Unattended Child Policy

Children are welcome at the North Liberty Community Center and we are concerned about their safety and welfare.  Parents and caregivers are responsible for monitoring the activities and regulating the behavior of their children while the children are in the Community Center.

Parents and caregivers (must be 18 years of age or older) MAY NOT leave children under the age of nine unattended in the Community Center.  Any exceptions to this part of the policy will be at the discretion of Library Staff (in the Library) and the Rec. Department Supervisors on the Rec. Center side of the building.  Staff from both of these departments will notify the Library and Rec. Director about any problems or concerns dealing with unattended children.  Disruptive children over the age of nine will be asked to leave per the library’s Acceptable Behavior Policy.

If an unattended child is being disruptive, is habitually left unattended for long periods of time or is deemed at risk of coming to harm, an effort will be made to locate the responsible parent, guardian or caregiver.  If necessary, appropriate law enforcement or child protective authorities will be notified to take custody of the child.

For the safety of a child left unattended in the Community Center at closing, appropriate law enforcement authorities will be contacted to take custody of the child.  Staff will wait 15 minutes after closing before this measure is taken.

The staff will use the following procedures when dealing with a lost or unattended child:

1. Staff will attempt to locate the child’s parent, guardian or caregiver in the  Community Center.
2. If the parent or responsible guardian cannot be found in the building the proper authorities will be notified.
3. Under no circumstances will staff take the child out of the building.
4. An incident report will be filled out, given to proper Community Center personnel and kept on record.

 

We respect the privacy of all North Liberty Community Center patrons.  We will intervene only when a staff member deems that the safety and well being of a child is threatened.

Written July 2000     
Reviewed April 2002
Reviewed and Revised April 2003 
Reviewed April 2004 
Reviewed April 2005
Reviewed April 2006 
Reviewed April 2007 
Reviewed April 2008
Reviewed April 2009
Reviewed April 2010
Reviewed and Revised April 2011                               
Reviewed and Revised April 2012
Reviewed April 2013