Nonprofit Youth Program Safety and Child Protection Audit
Child safety is the paramount obligation of any nonprofit serving youth. This annual audit ensures all child protection policies are current, staff and volunteers are properly trained and screened, and the organization meets best practice standards for preventing and responding to child abuse.
- Industry: Nonprofit
- Frequency: Annually
- Estimated Time: 3-4 hours
- Role: Program Director / Executive Director
- Total Items: 29
Child Protection Policies
Verify child protection policies are current.
- Written child protection policy adopted by board?
- Policy reviewed and updated annually?
- Policy communicated to all staff, volunteers, and families?
- Clear procedures for reporting suspected abuse internally and to authorities?
- Social media and electronic communication policy covering youth interactions?
Screening and Background Checks
Verify screening for all youth-serving staff and volunteers.
- All staff and volunteers with youth access background-checked before service?
- Sex offender registry check conducted for all youth-serving personnel?
- Background checks renewed at least every 3 years for ongoing personnel?
- Reference checks conducted for all youth-serving staff?
- No person with youth access permitted to begin before background check cleared?
Supervision Rules
Verify supervision rules are followed.
- Two-adult rule enforced: no one-on-one situations between adult and youth?
- Adult-to-youth supervision ratios meeting program age-group standards?
- No private, unobservable spaces where adults can be alone with youth?
- Transportation policy prohibiting one-on-one adult-youth vehicle transport?
- Overnight program supervision and sleeping arrangement rules followed?
Mandatory Reporter Training
Verify mandatory reporter training.
- All staff and volunteers trained as mandatory reporters per state law?
- Mandatory reporter training completion documented for all personnel?
- Training renewed per state requirements (typically every 2-3 years)?
- Child abuse reporting hotline numbers posted in program areas?
- Internal reporting chain clear (who to tell if concerned about child)?
Incident Reporting and Response
Verify incident response procedures.
- All prior incident reports reviewed for patterns or unresolved issues?
- All required reports to child protective services or law enforcement made?
- Non-retaliation policy for good-faith reporters in place and communicated?
- Protocol for cooperating with external investigations in place?
Youth Safety Education
Verify youth safety education.
- Youth receive age-appropriate personal safety education?
- Youth know who to tell if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable?
- Parents and guardians informed of child protection policies at enrollment?
- Code of conduct for youth participants communicated?
- Youth know multiple trusted adults they can approach with concerns?
Related Nonprofit Checklists
- Nonprofit Youth Program Field Trip Safety and Compliance
- Nonprofit After-School Program Daily Operations
- Nonprofit Youth Summer Camp Daily Safety Operations
- Nonprofit Youth Mentoring Program Quality Standards
- Food Bank Annual Inventory and Program Audit
- Nonprofit Major Gift Cultivation and Solicitation Strategy
- Nonprofit Technology and Data Security Annual Review
- Nonprofit Grant Reporting Calendar and Deadline Management
Related Youth Programs Checklists
- Nonprofit Youth Program Safety and Child Protection Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Day Camp Safety and Operations Checklist - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Youth Mentoring Program Quality Standards - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Youth Program Field Trip Safety and Compliance - FREE Download
- Nonprofit After-School Program Daily Operations - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Youth Summer Camp Daily Safety Operations - FREE Download
- Nonprofit Youth Mentoring Program Quality Standards - FREE Download
Why Use This Nonprofit Youth Program Safety and Child Protection Audit?
This nonprofit youth program safety and child protection audit helps nonprofit teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for program director / executive director professionals, this checklist covers 29 critical inspection points across 6 sections. Recommended frequency: annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Nonprofit Youth Program Safety and Child Protection Audit cover?
This checklist covers 29 inspection items across 6 sections: Child Protection Policies, Screening and Background Checks, Supervision Rules, Mandatory Reporter Training, Incident Reporting and Response, Youth Safety Education. It is designed for nonprofit operations and compliance.
How often should this checklist be completed?
This checklist should be completed annually. Each completion takes approximately 3-4 hours.
Who should use this Nonprofit Youth Program Safety and Child Protection Audit?
This checklist is designed for Program Director / Executive Director professionals in the nonprofit industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.
Can I download this checklist as a PDF?
Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.