Notification systems for organizations are like an improvement on the 911 system. The concept is straightforward: 1. The more likely a wrongful act or condition in an organization will be “caught,” the less likely it will occur. 2. If a wrongful act or condition occurs, a notification system allows the organization to address it quickly – to nip it in the bud.

The concept is not new and has long been employed in protecting countries, policing, safety, and security. Organization notification systems may be used to report potential and or actual incidents, including child abuse, child sex abuse, sexual harassment and assault, defalcation, fraud, discrimination – racism, theft, bribery, safety and security breaches, and violations of law, policies, and procedures.

There are compelling reasons for organizations to have a notification system:

• Federal law requires all organizations, regardless of size or type, to have an effective notification system to prevent and detect criminal acts.
• Law enforcement experts, supported by the National Institute of Justice research, advise that notification systems prevent wrongful acts in organizations.
• The American Bar Association advises that programs to report problems in organizations avoid liability and are a best practice.
• Experts on organizations recommend that every entity have a system that facilitates prompt, confidential notifications of what leaders “need to know.”

We’ve surveyed organizations nationally to see if they had a notification system. Here are the results by category:

In recent years, driven by horrifying incidents that made the news, there have been notable improvements in K-12 and youth sports, but all other categories remained unchanged. The school child sex abuse incidents that are still routinely in the news are primarily due to flawed notification systems.

Incidents in every organization category are increasing, but they are being kept out of the news and addressed outside of court. Organizational compliance won’t improve until insurance companies require it, or public opinion drives it. Next week, we’ll have the opinions of thousands of parents to share. Maybe that will help.

Look 1st Solutions exists to protect, engage, and optimize people and organizations. Our Notify app is the most likely to prevent and the first to detect wrongful acts and conditions. Still, we'll count it as a victory if an organization implements any effective notification system.

Please look at how inexpensive and easily the most effective notification system can be implemented.

Protect. Engage. Optimize.