Your Code of Conduct
Once your Code of Conduct is in place, it’s important to implement it through training and by disseminating the information widely, in a variety…
Home / Reporting / Reporting: Responding to Allegations of Abuse
Staff and volunteers at the YSO (Youth-Serving Organization) should be proficient in discussing abuse and responding to disclosures of abuse. YSO leadership should create environments in which staff and volunteers feel safe to discuss any question, concern, or issue about behavior toward children in the workplace, and report suspicions and allegations of abuse without fear of negative consequences.
To support appropriate responses:
Maximize opportunities to talk with staff about child protection issues and policies to build comfort with the topic of child abuse. It is critical that conversations about child abuse prevention occur frequently to increase children safety as well as staff and volunteer comfort with the subject. Open conversations with staff and volunteers can help encourage asking questions about responsibilities of safety and reporting.
Use supervision to support staff in coming forward to discuss concerning behaviors, or to report suspicions, observations, or disclosures of child abuse. Leadership should continuously discuss child safety with staff and volunteers and clarify concerns or questions they may have. Encourage observations and support staff and volunteers in coming forward when there are concerns, suspicions, or disclosures of sexual abuse.
Reinforce and remind staff that how adults respond to a disclosure of abuse can impact the recovery of the child. In-depth training should be provided to support staff and volunteers in responding properly to disclosures of sexual abuse. Adults should respond by validating and supporting the child when they disclose sexual abuse.
Certify that staff and volunteers know reporting suspected abuse affords protections for the reporter under Massachusetts law. All staff and volunteers should be aware of the protection they are given when they report suspected abuse to DCF. Without concerns of personal liability, the reporter is more likely to come forward.
Ensure staff and volunteers who report suspected abuse will not be subject to any adverse action by the organization or their colleagues. Mandated reporters should also be afforded protection from any negative action at the organization. Staff and volunteers should feel safe to report, without retaliation from the organization or from others at the organization.
Appropriate responses to disclosures or suspicions of sexual abuse increase the likelihood of safe outcomes for children at your YSO. Leadership should train and frequently discuss responses to potential abuse with staff and volunteers in order to reinforce the YSO’s mission of safety.
Code of Conduct
Once your Code of Conduct is in place, it’s important to implement it through training and by disseminating the information widely, in a variety…
Screening & Hiring
Screening means thorough reference and background checks, including review of criminal and sexual offender records, for all employees, staff,…
Monitoring Behavior
Develop a culture of child safety at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) using your Monitoring Behavior protocol that includes leadership-driven…
Screening & Hiring
To determine what screening tools are most appropriate to use for a particular position and to ensure consistency in your screening protocols, we…
Screening & Hiring
Finding staff and volunteers you can trust to work with children includes additional steps beyond interviewing and checking references. …
Monitoring Behavior
Protocols should be developed in order to inform staff and volunteers about supervision, communication, and reporting procedures at your…
Training
Once you have identified your training expectations and standards and have researched current and available local and national training, explore…
Screening & Hiring
Your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO) should create protocols for the application, interviewing, and screening process. Each step of the process…
Screening & Hiring
Here are some best practices to consider when conducting your criminal background checks: Save time and resources by delaying criminal…
Training
Ideally, all children/youth should receive training and education on issues of personal safety and abuse prevention. Personal safety and child…
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
Learning Center Registration
Sign up for an account and start your learning experience.
Free Online Assessment
Let us help you find out where to start.