Policies

Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy

Adopted by the DWF Board of Directors, October 2026

This policy applies to all Dreamers Wish Foundation staff, board members, instructors, changemakers, contractors, and partner personnel who work with children and youth (ages 6–19) in DWF programs, including the Robotics & AI Bootcamp, Financial Literacy Kids Bootcamp, and Ghana/Kenya trip programs.

1. Purpose

DWF exists to help children learn and thrive. This policy ensures every child and young person in our programs is safe from harm — physical, emotional, and sexual — and knows how to report concerns. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, from the board chair to the newest changemaker.

2. Scope

This policy covers all DWF programs and activities involving minors in Utah, Ghana, and Kenya: classes, workshops, trips, showcases, transport, meals, online sessions, and any communications with youth participants.

3. Recruitment and screening

Every adult working directly with youth completes a background check before starting.
Two reference checks are collected for every instructor and long-term changemaker.
No adult with a conviction for a violent, sexual, or child-related offense may work with youth in any DWF program.
Returning changemakers re-attest annually that their record is unchanged.

4. Training

All youth-facing adults complete a safeguarding orientation before their first session.
Annual refresher training for all active instructors and changemakers.
Records of training completion are kept by the program lead.

5. Supervision — the two-adult rule

No adult is ever alone with a single child. Sessions run with at least two screened adults present.
One-on-one conversations with a youth happen in open, visible spaces with another adult nearby.
Session attendance is recorded (sign-in/sign-out) for every class.

6. Physical contact and boundaries

Physical contact is limited to what is appropriate and necessary.
Never: lap-sitting, tickling, wrestling, corporal punishment, or any contact a child indicates they don’t want.

7. Photographs, video, and media

No child is photographed, filmed, or featured in any DWF content without written parent/guardian consent on file.
Youth are never identified by full name online without additional written consent.

8. Digital and online safety

All online sessions with youth use DWF-managed accounts with waiting rooms and a second adult present.
Adults do not communicate with youth through private, personal channels.

9. Transportation and off-site activities

Youth are transported only by screened drivers; parent/guardian written permission is required for off-site travel.
On trips, sleeping arrangements are separated by gender and age group with screened adult supervision.

10. Reporting concerns

Any safeguarding concern is reported to the program lead immediately, and no later than 24 hours.
If a child is in immediate danger, the reporter calls local emergency services first, then reports internally.
Retaliation against anyone who reports in good faith is prohibited.
DWF complies with all applicable mandatory reporting laws in each jurisdiction where it operates.

11. Accountability

The DWF board reviews this policy annually and after any serious incident.
Failure to follow this policy may result in removal from youth-facing roles and, where appropriate, referral to authorities.

Dreamers Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 87-1835814. Questions about this policy: contact@dreamerswishfoundation.org.