Policies and Procedures to Protect Children and Youth from Abuse and Neglect.

Policies and Procedures to Protect Children and Youth from Abuse and Neglect

Start Page and Instructions Directional Buttons Video Segments Information Session Popup Readings Quiz Questions PowerPoint Presentation Summary

Information Session This presentation delivers the core content of the sample “Policies and Procedures to Protect Children and Youth from Abuse and Neglect” document prepared by The Parenting Network. This computer-based session takes about two hours in total, including quizzes and readings. Please refer to the resources found via the Homepage for further information. The slideshow will reset to the Homepage after two hours of inactivity.

Directional Buttons To proceed to the Homepage, click the button. To return to the Section’s Content page, click the button. To go to the Next slide, click the button. To go back to the Previous slide, click the button.

Popup Readings At times you will see a button like this one. Clicking this button will popup a PDF with more information about the topic on the page. Sometimes the review questions will be drawn from the material in the PDF. Try clicking it now. If nothing pops up, you may need to:  Turn off your popup blocker OR  Download the Acrobat Reader from get.adobe.com/reader/

Video Segments Each section has a video segment. These can be started by clicking the icon. The video content includes:  several agency partners’ guidelines on interactions between individuals,  how some agency partners ensure safe environments,  how various agency partners monitor behavior,  how a few agency partners respond to inappropriate behavior, and  how a number of agency partners train for child abuse prevention.

Quiz Questions To check your knowledge after completing a section, you must launch a full and graded quiz of the section by clicking the button on the last slide of the section. To proceed to the next section, you have to answer all of the quiz questions correctly. There is also a final, comprehensive quiz at the end of the presentation. You need to answer all of these quiz questions correctly to complete the training. A sample question is on the next page.

Multiple Choice The one thing not yet mentioned is the: Quiz questions Popup PDF factsheets PowerPoint presentation Video segments A B C D

PowerPoint Presentation One thing that was mentioned in the quiz was the PowerPoint presentation. This runs the core content in a normal click-to-continue PowerPoint slideshow. Your computer does not need to have PowerPoint installed to run it.

Summary Now that you are aware of the:  directional buttons,  popup readings,  video segments,  quiz questions, and  the PowerPoint presentation; Please proceed to the Homepage where you can access all of the above and the seven core content sections. If you prefer to use the Next button you will be guided through the content of the presentation in sequence.

Start Page and Instructions Introduction and Background Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect Guidelines and Interactions Between Individuals Training for Child Abuse Prevention Ensuring Safe Environments Monitoring Behavior Responding to Inappropriate Behavior Homepage

Introduction and Background History Additional Training Information Purpose

https://youtu.be/VgLyhuzwCF0

In 2010, United Way realized that not all agency partners had policies and procedures in place to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. As a result, United Way required that each partner agency have a Policy on Protecting Children. In collaboration with The Parenting Network, a sample document was prepared for agency partners to use as a guide in developing or revising policies and procedures to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. In addition, training was conducted on developing or revising a Policy on Protecting Children. History

History (cont.) Since partner agencies have developed or revised policies and procedures to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect, a new concern arose that agency partners were not fully implementing their Policy on Protecting Children. This presentation was designed to make sure that staff, volunteers, and all others involved in the caretaking of youth are aware of practices to ensure the well-being of youth in their care and how to carry out their agency’s Policy on Protecting Children.

Purpose The Policy on Protecting Children has been established to protect youth from incidences of abuse. The purpose of this policy is to empower staff members and volunteers to prevent, recognize and react responsibly about all forms of child abuse. United Way funded programs must take place in safe, nurturing environments that foster healthy relationship building between adults and youth and between youth and youth.

Additional Training Information There is no one-size-fits-all Policy on Protecting Children. Each partner agency is unique, and therefore requires policies, procedures, and corresponding training that best fit the agency’s clients, programming, environment, etc. For that reason, the following training contains best practices, models, and suggested guidelines for implementing a Policy on Protecting Children. Please keep this in mind when completing the training and reviewing all accompanying documents, quizzes, and resources.

Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Defined Physical Abuse Defined Child Sexual Abuse Defined Emotional Abuse Defined Neglect Defined Is it abuse – or just a cultural difference? Human Trafficking Defined Youth-on-Youth Abuse

Child Abuse Defined Abuse can be physical, sexual, or emotional, or it can be any form of neglect. Abuse is defined as “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or a caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk or serious harm.” This applies to any young person under the age of 18.

Physical Abuse Defined Any physical injury caused by hitting, beating, punching, shaking, kicking, or biting – or any other physical harm to a child.  The injury may or may not be intentional.  May result from over-discipline or punishment.

Child Sexual Abuse Defined Involves any sexual activity with a child or youth. Includes sexual contact that is accompanied by enticement, force, or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants. Includes all sexual contact between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is deception or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity.

Child Sexual Abuse Defined Sexual contact between an older child and a younger child can be abusive if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or physical size. Sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, sexual exploitation, or non-contact sexual acts such as exposure and pornography.

Emotional Abuse Defined May involve verbal or psychological abuse or mental injury. Includes acts or omissions by parents or other caregivers that have caused, or could cause, serious behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or mental disorders. May also include extreme or severe acts of punishment. Physically or sexually abused children are usually emotionally abused as well.

Neglect Defined Neglect is defined as "failure, refusal or inability on the part of a parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person exercising temporary or permanent control over a child, for reasons other than poverty, to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of the child.”

Neglect Defined There are several forms of neglect, including:  educational,  emotional,  environmental,  medical, and  developmental. Neglect is a form of abuse.

Human Sex Trafficking Defined “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act where such an act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act is not 18 years of age.”

Human Labor Trafficking Defined “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.”

Youth-on-Youth Abuse NOTE: The above-mentioned definitions of child abuse and neglect usually pertain to only adults and caregivers. However, youth-on-youth abuse also occurs and can take many forms, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and cyber bullying.

Is it abuse – or just a cultural difference? There may be cultures, values, or customs within a community or family that vary greatly. Some practices may just be different; they may seem unusual, but not abusive. However, no matter how different a family’s beliefs are, the definition of abuse is not flexible. If a cultural practice seems to fall within the legal definition of abuse, it may be abuse and should be reported.

Which of the following actions is (are) considered child physical abuse? Hitting Mental Injury Sexual Touching Shaking Both A and D A B C D E

Child sexual abuse involves any sexual activity with a child or youth regardless of the age of the participants unless the child understands the sexual nature of the activity. True False A B

Sexual contact between an older child and a younger child is abusive if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or physical size. True False A B

What does child sexual abuse include? Beating Sexual Penetration Biting Non-contact sexual acts such as exposure or pornography Both B and D A B C D E

Which of the following acts is (are) considered emotional abuse? Punching Verbal and psychological abuse Extreme or severe acts of punishment Kicking Both B and C A B C D E

Physically or sexually abused children are usually emotionally abused as well. True False A B

Neglect is not a form of abuse. True False A B

Only adults and caregivers abuse and neglect children. True False A B

What forms can youth-on- youth abuse take? Physical abuse Sexual abuse Emotional abuse Bullying All of the above A B C D E

The definition of abuse is flexible depending on a family’s beliefs. True False A B

If a cultural practice seems to fall within the legal definition of abuse, it may be abuse and should be reported. True False A B

Some cultural practices may just be different; they may seem unusual, but not abusive. True False A B

Guidelines on Interactions Between Individuals Goal Verbal Communication Physical Behavior Guidelines on Interactions Additional Interaction Guidelines

Goal To ensure the safety of youth in their interactions with staff or volunteers and with each other.

Guidelines on Interactions Guidelines are provided to ensure positive and appropriate interactions among youth and between staff and volunteers. In promoting and ensuring such positive interactions, the agency identifies behaviors that fall into the categories of appropriate, inappropriate and harmful.

Verbal Communication Appropriate:  Praise,  Positive reinforcement for good work or behavior. Inappropriate/harmful:  Sexually provocative or degrading comments or put downs,  Risqué jokes,  Use of obscene language.

Physical Behavior Appropriate:  Pats on the back or shoulder or high fives.  The use of any physical contact should be used with discretion. Inappropriate/harmful:  Patting the buttocks,  Intimate/romantic/sexual contact,  Corporal punishment (involving physical contact or inflicting pain or discomfort),  Involving youth in any pornographic activities.

