Introduction Each day, as many as 150 individuals with criminal records apply for positions with nonprofit organizations, many of whom are registered sex offenders. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports that, on average, a serial child sex offender will commit 150 acts of molestation against a child prior to being caught. This data was captured as part of survey completed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation among incarcerated child molesters. We understand that organizations serving children, particularly those from distressed circumstances, are most susceptible to being targeted by those who prey on children. Inside Out Club DuPage (IOCD) has a zero-tolerance policy for incidents of child abuse. We understand that protecting children is our most important responsibility, and that our programs serve no positive purpose if we do not ensure their safety. In EVERY case, the report of molestation and abuse, or suspected molestation or abuse, will be treated with absolute priority, and IOC will do everything in its power to ensure the successful prosecution of the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law. This document provides guidelines and establishes procedures for employees, board members, volunteers, consultants, or anyone conducting or involved (defined as “Individuals”) in youth programming on behalf of IOCD. Note that such Individuals do not include outside vendors, contractors, or service providers, unless they are directly involved with IOCD youth programming. Compliance IOCD, as part of its Child Protection Policy, is responsible for appointing a Compliance Officer which is currently the Executive Director. The Compliance Officer ensures the organization is acting in accordance with any requirements outlined in the policy. He/she is also responsible for designing and implementing any internal controls, policies, and/or procedures to assure compliance with the internal policy and with any outside parties. The Compliance Officer ensures that any reports/incidents are handled appropriately and in a timely manner, and responds to requests for information from internal and external clients. Other duties of the Compliance Officer include but are not limited to: • Conducting orientation and training of internal new hires; • Ensuring that background checks are conducted internally and externally; and • Notifying the Board of Directors of any incident reports Orientation and Training of Internal New Hires and Volunteers All internal new hires will be provided with training during their new hire/volunteer orientation within one month of starting, but always prior to working directly with children. Orientation/training will cover: • Employee/Volunteer obligations with regard to reporting incidents of child sexual molestation and abuse; and • The process for reporting to the proper authorities and notification of Compliance Officer and the Project Coordinator. Background Checks Until a time when national fingerprint-based criminal background check is available, at minimum IOCD Individuals will be subject to national name-based criminal background check upon hire. Continued volunteer or employee participation in any IOCD program is contingent upon the satisfactory results of the background check. All background checks resulting in a positive finding of sexual abuse or molestation or any misrepresentation as to any criminal record on the employment or volunteer application will result in termination of employment or permanently banned from working or volunteering in the organization. Volunteers or employees are required to report to IOCD any incident that would deem them unable to volunteer with children. Background checks are repeated if a volunteer and/or employee takes more than 12 months off from volunteering and/or employment. IOCD Individuals are defined as follows: • All employees of the IOCD • Any volunteer leading an Inside Out Club school session and/or weekend events where they are working directly with children on behalf of IOCD • All board members of the IOCD • All interns or others who may lead youth programming on behalf of the IOCD Background checks may be conducted, and if completed will be conducted by an approved Background Check Provider. Checks may include: • Address History • CANTS and Leads DCFS Search • Federal, State, and County Criminal Records File • National Sex Offender Registry • Social Security Number Verification Incident Reports The Inside Out Club DuPage Incident Report form MUST be filled out in the event an incident is reported or occurs. This form can be obtained from the Executive Director. The report will be submitted to the Compliance Officer and to the Project Coordinator and all appropriate authorities will be contacted. This form should be completed and submitted to the Compliance Officer immediately and no more than 24 hours after incident occurs or is brought to the attention of the Individual. Individuals must immediately report any and all incidents, suspected incidents, or allegations of molestation or abuse in accordance with the applicable law. Individuals will immediately report any and all incidents, suspected incidents, or allegations of molestation or abuse to the Compliance Officer. In the event the Compliance Officer is unable to make the report, the individual will make the report themselves to the proper local authorities if it is not the responsibility of the individual to decide if an incident is valid, truthful, or worth reporting. This determination will be made by local authorities. By signing below, I acknowledge that I have received, read and agree to abide by the IODC Child Protection Policy.

