1. Policy Education & Training
MINORS ON CAMPUS
Policy Education & Training
Ball State University © 2013

2. What is required by the Policy?
Appropriate Screening for all staff, personnel, and volunteers interacting with minors at Ball State
Background Checks including criminal history and the Sex Offender Registry
Notify HR of all participating persons
Decision to exclude an individual program will be made by the Associate VP for HR or designee
Completed Minors on Campus Training and specific department training as applicable
Register programs with the Director of Risk Management

3. Remember that systematic background checks are no substitute for effective screening
Only 3-4% of child molesters have any criminal history
Juvenile records are typically sealed, so background checks may not disclose any criminal history prior to age 18 unless the person was waived as an adult
Conduct in-person interviews, follow-up with reference checks, and continuously monitor employees and volunteers
Use probationary periods for staff if appropriate

4. Identifying and Minimizing Risks
Who is a minor?
Where are they on campus?
What sponsored programs are they involved in off campus?
What are the risks and hazards for minors at Ball State?
How can you minimize these risks?

5. Who is a minor?
Indiana State Law defines a minor as any person under the age of 18 (IC (8)).
Ball State adopts the same definition excepting regularly enrolled college students age 17 and up.

6. Where are they? Examples include:
Camps and special events—academic, athletics, homecoming, alumni events
Facilities rentals
Field trips to campus
Community and family outreach—tutoring, affiliates, family weekends
Burris and Academy students
International programs

7. What are some of the risks?
Safety risks
Laboratories
Shops & Studios
Athletic camps
Alcohol & Controlled Substances
Medical Care
Medications
Food and medicinal allergies
Injury & Trauma
Human Risks
Adult-Minor Interactions
Supervision & Monitoring
Sexual Misconduct
Minor-Minor Interactions
Hazing & Bullying

8. Alcohol & Controlled Substances
Controlled substances include alcohol and illegal drugs, such as opiates, opium derivatives, hallucinogenic substances, depressants, and stimulants (IC et seq.), as well as over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, and tobacco products
Limiting access to alcohol & controlled substances
NEVER provide tobacco products to a minor
Ball State is a tobacco-free campus, no one is permitted to use tobacco products on campus regardless of age
NEVER provide alcohol to a minor.
It is a Class C misdemeanor for a person under 21 years of age to possess or consume alcohol in Indiana (IC )
It is at least a Class B misdemeanor for a person to provide alcohol to a minor (IC , see also IC )
NEVER provide or dispense any controlled substances without express permission
It is a Class C felony for a person over 21 years of age to furnish a controlled substance or drug in violation of Indiana law to a minor (IC (b))

9. Alcohol & Controlled Substances
Ensure that parents or guardians complete a medical authorization form detailing what types and/or dosages of OTC medications their children may take and whether such medications may be self-administered
Ensure that parents or guardians list prescription medications and dosages; create a plan for administration or self-administration
If you discover a minor in possession of alcohol or a controlled substance without permission, report immediately to the program director
It is a Class C misdemeanor for a person over 21 years of age to encourage or aid a minor to unlawfully possess alcohol (IC )

10. Medical Care
Medical authorization and consent signed by parent or legal guardian
Medication Checklist for parents
Know what medicines and/or dosages for OTC medications
List any prescription medications and dosages
Ensure that the parent or guardian has provided sufficient quantities for the duration of the program
Have a plan for administration or self-administration by the minor
List of any known food or medicinal allergies
Know the severity of allergy; have a plan for any accidental ingestion or exposure
Injury & Trauma
Know where the nearest hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies are located; whether they have pediatric services
Have contact information for emergency and non-emergency centers
ALWAYS notify parents at the earliest possibility

11. Preventing Sexual Abuse
The goal of all programs and policies is to PREVENT sexual abuse before it occurs by providing safe environments for minors
Background checks, interviews, and reference checks for all personnel interacting with minors
Ongoing training for appropriate interactions and reporting of suspicious activity
Create an open and visible environment
Transparency: encourage dialogue and feedback from personnel, parents, and minors
Enforcement: apply the rules consistently and follow up on violations

