MetroVoice

Youth Safeguarding

Last updated 4 August 2026

Every adult who works with a MetroVoice participant is there because a young person's safety and dignity come first. This page sets out how we protect the students in our care, and how to raise a concern.

Draft for review — must be confirmed before publication. This page describes standard safeguarding practice for youth-serving organizations. Every item below needs to be checked against what MetroVoice actually does today. Publishing a safeguarding commitment the organization does not yet meet would be more damaging than publishing nothing.

Screening adults

Every mentor, facilitator, volunteer, and staff member completes a background check before working with participants. [CONFIRM: which checks — state, federal, child abuse registry.]
References are checked for anyone in a direct-service role. [CONFIRM]
Screening is repeated at a set interval. [CONFIRM: how often.]

Supervision

Programming is delivered in group settings with more than one adult present.
One-to-one contact between an adult and a participant happens in view of others, never in a closed or private space. [CONFIRM]
Adult-to-participant ratios are set before each cohort. [CONFIRM: the ratio.]

Training

All mentors and facilitators complete orientation covering youth-centered engagement, appropriate boundaries, and how to recognize and report a concern.
Training is completed before a volunteer meets participants. [CONFIRM]

Communication and boundaries

Contact with participants happens through MetroVoice channels, not personal accounts. [CONFIRM]
Parents and guardians can ask at any time how their child is being supported and by whom.
Photography and any use of a participant's image or words requires written parent or guardian consent.

Reporting a concern

If you have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a young person in a MetroVoice program, contact us immediately at info@metrovoice.com or (301) 375-0337.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911 first. To report suspected abuse or neglect in Maryland, contact your local Department of Social Services or call the Maryland child abuse hotline. MetroVoice staff and volunteers report suspected abuse or neglect as required by law. [CONFIRM: mandated-reporter status and the exact hotline number to publish.]

Data about young people

We do not collect detailed personal information about minors through public forms on this site. See our Privacy Policy for how participant information is handled.