TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy
(as of 2/6/2023)
Foundation
At See Beyond, the basis for our communication with Third Culture Kids (TCKs) is to validate and hear their stories. Sometimes, their stories are good and filled with joy; other times, their stories are hard and painful. Sometimes, these stories lead them to places of growth and encouragement; other times, these stories cause them to struggle.
It is often easier for TCKs to tell their story to someone who has a similar or shared experience, in this case, someone who is an adult TCK, a parent of TCKs, or someone who has lived in a similar cross-cultural context. It is also helpful for TCKs to share their stories with someone who has an outside, objective perspective.
The purpose of our communication and conversations with TCKs, especially debriefing, is to benefit the TCK and their life situation, as well as to validate their story and experience.
Definitions:
Child/Children For purposes of this policy, the terms “child” or “children” include all persons under the age of eighteen (18) years. The term See Beyond (SB) Staff includes both paid and unpaid persons who work with children through See Beyond LLC.
Confidentiality
SB staff will follow the general SB confidentiality and privacy policies found here. However, special considerations for minors are noted in more detail in this document.
The above linked policy is also true for our work with minors, except that for children ages 12 and under, we do not provide confidentiality protection with parents. In other words, we will share important content with parents. For ages 13 and older, our staff will seek to keep confidential all of what is shared, with the exception of harm to self or others.
With verbal or written permission, we may take photos for internal historical records and/or celebration. Photos will not be shared on any website, public forum, or social media without the child’s and parent’s written consent.
Child Protection
SB cares for the safety of minors. Our desire for this document is to protect both the minors whom we serve as well as our SB staff who work with them.
General Principles:
The three principles for reducing risk are: low isolation, reducing the imbalance of power, and high accountability. Where one is not possible, then the others will be increased.
Staff Screening:
Staff undergo a professional background check and references are screened to do our best to hire staff who are loving and caring of minors and who have no background of abuse. SB TCK staff also successfully complete an external child protection training designed for those working with children.
Physical Contact:
SB staff follow these guidelines regarding physical contact.
Touch is designed to meet the needs of the child, not of the adult.
Staff do not push, hit, shove, shake, pinch, or corporally discipline children.
Staff do not touch a child inappropriately–in other words, they do not touch “bathing suit areas.”
Touch is done with respect—the general rule is that we let them initiate most contact.
Staff show affection or comfort with gestures such as verbal praise, side hugs, pats on the shoulder, and high fives.
Use of Language: SB staff will use language that is encouraging. We will not use language that is belittling, shaming, or bullying. While cultural norms vary, we seek to avoid language that is considered rude, crude, or foul among the cultural group we are working with.
Technology/ Virtual Safety:
We encourage minors to use technology in open public spaces. SB is not responsible for their safety on their computers while attending a SB event.
Just like in real life, one-on-one situations between children and others online can threaten their safety. In order to avoid this and keep us above reproach, we do not conduct online retreat sessions without a co-leader. In the case of online debriefs, coaching, or personalized care, a written agreement regarding the child’s interaction and physical space (open public or private space) is obtained in advance.
Parents maintain full responsibility for their children throughout online sessions. We are not responsible for children’s physical safety or anything they do on their own computers during our online events. Our primary responsibility is to ensure children are not exposed to any threats that originate from the SB online event.
SB staff will not communicate with SB clients/children via social media or communication platforms, like WhatsApp or Signal.
Meeting Location and Transportation of Minors:
SB’s general rule is to have two unrelated adults present in work with children or when children are gathering. Parents may give permission for exceptions. Parents/Guardians are consulted and/or informed of the location of and transportation to meetings or events. Effort is made to find a location and transportation where minors can feel safe to share without being overheard, and at the same time not be isolated. SB will provide an adequate number of adults for youth events and overnight activities (generally in a 1/10 ratio with a minimum of 2 total). Parents will be informed in advance and have the opportunity to express preferences, as to how supervision and sleeping arrangements will be managed.
Exceptions do happen and are explained and agreed to by parents in advance, in writing.
Medication:
SB staff will not carry, hold, or administer prescription or nonprescription medications to minors. The exception would be if we have medically trained staff and have been given written consent by the parents, during off-site, multi-day events.
Discipline:
SB staff do not administer any form of corporal punishment. Discipline is designed to instruct. We will use verbal corrective measures and notify parents if the child’s behavior is unreasonably disruptive and consistently unchanged.
Always help them understand why they are being disciplined and use clear, consistent, safe, low-stakes methods, such as time out.
Use positive language to improve the experience of the child and the group while keeping everyone safe.
Use discipline methods that are safe, nonphysical, motivating, and constructive.
Never hit, push, grab, or be rough with children—unless their immediate physical safety is threatened (i.e. pulling them out of the way of a speeding train).
Injuries:
In the event that a child or youth is injured while under our care, we will use the following guidelines:
1. For minor injuries, scrapes, and bruises, the SB staff may provide first aid (Band-Aids, etc.) as appropriate.
2. For injuries requiring medical treatment beyond simple first aid, the parent, when present, is required to attend to the child and decide on the necessary care.
3. For TCK retreats, SB staff will preemptively have parental written permission to treat or admit children to the nearest or best hospital or clinic.
Responsibility to Act/Taking Action
Definitions:
For purposes of this policy, “child abuse” is any action (or lack of action) that endangers or harms a child’s physical, psychological, or emotional health and development. Child abuse occurs in different ways and includes the following:
• Physical abuse – any physical injury to a child that is not accidental, such as beating, shaking, burning, and biting.
• Emotional abuse – emotional injury when the child is not nurtured or provided with love and security, such as an environment of constant criticism, belittling, and persistent teasing.
• Sexual abuse – any sexual activity between a child and an adult or between a child and another child at least four years older than the victim, including activities such as fondling, exhibitionism, intercourse, incest, and pornography.
• Neglect – depriving a child of his or her essential needs, such as adequate food, water, shelter, and medical care.
Harm to self or others for minors:
Some examples of situations that can be considered harmful are: (not exhaustive list)
Suicidal thoughts/actions
Actions of self harm like cutting/burning
Threats/actions to harm others
Threats of violence from others
Abuse (physical, spiritual, sexual, mental, emotional) by or of a sibling, friend or stranger, local or expat
Addiction/abuse (e.g. drugs, alcohol, porn, gaming ...)
Illegal activity (e.g. stealing, dealing …)
Sexual promiscuity, sexting, images/videos
Eating disorders
Bullying or being bullied
Gambling, gang-activity
SB staff will report abuse or harm to self or others situations within 24 hours to the parents and/or appropriate authorities. When parental abuse is reported, the appropriate authorities may include the parents’ sending company or organization. SB staff will consult with their supervisor and/or licensed counselor advisor. If it is a SB staff person who is accused of abuse, they will be suspended from working until an investigation is completed. SB TCK staff are thoroughly vetted, independent contractors and liable for their own actions, independent of SB.
Changes to This TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy
We may update our TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy on this page.
We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service, prior to the change becoming effective and update the "effective date" at the top of this TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy.
You are advised to review this TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this TCK Confidentiality and Child Protection Policy, please contact us: info@seebeyond.cc