Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program

Welcome To The Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program

Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program

Dinoto Karate Center (DKC) places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our members. To maintain such an environment, DKC has adopted numerous procedural and instructor selection policies and provides training for all instructors as well as members.

Leadership Selection

Dinoto Karate Center takes great pride in the quality of our instructors. Being an instructor at Dinoto Karate Center is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our youth call for high-quality professional instructors. We work hard to select and train the best possible instructor for our school.

While no current screening techniques exist that can identify every potential child molester, we can reduce the risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant for an instructor’s position—his or her experience with children and why he or she wants to be an instructor.

Required Training

Youth Protection training is required for all instructors.

Youth Protection Reporting Procedures for Instructors

There are two types of Youth Protection–related reporting procedures all instructors must follow:

When you witness or suspect any child has been abused or neglected—See "Mandatory Report of Child Abuse" below.
When you witness a violation of the Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program policies—See "Reporting Violations of Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program Policies" below.

Mandatory Report of Child Abuse

All persons shall report to local authorities any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. You may not abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.

Steps to Reporting Child Abuse

Ensure the child is in a safe environment.
In cases of child abuse or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately. In addition, if the suspected abuse is in the child’s home or family, you are required to contact the local child abuse hotline (1-877-652-2873). http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/abuse/hotline/
Notify your Chief Master Instructor or Senior Instructor.

Reporting Violations of Dinoto Karate Center’s Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program Policies

If you think any of the Dinoto Karate Center's Safe Dojo Youth Protection Program policies have been violated, including those described within DKC’s Barriers to Abuse, you must notify the Chief Master Instructor so appropriate action can be taken for the safety of our members.

Dinoto Karate Center’s Barriers to Abuse

The Dinoto Karate Center has adopted the following policies to provide additional security for our members. These policies are primarily for the protection of our youth members; however, they also serve to protect our instructors and adult leaders from false accusations of abuse.

Two-deep leadership is required on all events and activities. Two registered adult instructors or one registered instructor and a parent of a participant, or other adult, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required in all events and activities. Dinoto Karate Center will be responsible for ensuring that sufficient instructors and CIT members are provided for all school events and activities.
One-on-one contact between instructors/adults and students/members is prohibited. In situations that require personal conferences, such as a progress meeting, the meeting is to be conducted in view of other adults and youths.
Privacy of youth is respected. Adults and instructors must respect the privacy of students in situations such as changing clothes, intruding only to the extent that health and safety require. Instructors and adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.
Inappropriate use of cameras, imaging, and digital devices is prohibited. While most people use cameras and other imaging devices responsibly, it has become very easy to invade the privacy of individuals. It is inappropriate to use any device capable of recording or transmitting visual images in changing areas, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected by participants.
No secret organizations. Dinoto Karate Center does not allow any secret organizations as part of its programs. All aspects of Dinoto Karate Center programs are open to observation by parents and instructors.
No hazing. Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Dinoto Karate Center activity.
No bullying. Verbal, physical, and cyber bullying are prohibited at Dinoto Karate Center.
Youth leadership is monitored by adult Certified Instructors. Adult instructors must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by youth leaders (CIT Members) and ensure that DKC policies are followed.
Discipline must be constructive. Discipline used at Dinoto Karate Center must be constructive, positive and reflect DKC’s values. Corporal punishment is NEVER permitted.
Appropriate attire for all classes, events and activities. Proper clothing for activities is required (approved karate uniform or school T-shirt). For example, revealing t-shirts, shorts, or bathing suits are not appropriate as part of Dinoto Karate Center martial arts classes, events and activities.
Members are responsible to act according to the Student Creed. All members of Dinoto Karate Center are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Student Creed. Physical violence, theft, verbal insults, drugs, and alcohol have no place in Dinoto Karate Center and may result in suspension or expulsion from Dinoto Karate Center.

Digital Privacy

A key ingredient for a safe and healthy experience at Dinoto Karate Center is the respect for privacy. Advances in technology are enabling new forms of social interaction that extend beyond the appropriate use of cameras or recording devices (see “Dinoto Karate Center’s Barriers to Abuse”). Sending sexually explicit photographs or videos electronically or “sexting” by cell phones is a form of texting being practiced primarily by young adults and children as young as middle-school age. Sexting is neither safe, nor private, nor an approved form of communication and can lead to severe legal consequences for the sender and the receiver. Although most people use digital devices responsibly, educating them about the appropriate use of cell phones and cameras would be a good safety and privacy measure.

Dinoto Karate Center’s Social Media Guidelines

The "three R's" of Youth Protection

The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a simple message for the personal awareness of our members:

Recognize situations that place you at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester.
Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance will stop most attempts at molestation.
Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse and helps to protect other children. Let the member (student) know he or she will not be blamed for what occurred.

Key Resources

State Statutes on Child Welfare [This site is not operated by Dinoto Karate Center, Inc] Reporting requirements for child abuse differ from state to state. The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources on a variety of topics, including state statutes on child abuse.

Child Abuse Hotline (State Central Registry) [This site is not operated by Dinoto Karate Center, Inc]

All reports of child abuse and neglect, including those occurring in institutional settings such as child care centers, schools, foster homes and residential treatment centers, must be reported to the State Central Registry (SCR).

This is a toll-free, 24-hour, seven-days-a-week hotline.

1-877 NJ ABUSE

(1-877-652-2873)

TTY 1-800-835-5510