WMSPA Code of Conduct and Child Abuse Prevention Policies

Adopted: October 2024

It is important to understand what is considered as appropriate behavior versus inappropriate behavior while working or volunteering at Wildwood Manor Swimming Pool. Sometimes the best intentions can be misunderstood and/or interpreted. In order to protect staff, volunteers and program participants, Wildwood Manor Swimming Pool Association has instituted this Code of Conduct Policy when working with children.

Code of Conduct

Appropriate interactions include:

  • Praise, encouragement, acknowledgement
  • Rewards available to all who achieve
  • Asking permission to touch for necessary purposes
  • Pats on back or shoulder, side hugs, handshakes and high fives
  • Warmth and kindness
  • Public social media alerts to groups of kids and parents

WMSPA staff and volunteers are expected to:

  • Portray a positive role model for youth by maintaining an attitude of respect, patience, courtesy, tact and maturity.

Inappropriate & prohibited interactions include:

  • Isolated, one-on-one interactions
  • Risqué jokes and profanity
  • Favoritism
  • Gift giving to individual children
  • Frontal hugging
  • Photographing individual children
  • Contact outside of program activities
  • Exchanging personal email or phone numbers
  • Private interactions through social media, computer or handheld devices

WMSPA staff and volunteers are prohibited from:

  • Being alone with a single child where they cannot be observed by others
  • Any physical contact with children unless in an emergency or swim lesson requires you to do so. (If it is necessary, then explain to the child what you intend to do before initiating the contact. If the child initiates physical contact such as approaching you for a hug, deflect them if possible and offer a handshake or side hug instead.)
  • Transporting children in staff or volunteer personal vehicle.
  • Being alone with children they meet at pool/swim club outside of pool/club activities. This includes babysitting, sleepovers or inviting children to your home. Any exceptions require written explanation before the fact and are subject to supervisor approval.
  • Smoking or use of tobacco in the presence of children or parents during working hours
  • Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs during working hours
  • Not respecting children’s rights to not be touched in ways that make them feel uncomfortable and their right to say no.
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect

The Wildwood Manor Swimming Pool Association is committed to ensuring that all volunteers, contractors, and program participants are informed of the obligation to report suspected child abuse, be it physical, sexual, mental injury, or child neglect in accordance with Maryland law, and of the consequences for failing to do so. Our priority is to provide recreational pool activities in a safe and secure environment.

All Maryland citizens should report suspected abuse or neglect to the local department of social services or to a local law enforcement agency. Ensuring the safety of Maryland’s children is an obligation shared by all citizens and organizations.

If you are a health care practitioner, educator, human service worker or a law enforcement officer, you are a mandated reporter. This means you are required by law to report both orally and in writing any suspected child abuse or neglect. You should report your suspicion to the local department in the jurisdiction where you believe the abuse or neglect took or is taking place. Oral reports should be made immediately. A mandated reporter must also complete a written report on form DHR/SSA 180 within 48 hours of contact, which discloses the suspected abuse or neglect. When making a report of suspected abuse, the report must include at minimum:

  • The name, age (or approximate age), and home address of the child
  • The name and home address of the child’s parent or other individual responsible for the care of the child
  • Names and ages of other children in the home
  • The whereabouts of the child
  • The nature and extent of abuse or neglect of the child
  • Any evidence or information that would help to determine the cause of the suspected abuse or neglect
  • The identity of the individual or individuals responsible for abuse or neglect
  • Any observable, identifiable and substantial impairment of a child’s mental or psychological ability function

The person receiving your report will request additional information in order to obtain the most comprehensive and complete information possible to inform decision making and subsequent agency actions. Because Child Protective Services seeks to affect both safety and change, information on the family’s strengths as well as difficulties will be requested. If reporting abuse or neglect of a child involving mental injury, include a description of the substantial impairment of the child’s mental or psychological ability to function that was observed and identified and why it is believed to be attributable to an act of maltreatment or omission of proper care and attention. All reports of suspected child abuse are immune from civil liability unless they are purposefully erroneous or malicious.

Reports may be made anonymously.