12. Types of Child Abuse Offenders
Predatory or Preferential Offenders
Tend to build their lives around gaining access to children (jobs, volunteers work, social activities)
Pick out favorite children & give them extra attention and gifts, physically engage them (hugs, massage, squeezing)
Convince parents and other adults that they love children (grooming not just the children, but society)
Screening and selection policies can often detect warning signs and past history, but if predatory offenders slip through, staff needs to pay extra attention to behavioral warning signs and/or policy violations

13. Types of Child Abuse Offenders
Opportunistic Offenders
Do not necessarily seek out children
Often interact with children and minors and the boundaries become blurry (e.g., college aged students and teenagers with similar maturity levels)
Alcohol, drugs, or personal problems may impair the adult’s judgment
May take advantage of anonymity to offend—crowded places where they can “accidentally” grope a minor; locations such as bathrooms and locker rooms where minors undress where they can secretly take photos or video
Staff should create and enforce strict policies regarding appropriate boundaries and unsupervised contact between minors and adults
Staff should closely monitor high-risk situations

14. Open and Visible Environment
Sexual abuse is, in part, a crime of opportunity
Minimize opportunities for adults to be alone with minors
Follow a 2+ Adult Interaction Policy whenever possible: have at least two adults with a group of minors at all times
For circumstances that require one-on-one interaction (e.g, tutoring), ensure that those activities take place in an open environment such as open library tables
Activities should NEVER take place behind locked doors
For activities that may require private sessions (e.g., music lessons), conduct random check-ins

15. Physical Signs of Sexual Abuse
Pain, itching, or trauma in the genital area
Unexplained health-related complaints
Persistent or recurring pain during urination and bowel movements
Wetting and soiling accidents unrelated to toilet training
Torn, stained, or bloody underclothing
Venereal disease or pregnancy
Difficulty walking or sitting
Touching selves or others
Self-abuse, inflicting pain

16. Behavioral Signs of Sexual Abuse
Fear of adults and/or certain people
Dependency on non-abusive adults
Anger, aggressiveness, crying, complaining, low self-esteem
Use of explicit sexual language
Mimicking of adult-like sexual behaviors
Sudden increase or decrease in hygiene habits
Decreased participation with peers
Talk of suicide or attempts
Remember that there is no one-size-fits-all model; watch for any unexplained and sudden changes in behavior. If you are suspicious, follow up and seek assistance.

17. What if a child discloses abuse?
Minors may report abuse at home, from an adult on campus, or from another minor
Do not panic or express shock at the disclosure
Express your belief that the child is telling the truth
Reassure the child that it is not his or her fault
Let the child know what you will do
Report to the proper authorities immediately
* Note that minors commonly retract their statements especially in cases of sexual abuse—out of guilt, fear, or confusion. This does NOT relieve you of your obligation to report the abuse to authorities.

18. Reporting Suspected Abuse
You have a legal obligation to report abuse. (IC , et seq.): anyone who has a “reason to believe” that a child is the victim of child abuse or neglect shall immediately make an oral report to the Department of Child Services (DCS) or a local law enforcement agency
Centralized DCS Hotline: available 24/7
Muncie Police: 911 or (765)
Delaware County Sheriff: (765)
Ball State University Police: (765) or
When reporting suspected abuse, it is helpful to have all of the identifying information in front of you: name, ages of each child, address, and phone number

19. Reporting at Ball State
Further, if you are required to make such a report to the authorities, you must also immediately notify the program director
The program director is obligated to make a formal report as well, but this does NOT relieve you of your duty to report to authorities.

20. What is a “reason to believe” child abuse exists?
A “reason to believe” is the legal standard by which your duty to report is measured. If you have a reason to believe that abuse exists and you fail to report, you may be subject to criminal charges
IC : a “reason to believe” is evidence that, if presented to individuals of similar background and training would cause the individuals to believe that a child was abused or neglected.
Variable standard based on your background and training
What would a typical person in your position think?
Example: a teacher may not have reason to believe that certain injuries were caused by abuse, whereas a doctor, based on training and experience, may believe that abuse exists and therefore has a duty to report.

