A workshop of the Diocese of Toledo for educators, scout leaders, coaches and all other persons who

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Protecting Youth and Those Who Serve Them

• A workshop of the Diocese of Toledo for
  educators, scout leaders, coaches and all other
  persons who minister to youth

This material is provided as an addition to
attending the Protecting Youth and Those Who
Serve Them workshop and is not intended to be in
lieu of attending the workshop.
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WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

• Assist Church personnel in becoming more aware of
  the types and characteristics of child abuse and
  their legal duty to report it.

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WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

• Provide an overview of Diocesan policies
  regarding the expected standards of conduct of
  persons representing the Church in working with
  youth.

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WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

• Provide guidelines which protect youth and those
  who serve them.

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Recognizing Child Abuse4 General Areas

• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Neglect

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Indicators Of Abuse

• Physical
• Behavioral
• Environmental

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PHYSICAL ABUSEDEFINITION

• Evidence of PHYSICAL or MENTAL injury to a child
  which, regardless of perpetrator or motive, is
  excessive under the circumstances and creates
  substantial risk of serious physical harm.

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PHYSICAL ABUSE Physical Indicators

• Bruises - cluster or multiple at different stages
  of healing
• Patterned injuries like loop marks, finger or
  pinch marks, bites
• Burns - unusual locations (soles of feet, palms,
  etc.) Immersion or imprint burns

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PHYSICAL ABUSE Behavioral Indicators

• Extreme behaviors - overly submissive or
  rebellious
• Sudden change in moods or behaviors
• Self-abusive behavior
• Aggressive of regressive behavior
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts
• Avoidance of undressing
• Excessive absences, sudden drop in grades

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PHYSICAL ABUSE Environmental Indicators

• Social isolation
• Young parents/poor parenting skills
• History of abuse/neglect in extended families
• Previous abuse of children
• Emotional illness/substance abuse in family
• Poor family support/relationships

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EMOTIONAL ABUSE Definition

• Chronic attitude or acts which result in
  significant, verifiable psychological damage or
  impairment of the normal social/emotional
  development of a child
• Common behaviors usually exhibited by parents
  Rejecting, Terrorizing, Ignoring, Isolating,
  Exploiting/Corrupting

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EMOTIONAL ABUSE Physical Indicators

• Eating disorders
• Development delays
• Nervous disorders
• Self-abusive behaviors

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EMOTIONAL ABUSE Behavioral Indicators

• Self-abusive behaviors
• Habit disorders (i.e. biting, rocking, head
  banging, etc.)
• Poor self-esteem
• Withdrawal
• Depression/emotional illness
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts
• Behavioral extremes, i.e. overly aggressive or
  compliant
• Psychosomatic complaints

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SEXUAL ABUSE Definition

• Any activity of a sexual nature involving a child
  for the gratification of the perpetrator or a
  third party
• Sexual activity is not only sexual acts, but mere
  touching

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SEXUAL ABUSE Physical Indicators

• Pain/irritation of genitalia
• Bruises, bleeding from external genitalia,
  vagina, anal region
• Genital discharge
• Torn, stained, bloody underclothes

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SEXUAL ABUSE Behavioral Indicators

• Extreme behaviors, overly aggressive or
  submissive
• Sudden changes in moods or behaviors
• Self-abusive behaviors
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts
• Promiscuity/sexual behavior
• Sexual behavior inappropriate for age of child
• Difficulty walking, sitting
• Preoccupation with sexual matters

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NEGLECTDEFINITION

• Neglect or refusal by a parent/guardian to
  provide a child with proper or necessary
  subsistence, education, medical or surgical care
  or care necessary for his/her health, safety or
  well-being

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NEGLECT Physical Indicators

• Chronic uncleanliness or poor hygiene
• Unsuitable clothing - missing items of clothing
• Untreated illness or injury
• Excessive sunburn, colds, insect bites, etc.
• Height and/or weight significantly below age
  level
• Lack of supervision, adequate nutrition or safe,
  warm, sanitary shelter

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NEGLECT Behavioral Indicators

• Unusual school attendance or absences
• Chronic hunger or fatigue
• Begging or collecting food
• Assuming adult roles
• Dull, apathetic appearance

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• No official who knows or suspects that a child
  under eighteen years has suffered or faces a
  threat of suffering any physical or mental wound,
  injury, disability or condition of a nature that
  reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of the
  child, shall fail to report.

