Office of Human Resourcesand

College of Social Work

Understanding Your Role Protecting Minors at Ohio State

Every Child Deserves a Safe Childhood

Children have the right to: • Safety • Protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation and

discrimination • Safe, healthy home with adequate food and clothing • An environment where they can grow and reach

their potential • Respect

Why Are We Here?

• To become aware of the frequency of child abuse • To understand the types of abuse and common

indicators• To understand your duty to report whether they

observe the incident directly or it is reported to them by someone else or they have reasonable cause to believe that abuse has occurred or may occur

• To know how to report suspected child abuse • To become aware of Standards of Behavior• To understand our accountability

The Reality of Child Abuse

Franklin County Children Services Services include:•Addressing more than 13,000 reports of child abuse each year• Investigating 7,857 reports of abuse in 2011 • Investigating 4,284 reports of neglect in 2011•Provides services to more than 28,000 children annually

Understanding Child Abuse

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?

What is Child Abuse?

Any action that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child Four main forms: • Physical abuse • Sexual abuse • Emotional abuse • Neglect

The Signs: Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is defined as any physical injury or death inflicted other than by accidental means• Unexplained burns • Unexplained bruises on the face, lips, mouth, back, buttocks, and thighs • Human bites • Multiple hospital visits • Seems frightened of parents and does not want to go home

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT CAMP: • Unexplained bruises or burns • Fear of going home • Fear of going with a particular staff member • Physical force used by parents

The Signs: Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a person uses power over a child, and directly involves the child in any sexual act, involves the child in pornography, or forces the child to witness sexual acts• Suddenly refuses to participate in physical activities • Exhibits unusual sexual knowledge or behavior • Frequent and unexplained sore throats • Yeast or urinary infections • Torn or bloody underclothes • Aggressively initiates sexual contact with another child

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: • Unusual sexual knowledge or behavior • Child-to-child sexual contact • Bruises on inner thighs or other “no touch” areas • Fear of being alone with a particular camper or staff member

The Signs: Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is a pattern of harmful interactions between the parent and child such as criticizing, belittling, rejecting, or withholding love resulting in impaired psychological growth and development • Eating issues (anorexia, bulimia, etc.) • Nervous habits (tics, washing hands, biting nails, extreme anxiety, etc.) • Cruel behavior – using physical force or words to hurt another camper,

staff member or animal. • Lack of emotional attachment to parent

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT CAMP: • Not eating or overeating at camp meals • Extreme nervous habits – nail biting, tics, washing hands, etc.

Parent/child interactions using inappropriate language or name calling

The Signs: Neglect

Neglect is the failure of a parent or guardian to provide for a child’s basic (i.e., food, shelter, supervision, and clothing), educational or medical needs. Neglect may exist because of the refusal to provide or because the family does not have the financial means to provide for their child• Begs or steals food or money • Poor hygiene • Unsuitable clothing • Low height and weight average • Excessive absences • Chronic hunger • Assuming adult responsibilities (caring for younger siblings, cooking all meals, etc.)

WHAT TO LOOK FOR AT CAMP: • Stealing food from the lunch hall • Poor shower habits/poor hygiene • Dirty clothes or clothes with numerous stains and/or tears

How can You Help Prevent Child Abuse at Camps?

• In working with children, under appropriate conditions, the following may be permissible forms of non-verbal communication: hand to shoulder contact, side by side hugs, rustling of hair, pats on the head, “high fives,” handshakes, eye contact and smiles

• Staff may not touch children on areas of their bodies that would be covered by a swimsuit

• Physical restraint (staff confining a child by holding the child appropriately) is only to be used in situations where a child puts himself/herself or others in danger and must be documented in writing

What Does it Mean To “Suspect” Child Abuse?

Avoid one adult/one child interactions Preventing Child Abuse in High Opportunity Areas: • Dorm rooms/sleeping facility – Complete regular room checks – Do not allow camp staff to be alone in a room with a

child (always take another adult or another camper) • Restrooms & Showers – Do not allow camp staff to be alone in a restroom with

a child (always take another adult or another camper)

What Does It Mean to “Suspect” Child Abuse?

• A camp staff member may suspect child abuse if the child: demonstrates the signs

• A child confides abuse to the worker • Or the worker witnesses an incident of abuse

and/or neglect

What If A Child Confides In Me?

• If a child begins to confide in you about suspected abuse, be sure to follow these steps: Listen to the child

• Reassure the child • Remain calm and collected • Provide any immediate help you can offer the child to

ensure safety • Do not promise the child you will not tell anyone; you

must report • Do not share the information learned from the child with

the alleged perpetrator • Follow the steps outlined in this presentation

Who should report child abuse?

• The reality is that EVERYONE CAN AND SHOULD report suspected child abuse and/or neglect

• As a camp staff member, you MUST report suspected child abuse and/or neglect

• You have a duty to report

Who is Responsible for Reporting Child Abuse?

