SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING!

NTPA INCIDENT & ISSUE REPORTING SYSTEM

The “R” in S.T.A.R.S. stands for Report Concerns, and is a critical element of our safety program. If something doesn’t look right, feel right, or violates our safety standards or Code of Conduct, it needs to be reported immediately. Timely reporting is one of the most effective tools we have to protect our students, our volunteers, and our organization.

WHEN TO STEP IN AND WHEN TO CALL 911:

Of course, if there is an imminent danger—a student is at immediate risk of injury or harm—you as a volunteer are empowered to step in and take action to remove that danger or take the child out of harm’s way. If a child becomes unconscious or is injured, we call 911 and take all appropriate life saving and first aid actions.

Outside of any emergency situations, we ask our patrons and volunteers to be active observers. If you witness behavior that seems unsafe, inappropriate, or inconsistent with our Safety First expectations, you can start by speaking with your Volunteer Show Manager, the Show Director or the Theatre Managing Director.

If you are uncomfortable going to another parent or feel the concern isn’t being addressed, or is of an urgent or significant manner, we invite you to take advantage of our SEE SOMETHING SOMETHING REPORTING SYSTEM.

If our participants are experiencing or witnessing any form of:

  • Inappropriate conduct
  • Bullying
  • Harassment
  • Discrimination
  • Other behavior that possibly violates our Code of Conduct
  • Want to report an issue an issue or concern confidentially or anonymously to senior management.

We want to know so we can get to work to address the concern!

There are three great ways for patrons to report via our “See Something, Say Something” system:

  • Submit an Online BeSafe Form
  • Send an email to BeSafe@ntpa.org
  • Call our BeSafe Telephone Hotline: 469-498-2003

What happens when a report is submitted?

Directional signage similar to the above is made available throughout NTPA’s facilities.

When a report is submitted, it goes directly to:

  • NTPA’s Chief Executive Officer
  • NTPA’s Human Resources Manager
  • A Representative of the Governing Board of Directors

These reports go directly and confidentially to NTPA’s Chief Executive Officer and Staff Human Resources Representative, and a copy is provided to a representative on the Governing Board of Directors. 

ANONYMOUS SUBMISSIONS:

A BeSafe submission may be offered anonymously or with contact information.  If the individual who submitted the report wishes to remain anonymous, all identifying information will be redacted from reports to management and the board.

SELF-IDENTIFYING SUBMISSIONS:

If the individual who made the submission provides contact information, management will attempt to meet with the individual offering the submission to talk through the concerns and better understand the situation.  Updates may be provided through the process, ensuring the submitter that there is confidence that the matter was understood and working toward a resolution.  

SUBMISSIONS BY MINORS:

If the individual submitting the report is a minor (under the age of 18), management will reach out to the minor child and advise that they would like to meet to discuss their concerns.  The youth will be advised that in order for a member of the NTPA staff to meet with them, their parents or guardians will have to be notified.  The minor will have the option to decline the meeting and the matter may continue to be investigated without the meeting. NTPA staff will not meet individually with a minor without the parent’s approval.

RESOLUTION: 

All legitimate reports are reviewed with the Executive Committee of the Governing Board, with strict consideration for the confidentiality of the individuals involved. Concerns are typically investigated in collaboration with a committee made up of members of the NTPA Senior Staff.  A recommendation for action is created by Senior Staff and share with the Executive Committee for review and feedback prior to action being taken. For those self-identifying report submissions, management will generally communicate its findings to the submitter, and the appropriate actions and communications will be completed. 

NTPA AS A STATE OF TEXAS MANDATORY REPORTER:

The NTPA Governing Board of Directors has adopted a policy that everyone who works with youth at NTPA are Mandatory Reporters as defined by Texas law. That means if a volunteer or patron witnesses or suspects abuse at home—physical, emotional, or sexual—we are obligated to report it.

We ask that such matters be reported through the NTPA See Something – Say Something process, and NTPA will take responsibility for the proper reporting to Texas Child Protective Services. This protects both the student and the participants, and ensures the matter is documented through proper channels.

NTPA WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY:

North Texas Performing Arts (NTPA) is committed to operating with integrity, honesty, and in compliance with the laws and regulations that govern our operations. The “Whistleblower Policy” is intended to encourage and enable board members, volunteers, staff, and others involved with NTPA to raise serious concerns internally so that NTPA can address and correct inappropriate conduct and actions.

This policy applies to all board members, employees, volunteers, and contractors of NTPA. It is the responsibility of all directors, officers, employees, and volunteers to report concerns about violations of NTPA’s code of ethics or suspected violations of law or regulations that govern NTPA’s operations. This may include, but is not limited to, financial impropriety, unethical business conduct, illegal activities, safety violations, or discrimination.

OBLIGATION OF NON-RETALIATION:

It is contrary to the values of NTPA for anyone to retaliate against any board member, officer, employee, or volunteer who in good faith reports an ethical violation, or a suspected violation of law, such as complaints of discrimination, suspected fraud, or misuse of NTPA’s resources. Anyone who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment and/or volunteer or participant status.

GOOD FAITH REPORTING:

Anyone filing a complaint concerning a violation or suspected violation must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

Employee Online Feedback Form

In addition to the means above, NTPA employees may report their concerns, observations, feedback or other information in the form of an electronic “Suggestion Box” to raise attention to concerns, problems or issues or present new ideas.  The staff member’s comments can be anonymous and will always be confidential and provide a forum of input that will only be seen by the CEO and a Representative of the Governing Board of Directors.