Additional Interaction Guidelines Written policies and procedures will assist all staff members and volunteers to respond to actions or allegations of abuse. Staff and volunteers are trained in these directives. The youth must also be clearly instructed on how to promote positive interactions and what constitutes inappropriate or harmful interactions.

Additional Interaction Guidelines (cont.) Whenever possible, more than one adult is present with one or more youth. This policy discourages one- on-one interactions. In the event that one of the two adults temporarily leaves a room in which there are youth, the door must be fully open and, when possible, an extra floater adult will be made available.  Appropriate choices for an extra adult: Administrative Assistant, Human Resources Coordinator, or another youth worker.

Additional Interaction Guidelines (cont.) Two (or more) youth will not be left without adult supervision. This helps reduce the risk of unsupervised youth emotionally (bullying), physically, or sexually abusing other youth. Incorporate a buddy system to help prevent isolation of youth with staff or volunteers. Additionally, this system is monitored by staff to prevent youth-on-youth abuse.

Additional Interaction Guidelines (cont.) Adults (including staff, volunteers, and parents) are encouraged to drop in unannounced. The unscheduled visits are known to help safeguard youth from all types of inappropriate situations.

http://youtu.be/TUTWJ_PnRvo

Which of the below is (are) an example(s) of appropriate verbal communication? Comments or complements that relate to physique or body development Use of obscene language Risqué jokes Positive reinforcement for good work or behavior Both A and D A B C D E

Which of the following is (are) an example(s) of inappropriate physical behavior? Pat on the back or shoulder Patting the buttocks Corporal punishment High fives Both B and C A B C D E

Whenever possible, more than one adult should be present with one or more youth. True False A B

To help reduce the risk of youth abusing other youth, two (or more) youth should not be left without adult supervision. True False A B

An agency should conduct periodic, unscheduled observation of staff and volunteers interacting with youth. True False A B

An agency should incorporate a buddy system to help prevent isolation of youth with staff or volunteers and this system should be monitored by staff to prevent youth-on-youth abuse. True False A B

Ensuring Safe Environments Goal

To keep youth from situations in which they are at increased risk for abuse.

https://youtu.be/uLxoWnz7zNg

Ensuring Safe Environments Conduct periodic, unscheduled observation of staff and volunteers’ interaction with youth as a quality control measure. When unusual or questionable behaviors occur, the actions will be recorded in the agency’s personnel files. Evaluate the level of risk by considering the location and time of each activity. Whenever possible, activities and programs will take place in open, visible, and well-lit buildings and outside areas in which multiple people can view activities.

Ensuring Safe Environments (cont.) Employ a “No Closed Doors” policy or require windows in the doors to promote such visibility. All programming will be conducted onsite unless authorized by the Program Director. Off-site meetings, even those held in public areas, are discouraged to avoid at-risk situations.

Ensuring Safe Environments (cont.) Computers are kept in an open lab area. Staff and volunteers will closely monitor youth’s use of the Internet. At a minimum, youth will be:  instructed on not sharing personal information with strangers, posting on websites, and cautioned about the use of social networking;  required to advise staff or volunteer if they receive sexual emails or other inappropriate online messages;  required to sign an agreement that they will comply with all internet safety guidelines established.

Ensuring Safe Environments (cont.) In the case of an organized athletic activity or fieldtrip, two or more adults will be required for chaperoning youth. The ratio of adult to youth will be based on the activity, ages of youth, and the level of risk. The ratio of child care workers to children may not be less than the minimum number of child care workers to children specified in Table DCF 251.05-D.

Ensuring Safe Environments (cont.) If the class or program is in an isolated location, designated solely for the staff, volunteers, and youth, make certain that individuals from outside the program are excluded or monitored. When sharing space with individuals from outside the program, staff will request, when possible, a sign-in/out procedure and ongoing monitoring for outside individuals. The same adult-youth ratios apply when sharing space.

