Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana Youth Protection & Mandated Reporting Policies

Youth Protection & Mandated Reporting Policies

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Youth Protection Policy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide practices that will protect youth from incidents of misconduct or inappropriate behavior and also protect the employees and volunteers from false accusations.

This policy gives employees and volunteers guidelines in reporting any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. This reporting responsibility may not be abdicated to any other person.

Definitions:

Staff – All employees, full and part-time, and program volunteers that have any contact with youth or access to facilities.
Youth – Individuals 17 years of age or younger.

PROCEDURE

There are two types of youth protection-related reporting procedures all employees and volunteers must follow:

When you witness or suspect any child has been abused or neglected –See “Mandatory Report of Child Abuse” below.
When you witness a violation of the Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana’s Youth Protection policies—See “Reporting Violations of Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana Youth Protection Policies” below.

Mandatory Report of Child Abuse

All persons involved in Youth Resources programming shall report to the Executive Director, or his/her designee, any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. Employees and volunteers may not abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.

Steps to Reporting Child Abuse

- Ensure the child is in a safe environment.
- In cases of child abuse or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately. In addition, if the suspected abuse is in the youth’s home or family, we are required to contact the local child abuse hotline.
- Notify the Executive Director or her legal designee.

Reporting Violations of Youth Resources’ Youth Protection Policies

If a violation of the policy described herein is observed, the employee and/or volunteer who observed any violation, must notify the Youth Resources executive director or her legal designee so appropriate action can be taken for the safety of the child(ren) immediately. Employees and/or volunteers reporting such abuse will be required to give written incident statements to the Executive Director and must abide by any requests for information by local law enforcement. The Executive Director and/or the legal designee will further document all subsequent information from reported abuse and will retain per the Records Retention and Destruction Policy adopted by the Board of Directors.

Barriers to Abuse

Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana has adopted the following to provide additional security for our youth participants, volunteers, and employees. These guidelines are primarily for the protection of our youth participants; however, they also serve to protect our adult leaders from false accusations of abuse.

Two-deep leadership is required on all outings. Two Youth Resources staff, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and outings. Youth Resources is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided for all activities. There are a few instances, such as community service activities, when the presence of adult leaders is not required and adult leadership may be limited to training and guidance of the youth.
One-on-one contact between adults and youth is prohibited. In situations that require personal conferences, the meeting is to be conducted in the view of other adults and/or youth.
Inappropriate use of cameras, imaging, and digital devices is prohibited. While most teens use cameras and other imaging devices responsibly, it has become very easy to invade the privacy of individuals. It is inappropriate to use any device capable of recording or transmitting visual images in showers, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected by participants.
No private meetings. Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana does not allow any private meetings as part of its programs. All aspects of Youth Resources programming are open to observation.
No hazing. Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Youth Resources activity.
No bullying. Verbal, physical, and cyber bullying are prohibited in Youth Resources programming.
Youth leadership is monitored by adult leaders. Adult leaders must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by youth leaders and ensure that the Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana policies are followed.
Appropriate attire for all activities. Proper clothing for all Youth Resources programming is required. For example, revealing clothing or bathing suits are not appropriate as part of Youth Resources programming.

Youth and Adults Digital Privacy

A key ingredient for a safe and healthy Youth Resources’ experience is the respect for privacy. Advances in technology are enabling new forms of social interaction that extend beyond the appropriate use of cameras or recording devices. Sending sexually explicit photographs or videos electronically (“sexting”) by cell phones is a form of texting being practiced primarily by young adults and children as young as middle-school age. Sexting is neither safe, nor private, nor an approved form of communication and can lead to severe legal consequences for the sender, the receiver, and Youth Resources.

Removal from Program

Discipline used in Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana programming should be constructive and reflect Youth Resources values. Violations of this policy will not be tolerated. If an employee, volunteer, or child fails to report or abide by this policy, he/she can be removed from Youth Resources programming.

By signing below, I have read and acknowledged the Youth Resources policy outlined above and agree to adhere to all protections and courses of action.

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Please type your first and last name above as e-signature.

Date

Mandated Reporting Policy

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to provide practices that will protect youth and adults involved in Youth Resources programs and to ensure the proper parties are immediately notified of suspected or observed child abuse or neglect at Youth Resources functions or elsewhere in a child’s life.

SCOPE

A “minor” or a “child” means any individual under 18 years of age.

An “person involved in Youth Resources programming” is any individual employed by Youth Resources or who provides a program, activity, or service sponsored by Youth Resources, whether paid or unpaid. These individuals include youth and adults, program participants, volunteers, and independent contractors.

Indiana Law includes the following Child in Need of Services (CHINS) definitions as the basis for “child abuse and neglect (CA/N).”

Note: There are additional CHINS statutes in Indiana Code that are not included in the definition of CA/N (e.g. CHINS 6: The child substantially endangers his/her own health or the health of another individual).

This list is intended to be used by an Intake Specialist/Supervisor as a parameter to determine whether a reporter’s allegations would seem to indicate that CA/N has occurred:

CHINS 1: The child's physical or mental condition is seriously impaired or seriously endangered as a result of the parent, guardian, or custodian being unable, refusing, or neglecting to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, or supervision.

CHINS 2: The child's physical or mental condition is seriously impaired or seriously endangered due to an injury as a result of the parent, guardian, or custodian’s act or omission, or there is evidence that illegal manufacture of a drug or controlled substance is occurring on property where a child resides.

CHINS 3: The child is a victim of an offense listed in IC 31-34-1-3 or is living in a household with an adult who has been charged with an offense listed in IC 31- 1 If the alleged victim is over the age of 18 and is currently a ward, the reported information is forwarded to the DCS worker as an Information and Referral (I&R).