21. Reporting Requirements
You do not need to investigate or prove that the allegations or suspicion is factual
It is not the responsibility of educators, faculty, or staff to prove that allegations are true or false
Your role is to report the abuse and set in motion the process of getting help for the child
Think of the report as a request for an investigation

22. What if another BSU employee or affiliate reports to you?
Remove any barriers to reporting; inform your subordinates of the reporting requirements; reinforce the importance of reporting
Post reporting procedures in an easily accessible location; provide phone numbers to local law enforcement and CPS
If a subordinate discloses suspected abuse to you, you are also required by law to report to CPS or local law enforcement

23. Do minors sexually abuse other minors?
Yes, over a third of all sexual abuse of children is committed by someone under the age of 18.
Juvenile offenders fall into two main categories: (1) those who offend against children; and (2) those who offend against peers or adults

24. Healthy Sexual Development vs. Harmful Behavior
Children pass through different stages of development as they grow. It is normal for children’s awareness and curiosity about their own sexual feelings to change as they pass through infancy, childhood, puberty, and adolescence
It is helpful to distinguish between common and uncommon sexual behaviors to identify harmful sexual acts and children who might have been abused or could be potential abusers

25. What is age-appropriate sexual behavior?
Preschool (0-5 years)
Common: sexual language regarding body parts, bathroom talk, pregnancy, and birth; private or public self-stimulation, showing or looking at private body parts
Uncommon: language of specific sexual acts or explicit language; adult-like sexual contact with other children
School-age (6-12 years)
Common: questions about relationships and sexual behavior, menstruation, and pregnancy; experimentation with similar-aged children, kissing, touching; private self-stimulation
Uncommon: adult-like sexual interactions, discussion of specific sexual acts, public self-stimulation

26. What is age-appropriate sexual behavior?
Puberty—this can begin in school-aged or adolescent children
Common: increased curiosity about sexual materials and information, relationships, and sexual behavior; using more explicit sexual words and describing sexual acts; increased experimentations with similar-aged minors, including open mouthed kissing, fondling
Uncommon: consistent adult-like sexual behavior, self-stimulation in public, oral/genital contact, intercourse
Adolescence (13 to 16 years)
Common: questions about decision-making, social relationships, and sexual customs; experimenting with similar-aged adolescents including kissing, fondling, and oral/genital contact; approximately 1/3 engage in intercourse
Uncommon: self-stimulation in public; sexual interest directed toward much younger children

27. Sexually harmful behavior
Sexually harmful behavior is sexual activity between children that occurs without consent, without equality, or as a result of coercion
Sexual exploration with much younger or vulnerable children (e.g., disabilities or developmental challenges)
Using force, tricks, bribery, or other manipulation
Overt and deliberate acts at stimulation vs. anatomical curiosity or exploration

28. Warning Signs of Sexually Harmful or Abusive Behavior
There is no mold for a typical youth offender; they come from all backgrounds. But there are some warning signs you can look out for:
Making others uncomfortable by consistently missing or ignoring social cues about others’ personal limits or boundaries
Insisting on physical contact with a child even when that child resists
Preferring to spend time alone with younger children rather than peers
Responding sexually to typical gestures of friendliness or affection
Regularly minimizing, justifying, or denying the impact of inappropriate behavior

29. Stronger indicators of risk for abusive behavior
Linking sexuality and aggression in language or behavior; sexually harassing behavior; forcing sexual interaction
Turning to younger or more vulnerable children for sexual exploration rather than peers
Inability to control sexual behaviors after being told to stop
Taking younger children to “secret” places, engaging in undressing or touching games

30. What are the warning signs exhibited by victims?
Minors victimized by other minors show many of the same physical and behavioral signs as those victimized by adults
Reluctance to be alone with a particular child or anxiety around that child is common
Depending on the scenario, children many not understand that the behavior is inappropriate or harmful

31. Reporting Requirements
Indiana law does not distinguish between child abuse committed by adults or abuse committed by other minors
Recognizing the difference between sexual exploration and sexually harmful behavior, if you have a “reason to believe” that a child has been the victim of abuse (without consent, without equality, or as a result of coercion), you MUST report, regardless of whether the suspected offender is an adult or a minor
It is not your obligation to investigate the suspected abuse or verify factual allegations
CPS and law enforcement will follow up to confirm any abuse and to determine the appropriate course of action

