Transportation Activities
Transporting youth may increase the risk of abuse or false allegations of abuse because staff and volunteers may be alone with a youth or may make unauthorized stops with youth. In addition, transportation activities may provide a time for unsupervised youth to engage in youth-to-youth sexual activity. Therefore, it is the policy of the YMCA of Greater Dayton not to transport youth in personal vehicles.
The transportation guidelines:
a. Require written parent permission from all youth on the trip. Staff take these permission forms and medical releases with them on the trip or have them readily available.
b. Require staff to have a list of the youth on the trip. The staff take roll when boarding the bus, when leaving the bus, periodically throughout the trip, and then again when boarding the bus.
c. Specify staff-to-youth ratios. When possible, do not count the driver in the supervision ratio.
d. Require staff to sit in seats that permit maximum supervision.
e. Discourage mixed age groups from sitting together. When possible, high risk youth are seated by themselves or with a staff member.
f. Prohibit drivers from making unauthorized stops.
g. Require documentation of any unusual occurrences.
When public transportation is used:
a. In addition to the transportation procedures listed above, youth should remain in one area of the bus, if possible.
b. Staff and volunteers that are assigned to a group should remain with that group on the bus.
c. Take a headcount or call roll immediately after entering and leaving the bus.
In situations where staff transport youth in rented, chartered, or leased vehicles:
a. Administrators must be notified of all transportation activities.
b. Use the “rule of three” when transporting youth: At least two adults must transport a single youth, or at least two youth must be present if transported by a single adult.
c. Youth must never be transported without written permission from a parent.
d. Youth must be transported directly to their destination. No unauthorized stops may be made.
e. A staff member must document beginning and ending times and mileage, the names of youth, and other staff and volunteers who are involved in transportation, purpose of the transportation, and destination.
f. Staff must avoid unnecessary physical contact with youth while in vehicles.
g. When possible, staff should avoid engaging in sensitive conversations with youth.
Index: M22