How the Youth Protection Policy Is Enforced

Who watches for problems, how spot checks work, what happens step by step when a rule is broken, and why safety beats program pressure.

Status

This policy was adopted by the Ras Tafari Inc. board on October 17, 2026. No staff have been hired yet, so the roles below are described by job, not by name. Stephen Henry, President, is the Lab lead.

Who monitors

Every-class checklist (lead coach)

1. Before children arrive: confirm at least two adults cleared by the Park District's background check are present. If not, class does not start.
2. Confirm the first-aid-certified adult is present and the first aid kit and rescue medicines are in place (see First aid roster).
3. Confirm the headcount will stay within 6 children per adult. Sound and stage crew never count toward the ratio.
4. During class: one-on-one reviews happen in the open; restroom trips follow the buddy procedure.
5. At close: every child signed out in the sign-out tool with photo ID checked; any incident logged the same day.
6. Note any deviation, even a small one, in the incident log.

Spot checks

1. At least once per season, a Ras Tafari Inc. officer who is not the Lab lead visits a class without notice.
2. They check: two adults present, ratio, one-on-one in the open, restroom procedure, sign-out log matches the children present, and that no adult has a private message thread with a child (adults are asked to confirm this in writing each season).
3. They review a sample of sign-out records against the authorized-pickup lists.
4. Findings are written up and shared with the Lab lead and the board. Problems are fixed before the next class.
5. Parents may also observe at any time. A parent dropping in is not a disruption; it is part of the design.

What happens when a rule is broken

1. Make the child safe first. The other adult separates the adult from children right away if there is any risk.
2. Call for help if needed. Immediate danger: 911. Suspected abuse or neglect: DCFS Hotline, 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873), made directly by the adult who has the concern. See Mandated reporter training.
3. Report a concern about any adult to the Chicago Park District (the Rainbow Beach Park office, (312) 745-1479, or any Park District staff member) the same day, and tell the Lab lead. If the concern is about the Lab lead, tell another Ras Tafari Inc. officer instead, and CPD as always (see Enforcement and self-accountability).
4. Call the parent the same day, and send a written report within 24 hours. See Incident reporting.
5. Suspend first. The adult is removed from contact with children while CPD (and DCFS or police, if involved) look into it. Suspension is not a finding of guilt; it is how we keep children safe in the meantime.
6. CPD handles complaints about adults. Ras Tafari Inc. passes along everything it has, preserves records, cooperates fully, and does not investigate in place of CPD or run its own interviews of children.
7. Decision about the Lab role, made in writing by Ras Tafari Inc. officers who were not involved, taking account of CPD's outcome: reinstate with written warning and retraining, or remove permanently. Zero-tolerance items always mean permanent removal. If CPD bars someone, they don't return.
8. Fix the system. If a gap in the process allowed it, the process changes and families are told.

Zero tolerance: permanent removal, no second chance

• Any sexual contact, sexual talk or sexual material involving a child.
• Physical abuse, or physical punishment of any kind.
• Grooming behavior as described in the Youth protection policy.
• Being alone with a child out of sight on purpose, or hiding contact with a child.
• Private messaging with a child, or giving a child a ride.
• Being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or drugs at a Lab activity (see Substance-free policy).
• Failing to report, or trying to stop someone else from reporting, suspected abuse.
• Lying on an application, or to the Park District during its background check.
• Retaliating against any child, parent or adult who raised a concern.

Independence from program pressure

• Safety beats the schedule. A class is cancelled rather than run without two cleared adults, a first-aid-certified adult, or a safe space. No exceptions for showcases or funders.
• No one is "too important." The rules apply to guest DJs, popular coaches, donors' relatives, vendors such as Q-Ality Sound, and Ras Tafari Inc. officers, including the President. The safety lead's call on volume, stage access or pausing a session stands; Q-Ality complies immediately or the session pauses.
• No permission needed to report. Any adult may call 911 or the DCFS Hotline directly. No one at the Lab may require that they be told first, or change or stop a report.
• No retaliation. Raising a concern in good faith never costs anyone their place, job or volunteer role.
• Concerns about the Lab lead go to CPD like any concern about an adult, and to another officer, and directly to DCFS or 911 when required. Conflict-of-interest concerns go to a director with no stake in the Lab or to CPD (Conflict of interest policy). See Enforcement and self-accountability and the Grievance procedure.

What you'll be told

• A phone call the same day if your child was involved in, or witnessed, a violation.
• A written report within 24 hours.
• The outcome, to the extent we can share it without harming another child's privacy or an investigation.
• A season summary, on request, of how many spot checks were done and whether any gaps were found (no names).

Sources

• U.S. Center for SafeSport, Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP): https://maapp.uscenterforsafesport.org/
• Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, 325 ILCS 5: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=1460&ChapterID=32
• Illinois DCFS: https://dcfs.illinois.gov/