- Continue to require multiple youth stay in the same host homes (rule of three).
- Continue to have a procedure for quick removal from homes if the youth feel threatened.
- Have the parents of participating youth complete a permission form, spelling out how the program works and explaining that the youth will be placed with host families.
- Consider asking someone at the host family’s church to sign a form indicating that the church is unaware of any reason why youth participants should not be placed with the host family.
- Have host families fill out a form similar to a children’s ministry worker form that asks them to self-confirm that they have no past issues involving children, no criminal record, etc.
- Look at the public convicted sex offender list in the host family’s state of residence to make sure than no one within any host family household appears on the list.
While these procedures are not fail-safe in protecting youth from potential harm, they are reasonable steps to take to ensure their safety.
For more information on protecting youth, see a comprehensive child protection training curriculum, Reducing the Risk.