32. The goal is to prevent abuse. How do you minimize the risks?
Set limits when children engage in behaviors inappropriate to a particular setting
Correct the inappropriate behavior and help them understand appropriate boundaries
This is also an opportunity for the child to talk about keeping themselves and others safe; children who initiate overtly sexual acts often have been victimized by an adult beforehand
Model appropriate, respectful behavior

33. What can you do to prevent peer-on-peer sexual abuse?
Create open and transparent environments
Create clear expectations of appropriate behavior, enforce the rules, and follow up on violations
Sexually explicit language and jokes are not appropriate
There should be no sexual touching, grabbing, or pinching
Even if the act is consensual, program rules should make it clear that this is not the appropriate place for such activities
In any overnight camp or field trips, boys and girls must have separate dormitories
Curfews should be announced and enforced

34. Bullying & Hazing What is bullying? What is hazing?
Bullying is overt, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner, physical acts, aggression, or any other behaviors committed by one minor or group against another with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate or harm the targeted minor. (IC )
Bullying includes making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone on purpose
Cyber-bullying can take place through any electronic means such as text messages, s, or social networking sites
What is hazing?
Hazing is any action taken or situation created that intentionally causes embarrassment or risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group regardless of their willingness to participate.
“Hazing” as a criminal offense means forcing or requiring another person (with or without consent), as a condition of association with a group or organization, to perform an act that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury (IC )
Hazing is at least a B misdemeanor, and can be a felony act (IC (b))

35. Prevent Bullying Early Childhood
Model positive ways for children to make friends; practice ways children can ask to join others or take turns. Coach older children to reinforce these behaviors and praise children when they do well.
Help children learn the consequences of certain actions in ways they can understand.
Encourage children to tell an adult if they are ever treated in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, upset, or unhappy, or if they witness another child being harmed.
Set clear rules for behavior. Step in to quickly stop aggressive behavior and redirect it before it occurs.
Use age-appropriate consequences for aggressive behavior.

36. Prevent Bullying Older Children and Young Adults
Encourage young adults to talk to someone they trust
Determine the nature of the behavior. Especially among adolescents and young adults, bullying behavior may escalate to hazing, harassment, or stalking.
Review campus codes of conduct, and if necessary, seek out help for suspected criminal acts
Report criminal acts to campus or community law enforcement
Set clear expectations of behavior and enforce the rules
Follow up on violations, use age and behavior appropriate consequences

37. Prevent and Report Hazing
Ball State has a strict anti-hazing policy for its own students, student organizations, groups or teams; this same standard applies for groups of minors on campus
Hazing occurs in both men’s and women’s organizations, and is common among students in middle and high schools, particularly athletic teams
Adults should not encourage, condone, or ignore hazing. Do not dismiss harmful behavior as “mere traditions.”
Educate your teams or groups about hazing
Use examples of hazing and non-hazing behavior
Create non-hazing activities that promote team-building
Make it clear that hazing is not tolerated
Follow up on violations and implement appropriate consequences, including dismissal from the team and reporting to the program director and campus or local law enforcement as appropriate

38. Resources
Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting: Roles and Responsibilities, Prevent Child Abuse of Delaware County, a Chartered Council of Prevent Child Abuse Indiana Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment, a position statement of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, revised April 2005 The Safer Society Foundation, Inc.; Stop It Now; National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation; Parents for Megan’s Law and the Crime Victims Center

39. Resources
“Protecting Your Children: Advice from Child Molesters” “Child Sexual Abuse: Ten Ways to Protect Your Kids,” by Kathy Seifert, Ph.D., D.A.B.P available at Ball State University Hazing Policy, Student Code—Appendix D, available online at Hazing Prevention; Stop Bullying,

40. Additional Resources
Information about and for survivors of sexual abuse
National Sexual Assault Hotline, available 24/7,
HOPE (4673)
Rape, Abuse & Incest Network (RAINN), National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, available 24/7
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers,