Form a Youth Safety Committee

הָפֵר מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּאֵין סוֹד וּבְרֹב יוֹעֲצִים תָּקוּם

Plans are foiled for want of counsel, but they succeed through many advisers. (Proverbs 15:22)

The book of Proverbs teaches us that our strongest plans are created and carried out together, with multiple voices and perspectives leading the way. This Best Practice will guide you through forming a committee focused on youth safeguarding, establishing a group of advisors and coordinators who maintain focus on your efforts and enact checks and balances around this sensitive topic.

Identify the people who will drive your youth safeguarding efforts forward.

Worksheet: Recruit your Committee

Outline: 1) the role of your youth safeguarding committee; and 2) your process for recruiting prospective members.

FAQ: Committee Member Recruitment

Answers to questions people often ask before agreeing to join a youth safeguarding committee.

Sample Email: Committee Member Recruitment

Inform potential members about the opportunity to serve on the committee.

Video: Voices from the Field

Hear from the Committee at Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale about the process they undertook to establish their committee. Length: 3:52

Increase your collective knowledge about youth maltreatment and identify the committee’s role in advancing safeguarding practices within your organization.

Guide: Onboard your Committee

Guidance for the committee chair on starting your collaborative work.

Guide: Cheshbon Hanefesh (Organizational Reflection)

Guidance for reviewing and taking responsibility for how your organization has handled any historical instances of abuse or maltreatment.

Training Video: Overview of Child Maltreatment

As a committee, watch this training for Jewish community leaders to learn about the prevalence, risk factors, and indicators of youth maltreatment. Length: 67:14

Companion Resources

Facilitator’s Guide: Training Video (Overview of Youth Maltreatment)

Use this facilitator’s guide to lead your committee in a discussion of the training video.

Handout: Training Video (Overview of Youth Maltreatment)

Give copies of this handout to each committee member to support your facilitated discussion of the training video.

Establish clear expectations and procedures for effective collaboration within your committee.

Worksheet: Committee Procedures

Create your committee’s procedures, policies, and protocols.

Sample: Policy Language on Committee Role, Composition, and Proceedings

Review the sample policy and protocols found in this document, discuss terms that are relevant to your Committee, and adapt.

Sample: Prayer and Intention-Setting

Ground each committee meeting in prayers that remind members to prioritize youth wellbeing in the decisions you make together.

1. Form a Youth Safeguarding Committee

2. Create Opportunities for Community Dialogue

3. Screen Employees & Volunteers

4. Assess Your Space

5. Implement Guidelines for Interacting with Youth

6. Train Adults in Safeguarding Practices

7. Support Victim Survivors

8. Protocols for Responding to Youth Maltreatment

9. Engage Youth in Safeguarding Efforts

10. Maintain & Evaluate your Youth Safeguarding Program

1. Form a Youth
Safety Committee

2. Create
Opportunities for Community Dialogue

3. Screen Employees
and Volunteers

4. Assess Your Space

5. Implement Guidelines for Interacting with Youth

6. Train Adults

7. Support
Victim-Survivors

8. Develop Protocols
for Responding

9. Empower Youth

10. Maintain &
Evaluate your Child
Safety Program