Youth Protection Program

The purpose of the FIRST^® Youth Protection Program is to provide coaches, mentors, event volunteers, employees, Program Delivery Partners, team members, parents, guardians of team members, and others working with FIRST programs with information, guidelines, and procedures to create safe environments for FIRST participants.

The FIRST Youth Protection Program sets minimum standards recommended for all FIRST activities. Adults working in FIRST programs must be knowledgeable of the standards set by the FIRST Youth Protection Program, as well as those set by the school or organization hosting their team.

Please contact FIRST with any questions about Youth Protection guidelines, resources, screening or to report a concern. Youth participants are encouraged to reach out to Youth Protection for support and assistance if they have any concerns about their own safety and/or treatment or that of other participants in FIRST programs.

There is no age limit to submitting a report! Youth participants are encouraged to reach out to Youth Protection for support and assistance if they have any concerns about their own safety and/or treatment or that of other participants in FIRST programs.

You Filed a Report… Now What?

Reports are submitted to FIRST Inspires safety team at FIRST Headquarters in Manchester, New Hampshire. Depending on the extent of the report, local FIRST British Columbia staff may or may not be informed of every report filed.

Receiving closure on a report is crucial for the reporter to feel an adequate and safe conclusion has been met.

If you feel you need further guidance or explanation on the status of your report, do not hesitate to reach out to the FIRST Inspires safety team, or include a FIRST British Columbia staff person for further assistance.

FIRST British Columbia staff are a tool for ensuring safety locally and can ease the burden of confirming a report status. If you chose to inform a FIRST British Columbia staff person(s) of your report, all aspects of your report will remain confidential and FIRST British Columbia staff will uphold all privacy requirements of the FIRST incident report.

FIRST Code of Conduct

The FIRST mission is to inspire a generation of science and technology leaders who are both gracious and professional. This FIRST Code of Conduct lists some of the basic behaviors mentors, coaches, volunteers, team members, affiliate partners, contractors, staff, and other participants should adhere to while participating in FIRST activities.

• Exhibit Gracious Professionalism^® at all times. Gracious Professionalism is a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions.
• Ensure the safety of all participants in FIRST activities.
• Not engage in any form of bullying, harassment, use of profane or insulting language, or any actual or threatened violence.
• Adhere to all FIRST Youth Protection Program (YPP) policies.
• Report any unsafe behavior to event or local FIRST leadership.
• Persons who do not comply with this Code of Conduct may be barred from participating in FIRST activities.

REPORT A CONCERN

We encourage anyone participating with FIRST or attending FIRST related activities or events to report concerns to FIRST. Click on the “Report a Concern” button below to access the FIRST Reporting Portal which provides a confidential platform to report youth protection concerns, medical incidents, or other issues. All reports are reviewed by trained staff and reporters will receive a follow-up response as long as contact information is provided.

Youth Protection Policies & Training

Anyone participating in FIRST should be familiar with our Youth Protection policies and training. The Youth Protection Guide and Youth Protection training below cover the fundamental guidelines and requirements for all participants.

• FIRST Youth Protection Program Guide
• Youth Protection Training Videos

This training is intended to enable adults working with FIRST teams to recognize situations that may pose a threat to team member safety and take the actions necessary to prevent and report injuries. We also encourage anyone participating with FIRST to take this training to better understand how to protect themselves and our youth participants. The training consists of a series of short videos; each video is no more than 5 minutes and the entire series can be completed in 40-50 minutes.

Screening Procedures & FAQs

More information regarding the Youth Protection screening and clearance process and what to expect:

• Canadian Screening Process Video
• Frequently Asked Questions

Youth Protection Resources for Event Volunteers & Event Managers

These resources are designed to support individuals managing events or attending events as volunteers.

• Emergency Response Template
• Walk-On Volunteer Policy
• Youth Protection Program Handouts: Postcard | Flyer | Event signage

Team Resources & Videos

Team Safety Meeting Resources for Ages 6-10

• Traffic Light Activity
• Surprises vs. Secrets Activity
• Buddy System Activity

Training Videos:

• Team Safety Meeting Video – Middle School Version
• Team Safety Meeting Video – High School Version
• Keeping Kids Safe – for adults working with youth

Parent Resources:

• Consent Team Travel Form
• Notification Guidelines Parents Form

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Training & Resources

As part of our commitment to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community for all our participants, we have partnered with leading organizations to create complimentary trainings and resources on how you can inspire the youth voice, create a sense of belonging, and more. Training and resource topics include:

• mentor and coach training
• youth member training
• gender equity
• disability inclusion
• language assistance
• and more

General Volunteer Training & Resources

The volunteer trainings below can help those new to volunteering with FIRST (or need a refresher) learn more about volunteer roles and expectations. More information for volunteers can also be found on our Volunteer page.

• Volunteering with FIRST is an introductory learning module for mentors, coaches, and event volunteers that explores what FIRST is and what it means to volunteer with FIRST.
• Remote Mentoring with FIRST is a brief simulation training that explores the fundamentals of remote meetings for mentors and coaches.
• Mentoring and Coaching with FIRST is a cross-program training module designed for new and prospective mentors and coaches that will allow you to develop a deeper understanding of the expectations of the role and where to find support.

Contact:

Youth Protection Program
200 Bedford Street  |  Manchester, NH 03101  |  www.firstinspires.org

FIRST Inspires Safety Team:
Phone: (603) 518-6793 |  safety@firstinspires.org

You may also use the Contact Us form on this site to contact the British Columbia program delivery partners for FRC, FTC or FLL. Please direct the message to the appropriate program.