Ensuring Safe Environments (cont.) Privacy is essential when youth, employees, and volunteers are toileting, showering, and changing clothes, unless youth require special supervision for such activities. Transportation policies and procedures limit one-on-one situations. Specific directives for transporting youth are provided in the employee and volunteer handbook.

https://youtu.be/So90jMaze6w

An agency does not have to record when unusual or questionable behaviors occur in the agency’s personnel files. True False A B

How can an agency reduce the level of risk of child abuse and neglect? By considering the location and time of each activity. Activities and programs take place in outside areas in which few people can view activities. Activities and programs take place in open, visible, and well-lit buildings. All of the above Both A and C A B C D E

Privacy is essential when youth, employees, and volunteers are __________, unless youth require special supervision for such activities. toileting showering changing clothes All of the above A B C D

Just one adult is required for chaperoning an organized athletic activity or fieldtrip. True False A B

Ideally, the ratio of adult to youth is at least 1 to 8, based on the activity, ages of youth, and the level of risk. True False A B

If the class or program is in a location designated solely for the staff, volunteers, and youth of an agency, make certain that individuals from outside the program are excluded or monitored. True False A B

Monitoring Behavior Goal Monitoring Behavior

Goal To prevent, recognize, and respond to inappropriate and harmful behaviors and to reinforce appropriate behaviors.

Monitoring Behavior Use formal and informal supervision to observe, monitor, and document staff and volunteer interactions with youth. For such supervision and documentation to take place, staff and volunteers are made aware of their defined roles and responsibilities. Staff and volunteers will follow the protocol in promptly responding to and reporting of inappropriate or harmful behavior, potential risk situations, and boundary violations.

http://youtu.be/QyyhNZdbKX8

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior Goal Responding to Inappropriate Behavior Responses to Cases of Child Abuse

Goal To respond quickly and appropriately to inappropriate or harmful behavior, infractions of child abuse prevention policies and procedures, and evidence or allegations of child abuse.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior Staff and volunteers are required to know the policies and procedures for reporting suspected abuse, including to whom and in what format reports are made. This is covered in the required orientation for new employees and volunteers and is provided annually for ongoing employees and volunteers. A 90-minute mandated reporting workshop is offered annually or more often when needed.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) According to Wisconsin state law, most professionals that work with children, including agency staff and volunteers, are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. Staff and volunteers must know the inappropriate/harmful behaviors that require internal response.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) Inappropriate/harmful behaviors, regardless of the severity, must be reported on an Incident Report by the staff or volunteer who first learn of the abuse. The staff member or volunteer will not investigate allegations or conduct their own investigations. The Incident Report must include the nature and extent of the abuse, the alleged perpetrator, and other relevant information.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) The staff or volunteer reporting the initial allegation will submit the Incident Report form to the Program Director prior to reporting to authorities. Guidelines require the reporting staff or volunteer contact their supervisor within 24 hours. If the situation appears to be an emergency (imminent danger to the child) and a supervisor cannot be reached, immediately contact the police department.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) The Incident Report and related documentation will be kept confidential and maintained in a locked personnel cabinet with limited access. If an allegation appears justified, a formal report will be completed by the Program Director, who is professionally and legally accountable for ensuring that all cases of abuse are reported to the proper authorities.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) Prior to submitting the report of suspicion or allegation to authorities, the Program Director may ask for clarification using open-ended questions such as “are you comfortable telling me that happened?” Staff and volunteers are requested to minimize contaminating the child’s memory and have the investigation conducted by a trained professional.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) Always support the child and reassure that it is not the youth’s fault and that the agency’s job is to protect youth. A procedure is required to help expedite the process and minimize the number of times a youth has to repeat allegations. The Program Director will write a summary and submit a copy to the Director. This copy will be maintained in the locked personnel file cabinet.

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior (cont.) Confidentiality is crucial in cases of child abuse. The confidentiality policy is consistent with state legal requirements, which includes withholding the names of potential victims, the accused perpetrator, the individual who made the report to authorities, and reporting the case only on a need to know basis to the appropriate individuals.

Responses to Cases of Child Abuse An allegation does not equate guilt. However, the agency must take steps to protect the youth in its care. Immediately after reporting the case to external authorities, if the alleged offender is an employee, they will be placed on suspension until the case is resolved legally.

