Child Safety & Safeguarding Policy

Our commitment

The safety of every girl comes before every program, event, and partnership. This policy applies to staff, mentors, volunteers, board members, contractors, and partner organizations working with participants ages 8–18.

Screening and training

• Criminal background check before any unsupervised contact with participants.
• Reference checks and an application interview for all mentors.
• Child safeguarding and mandatory-reporter training before the first session, refreshed annually.
• Signed code of conduct on file for every adult in a program setting.

Supervision standards

• Two-adult rule: no adult is alone one-on-one with a participant behind a closed door.
• In-home mentoring requires a parent or guardian present in the home.
• Communication with a participant happens through parent-included channels — never private personal messaging.
• Transportation of a participant requires written parent permission and an approved, insured driver.
• Restrooms, changing, and overnight arrangements follow strict same-gender, multi-adult supervision rules.

Prohibited conduct

• Any physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse, or any form of grooming behavior.
• Sharing a participant's photo, contact details, or story outside approved channels.
• Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, vaping, or weapons at any program or event.
• Discipline involving physical contact, humiliation, isolation, or withholding food or water.

Reporting a concern

Anyone — parent, girl, volunteer, or community member — may raise a concern confidentially through our contact form or by emailing hello@girlsglowingup.org. Reports are reviewed by leadership immediately, the adult involved is removed from contact with participants during review, and suspected abuse or neglect is reported to child protective services and law enforcement as required by Alabama mandatory-reporter law. We do not retaliate against anyone who reports a concern in good faith.

Emergencies

This website is not monitored for emergencies. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911. For crisis support, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.