CHINS 3.5: The child is a victim of a human or sexual trafficking offense as defined in IC 31-9-2-133.1. A child is considered a victim of human or sexual trafficking regardless of whether the child consented to the conduct as defined.

CHINS 4: The child's parent, guardian, or custodian allows the child to participate in an obscene performance.

CHINS 5: The child's parent, guardian, or custodian allows the child to commit a prohibited sex offense (See Tool Sexual Offense Child Abuse and/or Neglect (CA/N) Matrix).

CHINS 6: The child substantially endangers his/her own health or the health of another individual.

CHINS 7: The child’s parent/guardian/custodian fails to participate in a school disciplinary proceeding.

CHINS 8: The child is a “missing child”. Note: This is a child who is the subject of a missing person’s report and has been found in Indiana.

CHINS 9: The child is disabled and deprived of necessary nutrition or medical intervention.

Note: According to IC 31-34-1-9, a child in need of services under CHINS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 of this tool includes a child with a disability who: 1) Is deprived of nutrition that is necessary to sustain life; or 2) Is deprived of medical or surgical intervention that is necessary to remedy or ameliorate a life threatening medical condition; if the nutrition or medical or surgical intervention is generally provided to similarly situated children with or without disabilities.

CHINS 10:The child is born with fetal alcohol syndrome, neonatal abstinence syndrome or with any amount of controlled substance, a legend drug 1 or a metabolite of a controlled substance or legend drug in the child’s body, including the child’s blood, urine, umbilical cord tissue, meconium.

CHINS 11: The child has an injury, abnormal physical or psychological development, symptoms of neonatal intoxication or withdrawal or experiences risks or injuries from the mother’s use of alcohol, controlled substance or legend drug during pregnancy.

STATE LAW

Indiana is a mandatory reporting state; anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused must by state law make a report.

Indiana Code reference: IC 31-33-5, IC 31-33-5-1, IC 31-33-5-2, IC 31-33-5-2.5, and IC 12-17.2-3.5

Failure to make a report required by IC 31-33-5-1, IC 31-33-5-2 or IC 31-33-5-2.5 is a Class B misdemeanor under IC 31-33-22-1.

Can the person making the report remain anonymous?

State law requires DCS to protect the identity of those reporting abuse or neglect allegations. DCS keeps the name and contact information of all report sources confidential. While DCS accepts child abuse and neglect allegations from persons who wish to remain anonymous, DCS encourages individuals to provide contact information. Providing your contact information allows the family case manager who is assigned the report to follow up with additional questions if needed.

What is reasonable suspicion or “reason to believe” that neglect or abuse is happening?

"Reason to Believe" has been defined by statute as "evidence that, if presented to individuals of similar background and training, would cause the individuals to believe that a child was abused or neglected."(IC 31-9-2-101) This standard should be given a liberal interpretation and does not entitle the prospective reporter to weigh the evidence and make a determination of whether or not abuse occurred. When in doubt as to whether you have "reason to believe," make a report.

Should a person report abuse or neglect that occurred in the past?

Whether the abuse was in the past or is ongoing, it should be reported. DCS or the local Police Department will determine the need for action.

Can those who report be held liable?

A person, who, in good faith, makes a report of suspected abuse and neglect, is immune from any civil or criminal liability. Furthermore, the law presumes that the person who makes the report is acting in good faith (IC 31-33-6-3). Immunity does not extend to anyone who has acted maliciously or in bad faith (IC 31-33-6-2).

YOUTH RESOURCES POLICY

All persons involved in Youth Resources programming shall report to the DCS Hotline and Executive Director, their legal designee, or a Youth Resources employee of any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been:

Physically or sexually abused
Physically or emotionally neglected
Exposed to any form of violence or threat
Exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material

Employees and volunteers may not abdicate this reporting responsibility.

Non-Retaliation

Any person who makes a good faith report of child abuse must not be subjected to retaliation in any form. Retaliation will be considered a violation of Youth Resources policy and will result in serious disciplinary action, up to or including dismissal for an employee, volunteer, or student participant.

Video training: https://reportchildabuse.dcs.in.gov/

TIMING

If you are calling regarding an emergency situation or if you believe the victim is in imminent danger, please dial 911 immediately. In this situation, do not wait for someone else to make the call. Your call may be the critical first step in protecting a child.

Ensure the child is in a safe environment.
Notify the Executive Director, their legal designee, or a Youth Resources employee.
Call the Indiana Department of Child Services' Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline today. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. You can report abuse and neglect anonymously
1. 1-800-800-5556
2. The Executive Director or their designee should be present for the call if possible unless the Executive Director or their designee is the alleged perpetrator.

PREPARE TO MAKE A REPORT

What will I need to provide when making a report?

If you call to make a report, an intake specialist will ask for information about the circumstances creating a risk of harm to the child including:

Who was involved
What occurred
When and where it occurred
The extent of any injuries sustained
Any other relevant information
You may be asked for detailed information for the child, parent and alleged perpetrator including:
- Names
- Addresses
- Phone numbers

Even if you are unable to provide all of the information, please contact the hotline to make a report if you suspect a child is a victim of abuse or neglect.

What if I call the hotline and I have to wait?

If you find yourself on hold, please do not hang up. Your call will be answered by the next available intake specialist. If all lines are busy, please call 1-833-800-5556.

By signing below, I have read and acknowledged the Youth Resources policy outlined above and agree to adhere to all protections and courses of action.

Signature

Please type your first and last name above as e-signature.

Date

Youth Protection & Mandated Reporting Policies

Youth Protection & Mandated Reporting Policies

Youth Protection Policy

Mandated Reporting Policy

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