Child safety
Principles
- Every staff member, mentor, and volunteer working with minors completes a documented child-safeguarding training.
- Background checks are mandatory for high-trust roles.
- Two-deep rule: no one-on-one meetings with a minor in a non-public space without program approval.
- All program communications happen through the secure portal whenever possible.
- Suspicious patterns (e.g., late-night messaging spikes) are automatically flagged.
Reporting concerns
Anyone — mentor, mentee, parent, staff, or community member — can report a concern at any time:
- Confidential email: safeguarding@happykidshappylife.org
- Hotline: +1 (929) 503-6332 (24/7)
- NY State Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-342-3720
- Emergency: 911
Photographs of children
We never publish photographs of minors without written consent from a legal guardian, and only after a child-safety review.