Responses to Cases of Child Abuse (cont.) Hold an appeal process in which individuals found not guilty of abusive behaviors may apply to return to their former position. When appropriate, provide referrals for victims and their families to child abuse organizations, therapists, or support groups.

https://youtu.be/pcLApC35GEU

According to Wisconsin state law, most professionals that work with children, including staff and volunteers, are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect. True False A B

Less severe inappropriate / harmful behaviors do not have to be reported on an Incident Report form by the staff or volunteer who first learned of the abuse. True False A B

The staff member or volunteer who first learned of the abuse should investigate allegations or conduct their own investigations. True False A B

The Incident Report must include the nature and extent of the abuse, the alleged perpetrator, and other relevant information. True False A B

The staff or volunteer reporting the initial allegation will submit the Incident Report form to __________ prior to reporting to authorities. the child’s parent, guardian, or caregiver the Human Resources Coordinator the Program Director the maltreated youth Both B and C A B C D E

Guidelines require that the reporting staff or volunteer contact their supervisor within __________ hour(s). 1 12 48 24 6 A B C D E

If the situation appears to be an emergency (imminent danger to the child) and a supervisor cannot be reached, who should staff or volunteers immediately contact? Nobody, staff or volunteers should wait until a supervisor can be reached The Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare or the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Service The Milwaukee Police Department or the Waukesha Police Department The child’s parent, guardian, or caregiver Both B and C A B C D E

Who is professionally and legally accountable for ensuring that all cases of abuse are reported to the proper authorities? All staff and volunteers The Program Director Parents, guardians, and caregivers The Human Resources Coordinator Both A and B A B C D E

Prior to submitting the report of suspicion or allegation to authorities, only the __________ may ask the child for clarification using open-ended questions such as “are you comfortable telling me what happened?” Human Resources Coordinator staff member or volunteer who first learned of the abuse child’s parent, guardian, or caregiver Program Director Both B and D A B C D E

Staff and volunteers are requested to minimize contaminating the child’s memory and have the investigation conducted by a trained professional. True False A B

Always support the child and reassure them that it is not their fault and that the agency’s job is to protect youth. True False A B

An agency should maximize the number of times a youth has to repeat allegations. True False A B

In cases of child abuse, what does confidentiality include? Withholding the names of potential victims. Withholding the name of the individual who made the report to authorities. Withholding the name of the accused perpetrator. Reporting the case only on a need to know basis to the appropriate individuals. All of the above A B C D E

An allegation equates guilt. True False A B

Immediately after reporting the case to external authorities, if the alleged offender is an employee, they will be placed on suspension until the case is resolved legally. True False A B

Individuals found not guilty of abusive behaviors may not apply to return to their former position. True False A B

When appropriate, to whom should staff and volunteers provide referrals for victims and their families? Child abuse organizations Therapists Support groups All of the above None of the above A B C D E

Training for Child Abuse Prevention Goal Training Staff and Volunteers Training Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Training for Child Abuse Prevention Training Youth

Goal To provide program staff and volunteers with information and skills to help them prevent and respond to child abuse.

Training for Child Abuse Prevention The agency’s child abuse prevention training includes education on rights and responsibilities of staff, volunteers, or youth. Instructors provide specific guidelines and offer opportunities to problem-solve potentially risky situations. The objective is to equip adults and youth with the knowledge and skills to be proactive. Trainees are required to follow the child abuse prevention policies and procedures in order to safeguard the children and youth in the agency’s care.

Training for Child Abuse Prevention (cont.) Training is conducted by either the Program Director or the Coordinator of Youth Services. Training is conducted in an interactive approach, in which trainees are encouraged to ask questions and request clarifications relevant to the training materials or their experiences. In addition to the initial formal training session, questions or concerns can be raised at the staff meetings or as they occur. All staff and volunteers will participate in a Protection of Children training session.

Training for Staff & Volunteers As caretakers and protectors of youth, staff and volunteers will participate in child abuse prevention training. Training includes:  Definitions of child abuse and neglect, and a continuum of appropriate, inappropriate and harmful behaviors.  A description of risk and protective factors.  Rules for personal conduct, dealing with risky or compromising situations, and the responsibility of staff and volunteers to act when they learn about inappropriate or harmful behavior.

