1. Our commitment

IN TIME OF NEED Incorporated has served Atlanta families since 1997, and many of the people we serve are children. We believe every child has the right to be safe, respected, and treated with dignity. We have zero tolerance for abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment of any kind, and we design our programs, screening, and supervision to prevent harm before it can occur.

2. Who this statement covers

This statement applies to everyone who acts on our behalf: board members, staff, volunteers, interns, contractors, and partner-organization representatives taking part in ITN programs or events. Anyone who serves with us agrees to follow it as a condition of their role.

3. Screening and selection

• All staff and volunteers whose roles involve regular or unsupervised contact with minors must complete a criminal background check before serving, renewed periodically.
• We check references for staff and for volunteers in positions of trust.
• Anyone with a history of offenses against children is not permitted to serve in any capacity.

4. Code of conduct around children

• Two-adult rule: program activities involving minors are conducted with at least two screened adults present. One-on-one, unsupervised contact between an adult and an unrelated minor is not permitted.
• Interactions with children take place in open, observable settings.
• Adults serving with ITN do not communicate privately with minors by phone, text, social media, or email outside of program channels, and do not arrange contact with minors outside of ITN programs.
• Physical contact is limited to what is appropriate, public, and initiated for the child's benefit (for example, a handshake or high-five).
• Verbal interactions are respectful. Harassment, bullying, shaming, or discriminatory language is never acceptable.
• Adults never give, or accept, personal gifts to or from an individual child without program approval and parental knowledge.

5. Photography and media

• We photograph or film children only with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• We do not publish a child's full name, school, address, or other identifying details alongside their image.
• A parent or guardian may withdraw consent at any time, and we will remove the image from future use.

6. Reporting concerns

Everyone who serves with ITN is responsible for the safety of the children around them. Anyone who witnesses, suspects, or receives a report of abuse or unsafe behavior must:

• Ensure the child's immediate safety (calling 911 if there is immediate danger);
• Report suspected abuse or neglect to Georgia DFCS at 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453) — Georgia law designates many staff and volunteers who work with children as mandated reporters;
• Notify ITN leadership at 678-439-6005 or info@intimeofneed.org as soon as possible.

Concerns are taken seriously, handled confidentially, and never met with retaliation. Reporting in good faith is always the right thing to do, even if the concern turns out to be unfounded.

7. How we respond

• Any person accused of harming a child is immediately removed from contact with minors while the matter is reviewed.
• We cooperate fully with law enforcement and child-protection authorities.
• Violations of this statement result in corrective action up to and including removal from service and referral to authorities.

8. Training and review

Staff and volunteers who work with children receive an orientation to this statement and to their reporting duties before serving. The Board of Directors reviews this statement at least annually and updates it as our programs and the law evolve.

9. Questions

Questions about our safeguarding practices may be directed to info@intimeofneed.org.