We are pleased to offer this free downloadable and printable resource with child safety questions to ask

youth-serving organizations before enrolling your children in their programs. This resource is designed to empower adults with organized, thoughtfully categorized questions to help ensure the sexual safety and well-being of children in all types of youth-serving settings.

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How to Use This Guide There’s no need to ask every question included in this resource. Instead, prioritize questions based on the specific type of program your child will be joining and the safety topics that are most important to you. Think of this resource as a customizable tool to guide your conversation effectively.

 

Starting the Conversation We understand that bringing up child sexual abuse prevention and safety concerns to an organization or program can feel uncomfortable. It’s helpful to communicate thoughtfully and kindly and to avoid sounding overbearing or difficult. Here’s an example of how to start the conversation with kindness and clarity:

 

"I’ve recently learned more about child sexual abuse prevention and safety practices, and it

has encouraged me to ask a few questions to feel more confident about the programs we’re

exploring. I’d love to learn more about how your organization prioritizes child safety. May I ask

a few questions?"

 

This approach sets a positive and curious tone and encourages a productive conversation. It’s also a chance to raise awareness and even offer helpful resources, such as:

 

•The Diana Screen® for screening applicants for sexual safety.

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•The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s manual on Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in

 Youth-Serving Organizations: Getting Started on Policies and Practices

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•Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children sexual abuse prevention training for staff

 

Sharing resources can support organizations and encourage exploring areas for improvement.

 

Discussing Safety Screening Many youth-serving organizations use The Diana Screen® during the application process to screen applicants for sexual risk to children. These organizations know they must do more than criminal background checks to protect children since background checks are not effective at protecting children from sexual abuse or the crossing of their sexual boundaries.