Adults working with youth bear a special responsibility in fostering youth spiritual development and modeling healthy behavior.

A code of conduct should address:

• A statement of the program’s philosophy of shared youth-adult leadership
• Responsibilities as adult
• Never being alone with youth
• No abuse, harassment, and bullying by adults including exploitation of youth once they become adults
• Appropriate physical boundaries with youth
• No sexualized or seductive behavior with youth
• Staying in “adult role”
• Adult discretion in sharing details of their personal lives
• Self-care
• Holding youth confidences and when confidences must be shared with supervising staff
• Unofficial contact with youth: only in public, and with supervising staff and parental knowledge
• Following other policies such as electronic communication policies

Sample Codes of Ethics

• Central East Code of Conduct for Adults Working With Youth
• Central East Code of Ethics for Youth and Adult Leaders

Next Recommended Practice: Participant Covenant for Youth Events