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1.0 = Purpose=20 and Need=20

City staff at community recreation centers and public libraries = regularly encounter situations in which children are left by their = parent(s) (hereinafter, "parent(s)" refers to any individual = capable of=20 exercising legal custody of the child) unattended for extended = periods of=20 time, both during and after the hours of normal operation. This = directive=20 sets forth procedures to guide staff members when responding to = situations=20 involving such unattended children.=20

2.0 Administrative = Directive=20

Implementation of this directive shall be guided by the = following=20 objectives:=20

To assure the safety and welfare of unattended = children.=20
To develop communication among staff, parents, and = children.=20
To facilitate cooperation and communication among City = agencies,=20 including the Police Department and Social Services, having=20 responsibilities concerning unattended, neglected or potentially = (or=20 seemingly) abandoned children.=20
To conserve staff personnel resources.=20
To deter the use of public libraries and recreation centers = as ad=20 hoc child care facilities.=20
To educate parents of the risks of leaving their children = unattended=20 in public places.

3.0 Procedure to = Accomplish=20 Administrative Directive

An "unattended child" is defined as any child below the age of = 16,=20 whose physical or mental well-being is threatened by being left = unattended=20 for an inappropriate length of time or fifteen minutes past the = conclusion=20 of a specified program period, taking into consideration the = child's age,=20 maturity, and level of development.=20

Given the following scenarios, appropriate staff response to = children left unattended during hours of normal operation shall = be as=20 follows:=20

The unattended child is well-behaved and is not anxious or = frightened and is involved in an appropriate activity.=20
1. No intervention is necessary.=20
2. Monitor the situation for a change in the status of the=20 well-being of the child.
The unattended child is exhibiting disruptive behavior.=20
1. Immediate intervention is necessary.=20
2. Follow the Disciplinary Policy Guidelines for the = libraries or=20 recreation centers.
The unattended child is frightened and anxious.=20
1. Attempt to comfort and reassure the child.=20
2. If it is determined that the child is lost or has been = left=20 unattended, attempt to identify and locate the parent(s) or = person=20 responsible for the child. Walk around the facility with the = child=20 to look for the parent(s).=20
3. Page the child's parent(s) using their and/or the = child's name,=20 if known. If the child's name is not known, describe the = child's=20 physical appearance.=20
4. When the child's parent(s) are located, explain the = directive on=20 unattended children and provide them with a copy of this = directive.=20
5. If the parent(s) cannot be located, notify the = supervisor. Ask=20 the child to provide a telephone number and information = about plans=20 for being picked up. Have the child call the parent(s). If = the child=20 does not know the number or refuses to provide it, attempt = to locate=20 the number in the telephone book, on facility databases, or = in the=20 City directory. If there is no answer or if no valid = telephone=20 number can be found, wait with the child. Under no = circumstances=20 shall a staff member take the child out of the building, = provide=20 transportation, or physically restrain him/her from leaving. =
6. If the child is six years of age or younger, comfort the = child=20 and call the police (427-5000) immediately (the procedure = assumes=20 that, by definition, a child younger than seven left = unattended is=20 in neglect). The staff member placing the call will provide = as much=20 identifying information (name, address, telephone number, = etc.)=20 about the child as possible=20
  If the child is older than six years of age, comfort the = child=20 and observe his/her behavior. After thirty minutes, the = staff should=20 assess whether the child is in a condition of "neglect". = Increasing=20 indications of fearfulness and a sense of abandonment, for = instance,=20 will be considered indications of "neglect". This assessment = will be=20 grounds for calling the police (427-5000). This is a = "priority=20 three" call and the police should arrive within 10 - 30 = minutes. The=20 staff member placing the call to the police should provide = as much=20 identifying information (i.e., name, address, telephone = number,=20 etc.) about the child as possible.=20
  The incident is to be documented by completing an = incident=20 report.=20
  A child who is unattended for more than thirty minutes = and is=20 apparently in a stable state may remain in the facility = until=20 his/her parents can pick him/her up. At the time he/she is = picked=20 up, the parents will receive a copy of the unattended = children=20 directive and a schedule of age-appropriate activities at = their=20 local recreation center or library. The Department of Social = Services can be called to assist in assessing the condition = of the=20 child and the determination of "neglect". The police will be = called=20 when the facility closes and shall be expected to arrive = within 10 -=20 30 minutes.=20
  Staff members may call "911" for emergency medical = assistance any=20 time they are concerned about the health, nutrition, etc. of = the=20 child, or if the child appears ill.
7. Staff may call Social Services (Child Protective = Services,=20 437-3400) if there is any suspicion of purposeful neglect = (e.g.,=20 repetitive occurrences).=20
8. If the parent(s) are contacted, explain the procedure = for=20 unattended children and the circumstances that prompted you = to call.=20 Ask them to pick up the child immediately.=20
9. Document the occurrence on an incident report.=20
10. Mail a follow-up letter to the parent(s) with the hours = of=20 operation and a copy of the directive on unattended = children. Other=20 educational materials, such as recommended childcare = alternatives,=20 may be included if considered appropriate.