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Officials include school teachers, school
  employees, psychologists, social workers, nursing
  personnel, speech therapists, and persons
  rendering spiritual treatment.

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be acting in official or professional
  capacity for requirement to take effect
• Must report to child protective services or local
  police. Diocese requires this report be done in
  conjunction with your local superior, (i.e.
  principal, pastor, or pastoral leader)

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LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• Immunity from civil or criminal liability for
  good faith reporting.
• Report is confidential

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Diocesan RequirementsFor Effective Ministry To
Youth

• Adherence to Affirmations for Employment
  (Principal and Teacher-Ministers)
• Adherence to Policy on Response to Child Abuse
  and Adult Sexual Misconduct

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NON-FRATERNIZATIONPOLICY

• Church will defend childs right regardless of
  who alleged abuser is.
• Must be adult-to-child relationship. Conform to
  moral standards of Church, legal standards of
  State of Ohio and common sense
• Generally, no fraternization with youth.
  Exceptions should be rare and with groups of
  youth.

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RESPONSE TO CHILDABUSE ALLEGATIONSSUMMARY OF
POLICY

• Investigative Process
• Lay Review Board
• Pastoral Response
• Confidentiality within the statute of the law -
  State Mandate to Report all cases

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RESPONSE TO CHILDABUSE ALLEGATIONSSUMMARY OF
POLICY

• Prevention and Education
• Protecting Youth and Those Who Serve Them
• Volunteer
• CYO Coaches Clinic
• Finger Printing

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EXPECTATIONS

• For
• All
• Who
• Minister
• To
• Youth

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DO . . .

• Act as a role model reflecting the values of the
  Catholic Church.
• Speak and act with respect and regard for the
  value and uniqueness of each youth.
• Maintain ongoing communication with your
  supervisor regarding interaction you have with
  youth.

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DO . . .

• 4. Know to whom you report and let them know if
  something strange, embarrassing or possibly
  compromising happens to you in your ministry.
  They can best help begin investigative or
  remedial action before a youth reports something
  to his/her parents.
• 5. Be a good listener
• 6. Get parent/guardian permission slips signed
  for any event involving transportation.

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DO . . .

• 7. Meet with a child in an office with a window,
  an open door or another adult present.
• 8. Use discretion with physical displays of
  emotions, such as hugging children. A hug can
  have different connotations for an elementary
  student than for a junior or senior high student.
• Points to Consider
• a. Is it youth initiated?
• b. Did you ask the youth if he/she would like a
  hug?
• c. Is it your need or the youths need you are
  considering in offering a hug?
• d. Is it appropriate for the culture,
  situation or setting.

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DO . . .

• 9. Only participate in trips sponsored by your
  school or the Diocese.
• 10. Use discretion with electronic media i.e.,
  email for any personal correspondence with youth

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DO NOT. . .

• Become their buddy. As an adult, it is not
  appropriate to build a social life around/with
  youth.
• Use suggestive jokes, stories or language with
  youth. While youth may hear jokes and off color
  stories from peers, it has a different impact if
  theyre coming from a role model such as a scout
  leader, coach or teacher.

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DO NOT. . .

• Drive alone with a child. If you are involved
  with transportation for a field trip or some
  other event make sure you are transporting more
  than one student. (Note An obvious exception to
  the rule of not being alone with children is
  where there is a relationship to the child i.e.
  niece, nephew, etc.)
• Consume alcohol or illegal controlled substances
  in the presence of children or prior to being
  with children.

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DO NOT . . .

• 5. Participate in overnight trips with youth
  without at least two adults present, and make
  sure that it is an official Diocesan/school
  related event.
• 6. Accompany children into restrooms. If you do,
  try to have another adult present.
• 7. Visit a childs home without at least one
  other adult present if a parent is not home.

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DO NOT . . .

• Attempt counseling unless you are trained as a
  counselor.
• 9. Discipline using physical contact or demeaning
  or sarcastic language.
• 10. Share inappropriate personal information
  with youth.

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