your conversation with CPS or law enforcement.
Mirror Image Arts will adhere to existing policies and procedures for corrective action regarding the employee or volunteer, including suspension or termination or volunteer status.
Confidentiality of information related to abuse is crucial and should be limited to the immediate supervisor, any authorities called, and designated MIA internal reporting recipient(s)
5. Acknowledgement and Agreement
I have read and understand this Code of Conduct: Guideline for Working with Minors. By filling out the acknowledgment form below, I agree to follow these expectations at all times while working with or around youth in this organization’s building or programs. I understand that violations may result in disciplinary action, removal from the program, or legal consequences.
Time Off/Sick Request
Need to request time-off? Fill out the form and allow 24 hrs for a supervisor to respond. Request that are not made at least 4 weeks before the time being requested, may be denied.
All new team members are invited to read our cultural commitment. Once you have read the MIA Cultural Commitment, please fill out the Acknowledgement form below.
MIA Cultural Commitment Acknowledgement Form
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