Child Safety

Dowden Terrace Recreation Association and Dowden Terrace Swim Team

Child Protection & Sexual Abuse/Harassment Policy

As stated in our bylaws, Dowden Terrace Recreation Association (“DTRA”) was “formed to promote the health and general welfare of its members.”To that end, DTRA has instituted this Child Protection & Sexual Abuse/Harassment Policyto promote a safe environment for our children, members, guests, coaches and staff, and to ensure that concerns about abuse and harassment may be reported and addressed.

DEFINITIONS:

• Child: For purposes of this policy, the terms “child”, “children” or “minors” mean those of less than eighteen (18) years of age.
• Child Sexual Abuse: Inappropriately exposing or subjecting a child to sexual contact, activity or behavior, whether or not the child has consented.
• SexualAbuse:Unwanted sexual activity, with perpetrators using force, making threats or taking advantage of victims not able to give consent.
• Sexual Harassment:Includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct or written communication of an intimidating, hostile, or offensive nature.

POLICY:DTRA and the Dowden Terrace Swim Team (“DT Dolphins”) will not tolerate sexual harassment/abuse of any kind from any DTRA member, guest, staff member, coach, volunteer or DT Dolphins swimmer toward any other DTRA member, guest, staff member, coach, volunteer or DT Dolphins swimmer. DTRA will obtainbackground checks on its own coachesand staffand will also request that our pool management company obtain background checks on lifeguards working at our pool.

This policy will be displayed prominently on DT premises and posted on the DTRA website. The DTRA Board will also review this policy annually and make revisions as needed.

REPORTING:

Any DTRA member, guest, DT Dolphin swimmer, volunteer, coach or staff member who has reason to believe that abuse or misconduct as defined by this policy is occurring or may haveoccurred should immediately report their concerns to any member of the DTRA Board. DTRA will also report any allegations of abuse or misconduct involving children to the parents and/or guardians of the child or children involved, unless a parent and/or guardian is suspected of abuse or misconduct. As required by Federal, Virginia and/or local law, instances of harassment or sexual abuse should be reported to law enforcement agencies for further investigation. The Board may also contact Fairfax County Child Protective Services Hotline (703-324-7400).

Any DTRA member, guest,volunteer or DT Dolphins swimmer who is determinedto have perpetrated sexual harassment/abuse is subject to discipline, up to and including revocation of his or her membership with DTRA or the DT Dolphins.

Any staff member or coach who is determined to have perpetrated harassing conduct or sexual abuse is subject to discipline, up to and including immediate termination.

If the immediate safety of any DTRA member, guest,staff member, coach, volunteer or DT Dolphins swimmer is in question, the accused will be temporarily suspended from all pool and team functions, including but not limited to practices, meets, and meetings.