Appropriate staff response to children left unattended = after=20 normal program hours shall be as follows:=20

Notification Procedure=20
1. Staff should notify the supervisor that a child is = waiting for=20 transportation. Ask the child to provide a telephone number = and=20 information about expectation of being picked up.=20
2. Ask the child to call the parent(s). If the child does = not know=20 the number or refuses to provide it, attempt to locate the = number in=20 the telephone book, on facility databases, or in the City = directory.=20 If there is no answer or if no valid telephone number can be = found,=20 wait with the child. Have one other staff member remain with = you.=20 Under no circumstances shall a staff member take the child = out of=20 the building, provide transportation, or physically restrain = him/her=20 from leaving.=20
3. If the child is six years of age or younger, call the = police=20 (427-5000) immediately. The staff member placing the call = shall=20 provide as much identifying information (name, address, = telephone=20 number, etc.) as possible.=20
  A senior staff person and one other staff person shall = remain=20 with the child until police arrive.=20
  If the child is over six years of age, a senior staff = person and=20 one other staff person shall remain with the child (1) for = thirty=20 minutes, (2) until the legal curfew is exceeded, or (3) = until the=20 parent arrives, whichever occurs first. If the parent(s) = fails to=20 arrive within thirty minutes or when the legal curfew is = exceeded,=20 whichever comes first, call the police (427-5000). This is a = "priority three" call and the police should arrive within 10 = - 30=20 minutes. The staff member placing the call will provide as = much=20 information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) as = possible.=20
4. Staff members may call "911" for emergency medical = assistance if=20 they are concerned about the health, nutrition, etc, of the = child,=20 or if the child appears ill.=20
5. Staff may call Social Services (Child Protective = Services,=20 437-3400) if there is any suspicion of purposeful neglect = (e.g.,=20 repetitive occurrences).=20
6. When the police arrive, custody of the child is = transferred to=20 the Police Department. Leave a notice for the parent(s), = taped to=20 the inside of the front door, notifying them of the actions = taken=20 and indicating that they can call 427-5616, the = telephone=20 number for the non-emergency police dispatcher, to speak = with the=20 police.=20
7. Document the occurrence on an incident report.=20
8. Mail a follow-up letter to the parent(s) with the hours = of=20 operation and a copy of the directive on unattended = children. If=20 this is a repeat occurrence, also inform them that you have = enclosed=20 a bill to cover staff time spent waiting with their child. =
Billing Procedure=20
It is desirable that the City recover its cost for = implementing=20 this after-hours directive. Additionally, an after-hours fee = will=20 encourage parents not to use the libraries and recreation = centers for=20 free childcare.=20
1. There will be no monetary charge the first time a child = is left=20 unattended after the normal program hours of a facility. = This=20 occasion will be used as an opportunity to educate the = parents=20 regarding the operating hours of the facility, the directive = on=20 unattended children, and the rate to be charged for future=20 occurrences. Information on possible places to secure day = care and=20 other educational materials could be presented at this time, = if=20 available.=20
2. If a parent arrives within the first fifteen minutes = after the=20 end of the program period, there will be no charge. The = parent will=20 be informed of the schedule of activities and asked to = arrive prior=20 to the end of the program period in the future.=20
3. After the first occurrence of late arrival, a parent = will be=20 charged the average staff rate for time spent waiting with = the=20 child. Currently, this is $10.00 for every fifteen = minutes or=20 any portion thereof. Third or subsequent occurrences can be = grounds=20 to revoke the privileges of the child to use the facility. = This=20 decision will be based on the circumstances involved and = will be=20 done to protect the mental and physical well-being of the = child.=20
4. Present the bill to the parent at the time the child is = picked=20 up. A check made out to the City Treasurer is = acceptable in=20 lieu of cash. If the parent cannot pay at that time, include = an=20 envelope addressed to the facility where the incident = occurred.=20 Verify the name and address of the parent. If the parent = does not=20 pay when they pick their child up, this fee will be attached = to=20 their account in Class Registration, as a balance due.=20
5. Provide educational information at this = time.

