Besides schools, several other organizations and agencies owe a reasonable duty of care and supervision to the children and youth in their custody. These agencies may not be state-registered but must still comply with specific child supervision and safety standards set by their accreditation or oversight authorities and relevant state, federal, and local laws. Such steps safeguard the health and well-being of the children and can protect these organizations from costly litigation issues.
School Liability Expert Group works with defendant and plaintiff attorneys, parents, schools, and other child—and youth-oriented organizations, providing expert witness services and consultation in agency negligence and liability issues. Hundreds of law firms have enlisted our expert witnesses to review and analyze cases, deposition and trial testimonies, and comprehensive report compilations.
Parents come to us when seeking the best agency placements for their children or filing a negligence claim against an agency. We help them review agencies’ special education and child custody issues and initiate lawsuits when necessary. We help schools and agencies assess their quality and safety standards and practices, identifying gaps and weaknesses that could attract litigation issues. We also train their staff on safety and compliance matters.
SOME OTHER GROUPS THAT WE CATER TO
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts
Scouting programs are integral to schools and other community organizations. National councils like the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA have established strict policies and guidelines within which scouting units and troops must operate to safeguard scouts from harm.
Still, it’s not uncommon to find situations where such organizations have breached their standard of care to protect their reputation, giving way to child abuse. Our expert witnesses can handle complex cases involving these other child and youth-oriented organizations for parents, schools, and attorneys.
To avoid liability claims, scouting programs must consistently enforce their guidelines at all management levels. These measures include background checks, certification, and adequate training of scout leaders and volunteers on youth protection; mandatory reporting of abuse to law enforcement; zero one-on-one adult-youth contact; consistent youth supervision; and emergency management procedures.
Progressive scouting through units and troops ensures that children engage in age-appropriate activities. Sponsor organizations like schools should undertake their legal obligations to provide safe venues, resources, and age-appropriate scouting activities like leadership, outdoor adventures, and entrepreneurial initiatives.
YMCA
In YMCA centers where large numbers of youth engage in a wide variety of activities, liability issues like personal injuries, bullying, discrimination, and sexual abuse become potential risks. Our experts can evaluate these other child and youth-oriented organizations’ practices to ensure they align with the YMCA’s child protection code of conduct. Recommended measures include frequent staff screening and training on abuse recognition and reporting, supervised staff-youth interactions, youth training and sensitization on personal safety, and inclusivity. Safety procedures like age-appropriate activities and facility inspections are also critical.
Little League
Little League International has strict standards to guide league managers, coaches, umpires, volunteers, and athletes on safety and athlete protection. In sports injury-related litigation, our expert witnesses can determine whether other child and youth-oriented organizations like local Little Leagues took appropriate precautions and measures to prevent or address injuries.
These include regular playfield and equipment checks and maintenance; staff background checks; annual training of coaches and volunteers on abuse awareness, injury prevention, and first aid; enforcement of Little League’s zero-tolerance policy on any form of abuse; observable staff-player interactions; immediate medical attention to emergencies; mandated abuse reporting; and consistent athlete supervision. Coaches should also form teams based on age and skill levels.
Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)
AAU has guidelines governing its competitive and wide variety of sports, much like the Little League’s policies. AAU’s local clubs and teams should appropriately implement the Athlete Protection and Abuse Prevention Policy and any additional safety recommendations. AAU provides handbooks to direct each game. AAU expects coaches to undergo SafeSport training and certification, equipment, gear, and playing surfaces to meet safety standards, minimal one-on-one interactions, two-deep leadership, observance of concussion protocols, and proper emergency response.
Youth Dance and Art Programs
Dance studios and art programs are other child and youth-oriented organizations that can immensely benefit from our expert services. Since these programs lack oversight organizations that govern their practices, they can easily overlook some important safety and supervisory requirements and risk lawsuits. We can help such agencies develop and implement written policies that are at par with the best professional standard of care within their respective industries. Our experts also clearly understand the federal, state, and municipal standards these agencies must adhere to. We can adequately train their staff until they can habitually perform their supervisory duties and recognize and stop dangerous activities.
Self-Defense Schools
Injuries are an inherent risk in intense programs like self-defense and martial arts. With the help of our expert witness company, these other child and youth-oriented organizations can develop stringent safety and supervisory policies and regulations consistent with those of national organizations like USA Karate, USA Taekwondo, and more. We can provide continuous education and training for self-defense instructors on diligent supervision, emergency-response protocols, misconduct reporting, equipment and protective gear standards, appropriate martial arts certifications like SafeSport, and compliance with state, federal, and local regulations for running these intensive sports.
Religious Summer Camps
Religious organizations like churches and mosques tend to assume that their moral and ethical teachings are enough to instill appropriate practices and behaviors among all its members. For this reason, they may not appropriately train or supervise their volunteers, religious teachers, or parents on proper engagements with children. Such lax attitudes can attract costly litigation.
With the help of our expert witnesses, these other child and youth-oriented organizations can find numerous resources to guide their activities, like the SafeChurch training programs provided by GuideOne Insurance. Such training resources include guidelines for facility safety, transportation safety, child abuse prevention, incident management, and more. These organizations should also develop proper child safety policies, including volunteer screening, hiring, and supervision processes.
Do You Need Help With a School or Agency Liability Matter?
You can count on School Liability Expert Group for prompt, reliable, and individualized consultation and expert witness services involving other child and youth-oriented organizations in matters related to accidents and child injury, school and agency personnel matters, sexual abuse and harassment, special education programs, and school evaluation in custody matters. Contact us today to discuss how our experts can help you or your organization.