MYI (Mentor Youth Initiative)

Youth Protection & Safeguarding Policy

1. Purpose

MYI (Mentor Youth Initiative) is committed to providing a safe, respectful, inclusive, and supportive environment for all youth participants.

The purpose of this Youth Protection & Safeguarding Policy is to:

• Protect youth from abuse, neglect, exploitation, harassment, and inappropriate conduct.

• Establish standards of behavior for mentors, volunteers, staff, contractors, and program participants.

• Promote a culture of safety, respect, accountability, and trust.

• Provide procedures for reporting and responding to concerns.

This policy applies to all MYI activities, including in-person events, mentoring sessions, webinars, workshops, virtual meetings, communications, and online platforms.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• Mentors

• Volunteers

• Board members

• Staff members

• Contractors

• Guest speakers

• Program partners

• Youth participants

• Parents and guardians participating in MYI activities

3. Guiding Principles

MYI believes that:

• Every young person has the right to feel safe.

• The welfare of youth is the highest priority.

• All concerns should be taken seriously.

• Prevention is the best form of protection.

• Respect, dignity, and inclusion must guide all interactions.

• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

4. Definitions

Youth Participant

Any participant under the age of eighteen (18).

Abuse

Includes but is not limited to:

• Physical abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Psychological abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Neglect

• Exploitation

• Online abuse or cyber harassment

Safeguarding Concern

Any concern regarding the safety, well-being, treatment, or protection of a youth participant.

5. Standards of Conduct

All adults involved with MYI must:

• Treat youth with dignity and respect.

• Act professionally at all times.

• Maintain appropriate boundaries.

• Use positive and supportive language.

• Encourage participation in a safe environment.

• Respect diversity and inclusion.

Adults must never:

• Humiliate, intimidate, threaten, or shame a youth participant.

• Use discriminatory language or behavior.

• Engage in bullying.

• Use inappropriate jokes, comments, or gestures.

• Engage in romantic or sexual behavior with participants.

• Exchange sexually suggestive messages or content.

• Request inappropriate photographs or videos.

• Meet youth participants in private or isolated settings without authorization.

• Transport youth participants without parental permission and organizational approval.

• Consume alcohol, cannabis, or illegal substances during youth activities.

6. Communication Guidelines

To ensure safe interactions:

Approved Communication

Communication should occur through:

• MYI-approved email accounts

• Program platforms

• Official event systems

• Parent-approved communication methods

Communication Rules

Mentors and volunteers shall:

• Maintain professional communication at all times.

• Keep discussions focused on mentoring objectives.

• Avoid excessive personal conversations.

• Avoid secretive communications.

Where practical, parents or guardians should be copied on communications involving minors.

7. One-on-One Mentoring Requirements

One-on-one mentoring may occur when:

• Approved by MYI.

• Parent or guardian consent has been obtained.

• The communication platform is approved by MYI.

Whenever possible:

• Sessions should be scheduled in advance.

• Meetings should occur in visible or monitored settings.

• Virtual sessions should use approved platforms.

• Records of participation should be maintained.

8. Online Safety

For virtual mentoring and events:

Participants must not:

• Share inappropriate content.

• Record sessions without permission.

• Harass or bully others online.

• Share private participant information.

Mentors and volunteers must:

• Use professional screen names and profiles.

• Conduct themselves appropriately during virtual sessions.

• Report suspicious or inappropriate online activity immediately.

9. Screening and Background Checks

MYI may require mentors, volunteers, staff, or individuals working directly with youth to complete:

• Identity verification

• Reference checks

• Criminal Record Checks

• Vulnerable Sector Checks (where applicable)

MYI reserves the right to refuse or terminate participation based on screening results where permitted by law.

10. Duty to Report

Any person who becomes aware of:

• Abuse

• Neglect

• Exploitation

• Harassment

• Grooming behavior

• Safety concerns

• Violations of this policy

must report the concern immediately.

Reports should be made to:

MYI Youth Protection Officer
Email: info@mentoringyouthinitiative.com

If a youth is in immediate danger, contact emergency services immediately.

Nothing in this policy prevents a person from contacting law enforcement, child protection authorities, or emergency services directly.

11. Reporting Procedure

Step 1:
Ensure immediate safety of the youth participant.

Step 2:
Document relevant information, including:

• Date and time

• Names involved

• Description of incident

• Witnesses (if any)

Step 3:
Report concerns to the MYI Officer.

Step 4:
MYI will review and determine appropriate action.

12. Confidentiality

All safeguarding concerns shall be handled confidentially.

Information will only be shared with individuals who require it for:

• Investigation

• Protection of participants

• Legal compliance

• Risk management

Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where safety concerns exist.

13. Response to Concerns

Depending on circumstances, MYI may:

• Provide support to affected participants.

• Conduct an internal review.

• Suspend participation pending investigation.

• Remove mentors, volunteers, or participants.

• Notify parents or guardians.

• Contact child protection authorities.

• Contact law enforcement.

14. Non-Retaliation

No individual shall face retaliation for reporting a safeguarding concern in good faith.

Retaliation itself may result in disciplinary action or removal from MYI programs.

15. Training

MYI may provide safeguarding training for mentors, volunteers, staff, and program leaders.

Participation in required training may be mandatory before working with youth participants.

16. Policy Review

This policy shall be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect legal requirements, best practices, and organizational needs.

Acknowledgement

I acknowledge that I have read and understood the MYI Youth Protection & Safeguarding Policy and agree to comply with its requirements.