Public Information and Training:=20

The Department of Public Libraries and Department of Parks = and=20 Recreation will conduct an ongoing public education program to = inform=20 parents of the need for appropriate preparation and/or = supervision of=20 children who utilize the libraries and recreation facilities. = The public=20 information program will include:=20

Coordination with the Public Information Office to = promulgate this=20 directive and its need through video announcements and press = releases.=20
Placement of signs near each facility entrance, worded as = follows:=20
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE ADVISED THAT (LIBRARY) = (RECREATION=20 FACILITY) STAFF MEMBERS CANNOT CONTROL OR BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR=20 INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN WHO ARE LEFT UNATTENDED ON THE PREMISES. = IT IS=20 THEREFORE THE PARENT'S OR GUARDIAN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE = THAT=20 EACH CHILD IS ACCOMPANIED BY AT LEAST ONE PERSON OF = APPROPRIATE AGE=20 AND MATURITY LEVEL (MINIMUM AGE OF 16) TO PROVIDE FOR THE = CHILD'S=20 SAFETY, OR THAT EACH CHILD IS AT LEAST 12 YEARS OF AGE AND IS = PREPARED=20 TO BE IN THE LIBRARY OR RECREATION CENTER ALONE.=20
Distribution of informative "checklists" and brochures = regarding=20 the unattended children directive.=20
Alerting parents about this directive on application forms = when=20 children are enrolled for library cards or for recreation = programs.=20
Displaying posters with public safety messages related to=20 unattended children and child safety in general.=20
The public information program will be made effective by a = staff=20 training effort. This training will help staff understand the = values=20 and procedures that guide work with unattended children, = prepare them=20 for conversations with parents about the program, and prepare = them to=20 successfully gauge the needs of individual children and tend = to those=20 needs in the absence of their parent(s).=20
The Human Resources Department will establish ongoing = child=20 development training sessions in the annual training plan.=20

4.0 Responsibility and=20 Authority=20

All Public Library and Parks and Recreation Department = personnel shall=20 be responsible for implementing this directive as the need arises. =

The Director of Parks and Recreation and the Director of Public = Libraries shall be responsible for assessing the operation of this = directive, and initiating changes, as required.

5.0 = Definitions=20

An "unattended child" is defined as any child below the age of = 16 whose=20 mental and physical well-being are threatened by being left = unattended=20 fifteen minutes past the conclusion of a specified program period, = considering the child's age, maturity, and level of development.=20

An "appropriate activity" is defined as one in which the child = is=20 safely engaged in an activity which is suitable for their age, = skill=20 level, level of maturity and meets the guidelines and schedule set = forth=20 by the facility.=20

"Parent(s)" refers to any individual capable of exercising = legal=20 custody of the child.=20

"Legal curfew" is between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. = for any=20 minor under the age of 18, unless accompanied by a parent(s) (see = above=20 definition).

Title: Unattended = Children in=20 Libraries and Recreation Centers	Index Number: AD=20 3.10
Date of Adoption:=20 01/31/96	Date of Revision:=20 08/30/02