Youth safety

Under 16: we contact the sponsor, not you

When someone under 16registers interest, the submission is marked “needs sponsor confirmation.” A person at CENTS contacts the young person only through the sponsor’s email address, never directly, and no email is sent automatically. If the sponsor has not confirmed within 30days, the submission and the sponsor’s email address are deleted.

No one-on-one messages

Adults who hold CENTS roles do not send private, one-on-one messages to anyone under 18. Communication with delegates happens in group channels where more than one adult, or a sponsor, can see it.

What sponsors do

A sponsor is a parent or teacher who knows a young person is taking part. A sponsor:

• agrees to the code of conduct and this policy;
• is available to review the young person’s records request before it is filed;
• can see, or take part in, the group channels the young person is in; and
• can ask for the young person’s data to be deleted at any time.

What we do not collect

We do not collect full names, birth dates, ages, photos, home addresses or phone numbers. The join form records age only as a yes-or-no answer to “I am 13 or older,” and cannot be sent without it. It asks for a nickname, email, state, an optional district, the way you want to take part and an optional note. If you say you are under 16with a sponsor, it also asks for your sponsor’s email and whether the sponsor has agreed to the code of conduct. Please do not put anyone’s personal information in a note or message. See data and privacy.

How to report a concern

Email [email protected]with what happened and where. Mark it “Youth safety.”

If a child is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number. To report suspected abuse or neglect, contact your local child protective services or law enforcement; the U.S. government’s Child Welfare Information Gateway explains how.