Training for Staff & Volunteers (cont.)  Developing a balance between providing a nurturing environment and maintaining policies and procedures to prevent child abuse.  Specific information about child abuse, making clear that the majority of cases of sexual abuse involve an abuser with whom the child is familiar, such as a previously well-trusted caregiver.  Handling disclosures of inappropriate/harmful behaviors, reporting child abuse allegations, and dealing with the alleged perpetrator.

Training Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers Encourage all parents, guardians and caregivers to participate in a Protection of Children training. Provide parents and guardians with a community resource list which encourages outreach for support and education, including a parent hotline, Parent Helpline 414-671-0566, and Milwaukee’s IMPACT 2-1-1. Maintain and distribute literature and announcements detailing available parenting classes, workshops, child advocacy efforts, and community forums.

Training Youth All youth are required to participate in wellness training to help teach appropriate behavior and protective skills. Training is offered for the age-specific developmental level and communicated in age-appropriate language. Content of the training should generally include (again, age-specific) information about healthy behaviors / relationships versus inappropriate or harmful behaviors / relationships.

Training Youth (cont.) In addition, training should cover the value of setting personal physical boundaries, being treated with respect and treating others with respect, and how each person is responsible for his or her behavior. Youth should be taught the importance of reporting and the procedure for reporting abuse. This includes advising youth to seek assistance or report abuse: to a staff member or volunteer, to another youth, or to someone at an outside organization.

Training Youth (cont.) Youth training materials include colorful, developmentally-appropriate workbooks which are shared with the youth’s parent or caregiver. Content promotes healthy attitudes and behaviors. Older youth receive training which concentrates on youth’s rights and responsibilities and promotes healthy relationship with other you and with adults.

Training Youth (cont.) The trainers encourage open dialogue during the sessions and should provide youth with a variety of guidelines and resources. Promotes a united front in protecting youth from abuse. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to be open and honest with their youth in general communication. Healthy family communication in a nurturing environment is a strong protective factor.

https://youtu.be/IO6KPf-rn9o

Which of the following content is (are) not included in child abuse prevention training for staff and volunteers? A continuum of appropriate, inappropriate and harmful behaviors A description of risk and protective factors The responsibility of staff and volunteers to ignore when they learn about inappropriate or harmful behavior Rules for personal conduct and dealing with risky or compromising situations Handling disclosures of inappropriate/harmful behaviors, reporting child abuse allegations, and dealing with the alleged perpetrator A B C D E

To train parents, guardians, and caregivers, an agency should __________. encourage all parents, guardians, and caregivers to participate in Protection of Children training provide parents and guardians with a community resource list including a parent hotline encourage outreach for support and education maintain and distribute literature and announcements detailing available parenting classes, workshops, child advocacy efforts, and community forums All of the above A B C D E

All youth should be required to participate in wellness training to help teach appropriate behavior and protective skills. True False A B

Training for youth does not have to be tailored to the age-specific developmental level of the participants (i.e. communicated in age-appropriate language, age-specific information, and developmentally-appropriate workbooks). True False A B

What content should the training for youth generally cover? Information about healthy and inappropriate or harmful behaviors and relationships The value of setting personal physical boundaries Being treated with respect and treating others with respect Personal responsibility for behaviors All of the above A B C D E

Youth should be taught the importance of reporting and the procedure for reporting abuse. This includes advising youth to seek assistance or report abuse to __________. a staff member or volunteer another youth someone at an outside organization All of the above A B C D

Youth training materials should be shared with the youth’s parent or caregiver. True False A B

The trainers should encourage open dialogue during the sessions and should provide youth with a variety of guidelines and resources. True False A B

Healthy family communication in a nurturing environment is not a strong protective factor. True False A B

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to be open and honest with their youth in general communication. True False A B

Summary Child abuse is a complex issue that can have long-term consequences. Our agency is privileged to nurture and care for youth. In that role, we strive for healthy environments for every young person in our care and beyond. If there is a recommendation or concern that we can further address to ensure the well-being of these youth, please contact the agency’s Program Director.