Youth Protection Policy - Chaperones and Background Checks
2026 Key Club Convention Registration
Key Club International Chaperone Policy
Adults attending the Key Club International convention serve in different roles. Some will serve in an official active chaperone role as a district administrator or advisor accompanying students to workshops and general convention sessions. Others may be parents or guardians traveling with your Key Club members, but without plans to participate in official convention events. Whether you have an active or passive role at the convention, we ask that all adults review and abide by Kiwanis International Youth Protection policies.
As part of Kiwanis International's youth protection policy and protocols, we require Kiwanis members, non-member chaperones and guests attending the Key Club International convention to:
- Have a current background check on file with Kiwanis.
- Complete a special online course, Key Club International Convention Chaperone Policy Training, to learn about the Kiwanis youth protection policy. You can find out how to access the online course at kiwanis.org/youthprotection.
- Complete three (3) chaperone-level abuse prevention online courses through Praesidium Academy if you have not already completed them: Social Media Safety, Preventing Sexual Activity of Adolescents, and Abuse Risk Management of Volunteers.
A chaperone is defined as a Kiwanis member, faculty member, parent, legal guardian or person who is in loco parentis, is twenty-one (21) years of age or older, has been approved by the school or agency and registered with the school or agency to accompany and have direct oversight and supervision of the youth members at the specific event.
While attending a convention that requires an overnight stay, adequate adult chaperoning is expected and must include at least one adult background-checked male for every 10 or part of 10 youth males, and one adult background-checked female for every 10 or part of 10 youth females. Except for a parent sharing a sleeping room with their own child, no adult should share a hotel room with a youth.
Anyone who has not completed the three youth protection requirements will not be permitted to attend the Key Club International convention.
Kiwanis International will email all registered chaperones essential instructions on how to complete the background check, access the training and more. If you have any questions, please email backgroundchecks@kiwanis.org.