Lesson 3: Policies and Procedures

Before welcoming young caregivers into Powerhouse®, your organization needs the right policies and procedures in place to support safe and effective program delivery. If you already work with children and youth, many of these may already exist. YCA recommends using this lesson to review your current policies, identify any gaps, and ensure they are appropriate for the age group you will be serving.

If you are delivering Powerhouse® to young adults aged 18+, some requirements specific to working with minors may not apply. We will identify these throughout the lesson. This lesson provides YCA’s recommended practices and is intended to complement, not replace, your organization’s existing policies and procedures. Requirements related to areas such as consent, child protection, privacy, and transportation can vary across Canada. Each organization is responsible for understanding and meeting the legal and regulatory requirements that apply in its province or territory.

Lesson 3 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

  • Identify the key policies, procedures, and safeguards needed to support safe Powerhouse® delivery. 
  • Review your organization’s existing policies, identify gaps, and determine what may need to be adapted or developed before programming begins. 
  • Understand key organizational responsibilities related to consent, confidentiality, participant safety, reporting, screening, and risk management. 
  • Determine what needs to be in place for the age group you will serve, including requirements that may differ when working with children, youth, or young adults.