Wednesday, 9/17/2025 from 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM EST
Room: W307
Topic(s):
Access for All, Community Engagement, Partnerships, Safety and Security, Youth
Description:
Ensuring the safety and well-being of participants is the cornerstone of successful youth recreation programming. This interactive workshop will explore a newly developed program, Play Safe LA, stemming from a collaboration between City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, made possible by an investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee and the International Olympic Committee. While many recreation programs include mandatory reporting, Play Safe LA addresses topics that are not necessarily against the law but do not contribute to a positive youth development environment, such as emotional and physical misconduct, bullying, hazing, harassment and grooming. Play Safe LA provides practical strategies to prevent abuse and misconduct, foster a culture of respect, and promote accessible environments in youth activities, and it includes policies specific to adaptive sports. Experts will share how to create safe, supportive environments where youth can thrive. This program was developed in collaboration with Site Champions, whose valuable insights into communication challenges and strategies across varied communities and constituents have shaped its approach to creating safer environments.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand Key Risk Factors: Identify common risk factors and warning signs of abuse and misconduct in youth recreation settings.
2. Implement Preventative Strategies: Learn effective policies, procedures and best practices to create safe environments for youth participants.
3. Respond Appropriately to Concerns: Develop skills to handle reports of misconduct or abuse with professionalism and care, ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants.
Speaker(s):
Cynthia Mejia Colin
Veronica Polanco
Ashley Dsida
Play with Purpose: Building Respectful and Safe Youth Recreation Programs
Category
1-Hour Education Session