Safe Environment Strategies: Visibility
Safe Environment Strategies: Visibility Whether or not you can control the design of your space, physical safety depends on your ability to…
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Home / Reporting / What is Reporting?
All staff must be aware of the warning signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect, know how to respond appropriately, and report suspected cases immediately. Information regarding legal and organizational responsibilities to report should be included in your Youth-Serving Organization’s (YSO) policies and procedures. Training regarding appropriate reporting protocols and procedures should be provided to staff and volunteers on a regular basis.
At minimum, Reporting must include:
All employees and volunteers are aware of their legal and organizational obligations to immediately report suspected abuse. Staff and volunteers must understand their reporting responsibilities under Massachusetts law and the organization’s reporting structure when any concerns or suspicions of child sexual abuse occur. Staff and volunteers understand their legal and organizational responsibilities.
All employees and volunteers are trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse. All staff and volunteers at the YSO should be competent on recognizing the signs and symptoms of child sexual abuse. They should be able to detect and identify the signs and symptoms and know how to report concerns, suspicions, allegations or disclosures immediately.
All employees and volunteers know how to respond to a child who discloses abuse. Training should include in-depth ways to approach conversations with children who have been sexually abused. Staff and volunteers should have clear knowledge of the way to respond to disclosures of abuse appropriately and in a timely fashion.
All employees and volunteers know how and to whom to report concerns, suspicions, allegations, and disclosures of abuse. All staff and volunteers at your organization should understand each step of the reporting process. The procedure of reporting should be clearly outlined in your policies and procedures.
Written reporting procedures, guidelines, and a clearly defined reporting chain accessible before, during, and after normal operating hours. Staff and volunteers must be able to report suspicions of sexual abuse and neglect whenever they hear about it or see it at any time. They should be informed of whom to report to under different circumstances and times of day.
Staff and volunteers at your YSO should be trained at least annually on their responsibility to report including the signs of sexual abuse as well as the appropriate response to children disclosures of sexual abuse. Leadership should provide guidelines on the protocol for reporting, including who to report to and when to report.
Safe Environments
Safe Environment Strategies: Visibility Whether or not you can control the design of your space, physical safety depends on your ability to…
Reporting
Visit the website, Massachusetts Department of Children & Families Locations to find contact information for your local office and see…
Training
When it comes to training your volunteers, there is certain core content that is critical to include in a comprehensive training program to…
Reporting
In addition to the institutions mentioned specifically in the 51A law, any youth-serving organization can identify a “designated agent”—an…
Policies & Procedures
Sample Self-Audit Form for YSOs You can use the following “Self-Audit” form to take an inventory of your youth-serving organization’s abuse…
Screening & Hiring
Additional screening and hiring measures should be implemented based on the specific needs, responsibilities, and risks of your Youth-Serving…
Screening & Hiring
Start with Basic Screening It is very important that all applicants who provide direct services and who are seeking positions of trust—either…
Safe Environments
Physically safe spaces, with proper supervision, are required to maintain safety standards at your Youth-Serving Organization (YSO). Ensure policies…
Monitoring Behavior
Safety: The Most Critical Conversation It’s essential that your staff can easily discern inappropriate behavior and harmful actions. That’s…
Screening & Hiring
A personal interview provides an opportunity for you to meet applicants and determine if they are a good fit for your organization. It’s also a …
Customized child sexual abuse prevention guidelines to meet the unique needs of any organization that serves children.
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