FilmGate Miami Safeguarding Policy

Effective Date: January 2026
Review Date: December 2027

Our Commitment

FilmGate Miami is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming environments for all participants. We believe every child, young person, and vulnerable adult has the right to participate in creative and educational experiences free from abuse, harm, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, harassment, or intimidation.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We are committed to promoting wellbeing, protecting participants from harm, and responding appropriately to any safeguarding concerns that arise in connection with our activities.

Who This Policy Applies To

This policy applies to:

Employees and contractors
Board members and advisors
Volunteers and interns
Teaching artists and mentors
Visiting speakers and industry professionals
Program participants
Partner organizations participating in FilmGate activities
Who We Support

FilmGate Miami delivers educational and cultural programming for:

Children and young people under the age of 18
Young adults ages 18–24
Vulnerable adults participating in educational or community programmes
Parents, caregivers, and community members attending FilmGate activities
Our Safeguarding Principles

FilmGate Miami will:

Place participant wellbeing at the centre of our work;
Create inclusive, respectful, and accessible environments;
Treat all participants with dignity and respect;
Promote equality, diversity, and belonging;
Take all concerns seriously;
Act promptly and appropriately when concerns are raised;
Work collaboratively with parents, caregivers, partners, and authorities when necessary.
Expectations of Staff and Volunteers

All staff, contractors, volunteers, mentors, and partners are expected to:

Behave professionally and respectfully at all times;
Maintain appropriate boundaries with participants;
Never engage in abusive, discriminatory, exploitative, or inappropriate behaviour;
Never be alone with a minor in an unsupervised environment whenever possible;
Obtain appropriate permissions for photography, filming, and media participation;
Respect privacy and confidentiality;
Immediately report safeguarding concerns.
Recruitment and Screening

FilmGate Miami seeks to ensure that individuals working with young people are suitable for their roles by:

Conducting interviews and reference checks where appropriate;
Requiring adherence to this Safeguarding Policy;
Providing safeguarding information and guidance to staff and volunteers;
Requiring compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws.
Reporting Concerns

Any concern regarding the safety or wellbeing of a child, young person, or vulnerable adult should be reported immediately to:

Safeguarding Lead
Diliana Alexander
Executive Director, FilmGate Miami
diliana@film-gate.org
www.filmgate.miami

Reports will be:

Taken seriously and handled promptly;
Documented appropriately;
Managed confidentially to the extent possible;
Escalated to relevant authorities where required by law.

No person will be penalized for reporting a genuine safeguarding concern.

Photography and Media

FilmGate Miami frequently documents educational and cultural activities. Written permission from parents, guardians, or participants will be obtained where appropriate before capturing or publishing images, recordings, or other media involving minors.

Online Safety

As FilmGate programming includes digital media, immersive technologies, and online learning activities, we commit to:

Providing age-appropriate digital experiences;
Promoting respectful online conduct;
Protecting participant privacy;
Monitoring online interactions associated with FilmGate activities whenever reasonably possible;
Addressing inappropriate online behaviour promptly.
Review

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect best practices and legal requirements.