As an organization working with children, our primary concern is for their safety. All lead volunteers and staff working with children for I Support Community d/b/a Inside Out Club DuPage (IOCD) must review and adhere by the standards set forth in this document. This document outlines guidelines for acceptable interactions and behaviors between staff, volunteers and children, and between children and other peers as well as the procedures for child abuse reporting. The federal definition of child abuse and neglect includes the following: • Physical abuse: physical injury as a result of hitting, kicking, shaking, burning or otherwise harming a child • Sexual abuse: any situation where a child is used for sexual gratification. This may include indecent exposure, fondling, rape, or commercial exploitation through prostitution or the production of pornographic material • Emotional abuse: any pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth, including constant criticism, threats, and rejection • Neglect: failure to provide for a child’s basic needs Guidelines Below are guidelines for acceptable interactions and behaviors between staff, volunteers and children, and between children and other peers. • One staff person should never be in seclusion with one child. • There should be no physical contact between the children and the volunteers/staff other than high fives or when necessary for providing assistance, if requested with Inside Out Club activities (e.g., help put on goggles, help with cutting). • To protect Inside Out Club volunteers, Inside Out Club DuPage staff and program participants, at no time during the Inside Out Club program may a volunteer be alone with a single child where he or she cannot be observed by another volunteer. As volunteers supervise children, they should space themselves in such a way that other staff can see them. • All staff and volunteers should follow the outlined bathroom break procedures. First, a volunteer should check the restroom to be sure it is empty and safe. That volunteer remains in the hallway outside of the restroom while the child uses the restroom. Another volunteer keeps eyes on the first volunteer at all times during this process, so an adult is never alone with a child. A volunteer may also, instead send three children together to use the restroom. For weekend Inside Out Club events, the child’s parent or guardian attending the event with them should escort the child to the bathroom. • Volunteers and staff shall not abuse children in any way, including: o Physical abuse: slapping, pinching, etc. o Mental/Emotional abuse: teasing, humiliating, degrading, threatening, shaming, cruelty, etc. o Sexual abuse: touching or speaking inappropriately • Volunteers and staff shall use positive techniques of guidance, including redirection, positive reinforcement, and encouragement instead of competition, comparison, and criticism. • Physical restraint is only used if necessary to prevent one child from harming him or herself or another child. If physical restraint is used, it should be documented in an incident report and reviewed with the Executive Director. • Volunteers and staff will respond to children with respect and treat all children equally regardless of race, gender, culture, economic level of the family, or disability. • Volunteers and staff will respect children’s rights not to be touched or looked at in ways that make them feel uncomfortable. Children should never be touched in areas that would be covered by a bathing suit. • Volunteers and staff are not to transport children at any times. • Profanity, inappropriate jokes, sharing intimate details of one’s personal life, and any kind of harassment in the presence of children, parents, or other volunteers is prohibited. • Volunteers must be free of physical and psychological conditions that might adversely affect children’s physical or mental health. If in doubt, an expert should be consulted prior to volunteering. • Volunteers and staff will portray a positive role model for children by maintaining a positive attitude, being patient, courteous, and tactful. • Volunteers should not give excessive gifts to the children. All gifts should be cleared through the Project Coordinator of Inside Out Club DuPage. • Volunteers must appear clean, neat and appropriately attired. • Under no circumstances should a volunteer release a child to anyone other than the authorized parent, guardian, or other adult authorized by the parent or guardian. • Volunteers and staff are to report any conduct violations by any other volunteer or staff to the Project Coordinator of Inside Out Club DuPage. • Volunteers will act in a manner consistent with the mission of Inside Out Club DuPage. • Volunteers shall comply with all COVID-19 safety measures. Illinois Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) The Hotline operates 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. In the event the Program Coordinator or Executive Director is unable to make the report, any volunteer or staff member can call themselves. Reporters should be prepared to provide phone numbers where they may be reached throughout the day in case the Hotline must call back for more information. Information the reporter should have ready to give to the Hotline: • Names, birth dates (or approximate ages), races, genders, etc. for all adult and child subjects. • Addresses for all victims and perpetrators, including current location. • Information about the siblings or other family members, if available. • Specific information about the abusive incident or the circumstances contributing to risk of harm—for example, when the incident occurred, the extent of the injuries, how the child says it happened, and any other pertinent information. **If this information is not readily available, the reporter should not delay a call to the hotline. Child Abuse Reporting Procedures In the event of an accusation of child abuse, I Support Community d/b/a Inside Out Club DuPage (IOCD) will take prompt and immediate action as follows: 1. At the time of the first report or new allegations of child abuse or neglect, the staff/volunteer that it has been reported to will notify the Project Coordinator, who will review it with the Executive Director or his or her designee. 2. IOCD will make a report in accordance with relevant local and state reporting requirements and will cooperate to the extent of the law with any legal authority involved. 3. No IOCD staff or volunteer will ever be prevented from making a report to DCFS on their own. 4. In the event the reported incident involves a program volunteer or staff member, the Executive Director will immediately, without exception, suspend the volunteer or staff person until an investigation is complete. 5. The parent or legal guardian of the child or children involved will be notified immediately in accordance with the direction of the relevant local or state authority. If more than on child is involved, I Support Community will contact them separately and will not disclose the other child involved. 6. Reinstatement of the volunteer or staff member will only occur after all allegations have been cleared to the satisfaction of the Executive Director or his or her designee. 7. All volunteers and staff should be sensitive to the need for confidentiality in the handling of this information and therefore should only discuss the incident with the Executive Director or his or her designate.