BOARD POLICY OF COLEGIO NUEVA GRANADA ("CNG") ON THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (“STUDENTS”)

As CNG community, we recognize the responsibility to safeguard the well-being of the children and adolescents in our care (“Students”). Domestic violence and/or child abuse are violations of the students’ fundamental human rights and are obstacles to their physical, emotional, and mental development. International school communities are particularly vulnerable, and given the nature of abuse, often requires secrecy, isolation and limited access to support resources. As a school community, we have a duty to take strong proactive measures to address this reality.

CNG is committed to promoting a safe and secure environment by protecting all students under our care. In order to achieve this goal, we will respond with a sense of urgency whenever a student is a victim or is at risk of becoming a victim of domestic violence and/or child abuse. Educators have the opportunity to observe and interact with students over time and are in a unique position to identify students who may need help and protection. As such, educators have a professional and ethical obligation to identify students who are in need of help and protection, and the school must take the appropriate steps to ensure that the student and family avail themselves of the services needed to remedy any situation that may constitute domestic violence and/or child abuse.

All teachers and staff at CNG must report any behavior or signs of domestic violence, neglect, or child abuse, as established in this manual. Reports from Administrators and the follow-up of all cases of behavior or signs of domestic violence, neglect, or child abuse will be conducted in accordance with CNG's regularly updated student protection policy.

CNG supports and complies with all national and international regulations regarding the protection of students. CNG seeks to be a safe haven for students who may be experiencing domestic violence, neglect, or child abuse in any aspect of their lives. CNG will maintain  Children  and Adolescents Protection Policy, regularly inform parents and guardians about key child protection information, teach students appropiate skills and knowledge related to domestic violence, neglect, and/or child abuse, provide annual training for all staff on their key responsibilities, and make every effort to implement strict hiring practices to ensure the safety of students. In case a staff member is reported as an alleged offender, CNG will conduct a thorough investigation following the course of due process carefully determined and aligned with Colombian law, including checking records on the National Police website.

By matriculating their child at CNG, parents agree to work in partnership with the school and abide by the policies adopted by the CNG Board of Directors. The school/parent partnership is essential for providing the highest level of safety and care for our students.

Approved by the CNG Board of Directors

Policy Adopted on September 5, 2016.

Policy Revised to Children and Adolescents Protection on September 9, 2019.

THE COMMUNITY

Vulnerable communities include those with minimal law enforcement related to child protection, limited resources to international families, unusually high work stress placed on parents, acceptance of inappropriate behavior towards children (excessive corporal punishment), and unusually high expectations placed on children to achieve. CNG strictly implements our Children and Adolescents Protection Policy, as mentioned in this manual, educates teachers and staff to recognize suspicious behavior of domestic violence and/or child abuse, trains counselors to support students and families in domestic violence and/or child abuse, works to support parents and/or legal guardians in protective behaviors, networks with community and health services for holistic referrals, and partners with local authorities as required by law.

THE FAMILY

At-risk families include parents and/or legal guardians under stress, families with less perceived support and access to resources, families who are socially isolated, parents who place unusually high expectations on their children and/or adolescents, parental history of inappropriate discipline as children, among others. CNG works with parents and/or legal guardians to discuss appropriate discipline, network with community and health services, and guide parent in child and adolescent protection practices.

THE CHILD/ADOLESCENT

At-risk children and adolescents include those with a difficult temperament or who are defiant, with health issues, with social and/or academic difficulties, and those unaware of their rights to protection.

CNG promotes respect and teaches social skills, rights to protection, healthy relationships, assertiveness, and use of support systems.

EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL CNG COMMUNITY MEMBERS

1. It is expected that children and adolescents, parents, guardians, teachers, visitors, and other staff members report any behavior or indication of domestic violence, neglect, or child abuse as soon as possible to a counselor or administrator. The administrator will be responsible for determining whether the behavior or indication constitutes inappropriate behavior and for initiating the corresponding protocol.
2. The administration of CNG will follow "The Protocol for the Care of Minors in Cases of Suspected Violence" for activating the appropriate route and following up on the case.

INTRODUCTION

This Children and Adolescents Protection Manual will be shared with and reviewed by all staff and families to guide us in matters related to the health, safety, and care of every student. This policy is based on U.S.^[1] and Colombian law^[2] as well as developed in accordance to the Principles set forth in the “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child”.

Schools fill a special institutional role in society as protectors of children and adolescents. CNG seeks to ensure that all students in our care are afforded a safe and secure environment in which to grow and develop.

Reporting and follow-up of all cases involving behaviors or indications of domestic violence, neglect, or child abuse will be carried out in accordance with the procedures described in this policy. Additionally, cases of behaviors or indications of domestic violence, neglect, or child abuse must be reported to the competent administrative and judicial authorities in Colombia, following the “Comprehensive Care Route” for School Coexistence defined by Law 1620 of 2013, to the child protection agency, consulates, and appropriate embassy of the country of origin, in case of an international family.

In order to ensure all students at CNG are protected from domestic violence, neglect and/or child abuse, CNG has adopted children and adolescents’ protection policies and procedures including:

• Código de Honor y Política Disciplinaria que se aplican a todos los miembros de la comunidad del CNG. A written CNG Code of Honor and Disciplinary Policy, which applies to all members of the CNG community
• “Políticas de restricciones profesionales, Política del CNG” Professional Boundaries, Electronic Communication and Social Media Usage policies out - lining explicit expectations for healthy interac - tions between adults, children and adolescents
• Expectativas del CNG para la protección infantil durante los viajes que impliquen pernoctar. CNG Expectations on child protection for overnight field trips
• Shared definitions and understandings related to domestic violence and/or child abuse
• Consistently applied procedures for reporting and responding to suspicions or allegations
• Training and education related to child protection for all students, families, and staff
• Diligent screening and selection of all new and existing staff, faculty, and volunteers
• Directorio de protocolos de atención integral para la convivencia escolar y el ejercicio de los derechos humanos, sexuales y reproductivos. Directory of comprehensive protocols for school coexistence and the exercise of human rights, sexual, and reproductive rights
• Assigning a Child Protection Lead for the protection of all students.

Child and adolescent protection is a multifaceted issue that involves dynamics of the student, the family, and the community. The Children and Adolescents Protection Policy works to respond at three levels: the child/ adolescent, the family, and the community.