A Guide to Creating “Safe Space” Policies for Early Childhood Programs

This guide gives practitioners, advocates, and policymakers information and resources to design and implement “safe space” policies that safeguard early childhood programs against immigration enforcement. A “safe space” policy is a plan or set of protocols to mitigate the harm of possible immigration enforcement actions at or near early childhood programs and protect families’ safety and privacy. CLASP is available to provide technical assistance as you develop your safe space policy. If you have questions or would like us to review a draft policy, please contact Priya Pandey (ppandey@clasp.org).

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Organization Source:
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) 

Organization Website:
https://www.clasp.org/ 

Categories:
Interaction with law enforcement (LEA) | LEA – ICE at Schools/Educational Institutions

 Date Last Updated: January 1, 2025 

Why Does Your Program Need a Safe Space Policy?

To protect the well-being of children, parents, and staff. An unwelcome, unannounced visit from immigration agents or other law enforcement officials can be scary for children and adults. Having a plan in place and communicating that plan to staff and parents will help to ensure information about families or staff members isn’t revealed unintentionally. It will also mitigate the disruption caused by an agent’s visit.

To communicate that immigrant families are welcome and safe. Research demonstrates that children in immigrant families are less likely than their peers with U.S.-born parents to enroll in early childhood programs as well as other public programs and services that support their healthy development. This is due to a variety of barriers, including fear of immigration consequences, lack of knowledge about eligibility, and complicated application and enrollment procedures. These challenges are exacerbated by today’s toxic political climate. Implementing and publicly sharing your program’s safe space policy communicates to mixed-status families that you take their safety and security seriously and consider their unique needs. It also shows that your program is a trusted resource.

To ensure staff are prepared for unexpected and stressful situations. Effectively implementing your safe space policy goes beyond developing a set of procedures; it also means ensuring all staff are trained on the policy and prepared to take action. Your plan should include expectations for initial and ongoing training to ensure staff members are always up to speed.

Key Components of a Safe Space Policy

Your program’s general security and privacy protocols lay the foundation for your safe space policy. Before getting started, revisit existing policies and protocols related to:

  • Which staff members are authorized to speak with an agent of authority (e.g., a police officer, licensing representative, etc.) Storing and releasing private information about parents, children, and staff
  • Communicating urgent information to staff and parents
  • How authorized staff and parents are able to access the facility
  • Expectations for visitors
  • Establishing emergency contacts

Ensure these and other related policies comply with relevant local, state, and federal laws and consider whether additional policy changes are needed to further safeguard your location and the personal data of enrolled families. In general, these are basic policies and procedures that should be in place at all times.

Your safe space policy builds on basic security protocols, considering what would happen if an immigration agent requested access to your facility or information about a parent, child, or staff member. If your basic security protocols are thorough and consistently implemented and enforced, you will be less likely to inadvertently release information to immigration agents or allow an unauthorized visitor on the premises.

Civil Rights (CR)

Family preparedness (FP)

Immigration Enforcement (IE)

Interaction with law enforcement (LEA)

Rights of LPR/USC (LPR/USC)

Scam & Fraud (S&F)

Service directory (DIR)

Texas laws (TX)

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