Child Protection Policy Updated 3.15.2021

Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition (FWDPC) seeks to provide a safe and secure environment for the children who participate in our programs and activities. By implementing the practices outlined below, our goal is to protect participants from incidents of misconduct or inappropriate behavior while also protecting our staff and volunteers from false accusations.

Definitions: For purposes of this policy, the terms “child” or “children” include all persons under the age of eighteen (18) years. The term “worker” includes both paid and volunteer persons who work with our participants.

Never Alone Rule: A child and a worker should never be alone together. All workers and participants should remain with the group in the water or on deck for the duration of the program. A worker should never take a child to an area of the pool where there are any obstructions to the view of other workers. All interactions between a worker and child should be observable and interruptible.

Physical Contact with Participants: The nature of FWDPC programs require physical contact between workers and participants. Workers will follow the following recommendations for appropriate physical contact

Workers will ask a participant’s permission verbally before touching them
Workers will only touch a participant on the midsection of their body during in water skills training, and only to keep the participant safe or show them the appropriate way to utilize the taught skill (I.E. helping a child stay in a back float, or holding a child up in the water).
Workers will never engage in a full-frontal hug with a participant. Side hugs, high fives, fist bumps, and elbow touches are all appropriate and encouraged to embolden the participant in their practice of new in water skills

Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse For purposes of this policy, “child abuse” is any action (or lack of action) that endangers or harms a child’s physical, psychological or emotional health and development. Child abuse occurs in different ways and includes the following:

Physical abuse – any physical injury to a child that is not accidental, such as beating, shaking, burns, and biting.

Emotional abuse – emotional injury when the child is not nurtured or provided with love and security, such as an environment of constant criticism, belittling and persistent teasing.

Sexual abuse – any sexual activity between a child and an adult or between a child and another child at least four years older than the victim, including activities such as fondling, exhibitionism, intercourse, incest, and pornography.

Neglect – depriving a child of his or her essential needs, such as adequate food, water, shelter, and medical care.

FWDPC workers may have the opportunity to become aware of abuse or neglect of the children participating in our program. In the event that a worker becomes aware of suspected abuse or neglect of a child during our program, this should be reported immediately to the Lead Trainer, Program Coordinator or Executive Director for further action including reporting to authorities as may be mandated by state law.

In the event that an incident of abuse or neglect is alleged to have occurred during our sponsored programs, the following procedure shall be followed:

The parent or guardian of the child will be notified.
The worker alleged to be the perpetrator of the abuse or misconduct will immediately be placed on leave from working with children pending an investigation and instructed to remain away from the premises during the investigation.
Civil authorities will be notified, and FWDPC will comply with the state’s requirements regarding mandatory reporting of abuse as the law then exists. FWDPC will fully cooperate with the investigation of the incident by civil authorities.
Our insurance company will be notified, and we will complete an incident report. Any documents received relating to the incident and/or allegations will immediately be forwarded to the insurance company.
The Executive Director will be our spokesperson to the media concerning incidents of abuse or neglect, unless he/she is alleged to be involved. We will seek the advice of legal counsel before responding to media inquiries or releasing information to the public. All other representatives of FWDPC should refrain from speaking to the media.
Any person who is not found innocent of the alleged abuse or misconduct will be removed from their position with FWDPC and will be restricted from volunteering for any future programs.

Grooming Behaviors: Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Grooming behaviors can include:

being very secretive with a child
showing individualized attention to a child in an inappropriate manner
pretending to be younger
buying gifts for a child
sexualized behavior or language with a child
isolating a child from the group

Grooming behaviors will not be tolerated at FWDPC programs by any worker. If it appears that a worker is grooming a child, this should be reported to the Lead Trainer, Program Coordinator or Executive Director immediately.

At no time should an FWDPC worker have contact with a child outside of FWDPC programs unless a previous relationship existed between a worker and a participant and their family. This includes in person, texting, and social media.

Restroom Guidelines: All participants under the age of 12 will be escorted from the pool to the bathroom by a worker. For children under the age of 5, the workers should then remain outside the restroom door and escort the children back to the pool edge. If a child is taking longer than seems necessary, the worker should call the child's name. If a child requires assistance, the worker should request a second worker accompany them into the bathroom to aid the child.

For children over the age of five, at least one adult male should take boys to the restroom and at least one adult female should take girls. The worker should check the restroom first to make sure that the restroom is empty, then allow the children inside. The worker should then remain outside the restroom door and escort the children back to the pool.

For the protection of all, workers should never be alone with a child in a restroom with the door closed and never be in a closed restroom stall with a child. Parents are strongly encouraged to have their children visit the restroom prior to the start of the program.

Discipline Policy: It is the policy of FWDPC not to administer corporal punishment, even if parents have suggested or given permission for it. There should be no spanking, grabbing, hitting, or other physical discipline of children. Workers should consult with the Lead Trainer, Program Coordinator or Executive Director if assistance is needed with disciplinary issues.

Accidental Injuries to Children: In the event that a child or youth is injured while at our program, the following steps should be followed:

For minor injuries, scrapes, and bruises, workers will provide First Aid (Band-Aids, etc.) as appropriate and will notify the child’s parent or guardian of the injury at the time the child is picked up from our care.
For injuries requiring medical treatment beyond simple First Aid, the parent and/or guardian will immediately be summoned. If warranted by circumstances, an ambulance will be called.
Once the child has received appropriate medical attention, an incident report will be completed in the case of injuries requiring treatment by a medical professional.

FWDPC will provide training on this child protection policy to all new workers and will strive to provide opportunities for additional training classes or events.

I have read and agree to abide by the Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition Child Protection Policy (updated 3/15/2021).

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