• The Ohio Revised Code established reporting responsibilities to a specific group of individuals:– Animal control officers/agents, attorneys, audiologists, child care workers,

children services personnel, coroners, day care personnel, dentists, nurses, physicians including hospital interns and residents, podiatrists, psychiatrists, school authorities, employees and teachers, social workers, speech pathologists and other professions identified by Ohio Revised Code Section 2151.421(A)(1)(b)

• The report MUST be made to the county Children Services Agency or a municipal or a county peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse is occurring or has occurred

• OSU Policy REQUIRES that ALL camp staff report suspected child abuse

How do you meet your Duty to Act responsibilities?

If you witness or you reasonably believe that there is a substantial threat, you must:• Immediately report the child abuse, child neglect, child sexual abuse

to the appropriate office/individual as described on the table listed on the next slide.

• Complete the Child Abuse, Sex Abuse, or Neglect Incident Report Form as thoroughly as possible.

• Submit the Child Abuse, Sex Abuse, or Neglect Incident Report Form to the Office of Human Resources and keep a copy for your records.

• Cooperate fully and promptly with any requests for information.• Use the Anonymous Reporting Line. Be aware that you will need to

disclose your identity when filing the report through this line.• Exercise sound judgment when discussing any reports with third

parties.

What are your reporting duties?

What What actions must be taken?

Witnessed Child Abuse or Neglect OR Child

Sexual Abuse

OR

Substantial threat of Child Abuse and Neglect

OR of Child Sexual Abuse

Notify the Director, Gail Miller. She will assist you, if needed, in doing the following:

A. Contact:1. Wayne County Children Services Agency - Child Abuse

Hotline at 330-345-5340 OR2. Municipal or County Peace Officer (Local law enforcement authorities - 911)

B. Contact University Police

C. University Police will notify OHR Employee & Labor Relations

Other Reporting Options*

*Reporter will need to disclose identity when filing the report

1. Anonymous Reporting Line: https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/7689/index.html

2. Whistleblower Policy Form: http://hr.osu.edu/forms/whistleblower.pdf

What are the responsibilities with background checks?

• All employees and volunteers working with minors in overnight camps must have a BCI background check at the time of hire.

• After hire, BCI check required every 4 years.• FBI check required only if the employee/volunteer has not

lived in Ohio for 5 consecutive years.• All employees/volunteers who have a break in service for

any period of time must have a new BCI background check.• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS),

“Statement of Non-conviction” must be completed every year.

What are the responsibilities with background checks?

• Lexis-Nexis background check alone is insufficient to meet the above requirements.

• Background checks from other organizations cannot be accepted as replacements for our own background checks.

Responsibilities for Self-Disclosure

• Once employed, all employees/volunteers must self-disclose any felony or misdemeanor convictions within 3 days of pleading guilty or being convicted.

• Employees/volunteers that fail to disclose criminal convictions and/or misdemeanors and/or fail to cooperate in the background check process may not be hired or will be subject to corrective action up to and including termination.

What are Standards of Behavior?

• The “Standards of Behavior” is an agreement that employees and volunteers will be required to sign and abide by while at Ohio State. (Optional for minor participants).

• These “standards” are a guide for employee, volunteer and minor participant behavior.

• University departments will be required to:– Issue these Standards of Behavior to all employees and

volunteers working with minors.– Inform and train employees on the policy “Preventing and

Reporting Abuse in Programs with Minor Participants.”– Promote consistent application of policies and procedures.– Monitor behavior and address inappropriate behavior as

necessary.

What accountability mechanisms are available under the policy?

Individuals violating this policy will be held accountable for their actions. Consequences are:• Faculty - subject to University Rule 3335-5-04. • Staff and student employees – subject to corrective

action up to and including termination. • Students - subject to the Code of Student Conduct and

expectations of the Minor Program. • Volunteers – subject to reprimand or loss of volunteer

status. • Minor participants - may face disciplinary action up to

and including removal from the program.

What resources are available?

• Children’s Services Agency - Child Abuse Hotline at 330-345-5340 or Municipal or County Peace Officer (Local Law Enforcement Agency) - 911

• University Police – 7-0111• Office of Legal Affairs- 614-292-0166, Michael Layish/Missy

Mayhan• OHR/Employee & Labor Relations – 614 292-2800• Unit HRP and/or supervisor • Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse or Neglect Incident Report Form • Anonymous Reporting Line - https://secure.ethicspoint

.com/domain/media/en/gui/7689/index.html• Whistleblower Report - http://hr.osu.edu/forms/whistleblower.pdf• Employee Assistance Program -

http://www.osuhealthplan.com/OhioStateEAP/

Training Materials

• All the training materials needed for the delivery of this presentation can be found in the Resources Section of Policy 1.50 -Preventing and Reporting Abuse in Programs with Minor Participants under “Training Materials” at:

http://hr.osu.edu/policy/policy150.pdf

To complete the training, please follow the link to the quiz.

Training Quiz