APPENDIX D
Training Requirements
Universal Training. All current University employees (staff and faculty) are required to complete the United Educators (UE) online training course entitled “Sexual Misconduct: How Teachers and Other Educators Can Protect Our Children.” Online training must be completed by December 1 and biannually (i.e., every two years) thereafter.
New Employees and Faculty. All new employees (staff and faculty) are required to complete the United Educators (UE) online training course entitled “Sexual Misconduct: How Teachers and Other Educators Can Protect Our Children.” Online training must be completed prior to beginning University employment.
- Adults with Direct Contact with Minors. All Adults with Direct Contact with Minors are required to complete the United Educators (UE) online training course entitled “Sexual Misconduct: How Teachers and Other Educators Can Protect Our Children” within twenty (20) days prior to commencement of a Program and biannually (i.e., every two years) thereafter for as long as their involvement in any Program continues. In lieu of this requirement, Third Parties may require training that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of this Policy.
- Adults with Incidental Contact with Minors. All Adults with Incidental Contact with Minors are required to complete youth protection training within twenty (20) days prior to commencement of a Program and biannually (i.e., every two years) thereafter for as long as their involvement in any Program continues. Youth protection training includes: basic warning signs of Abuse or neglect of Minors; guidelines for protecting Minors from emotional and physical abuse and neglect; requirements and procedures for reporting incidents of suspected abuse, neglect, or improper conduct; and Dos and Don’ts when working with Minors. In lieu of this requirement, Third Parties may require training that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements of this Policy.
- Contractors. In addition to the applicable terms of this Policy, Contractor personnel are required to complete training as required by their specific contract terms with the University.
Accessing The Online Training Course
Current University Faculty and Staff: The United Educators (UE) online training course entitled “Sexual Misconduct: How Teachers and Other Educators Can Protect Our Children”and associated materials can be found at: https://coursesite.lehigh.edu/course/view.php?id=70409.
New University Staff: New staff are assigned the online training course as a task in their Onboarding Portal
New University Faculty: New faculty receive the online training course link in their onboarding materials.
Third Parties: Access the training at https://learn.ue.org/5C8HJ588028/LehighMinors.
Training Materials
Youth Protection Training for Individuals Having Only Incidental Contact with Minors
We work hard to safeguard children and youth who interact with Lehigh University. Our policies also protect the adults in these interactions.
Please read the following information carefully. If you have any questions or concerns, discuss them with your program director. After you have finished, sign the Training Certification form at the end of the materials. Return the form to your program director.
Guidelines for Working with Minors
All University community members – faculty, staff, students and Volunteers - associated with Programs or activities involving Minors should familiarize themselves with the following “Dos” and “Don’ts” in order to maintain a safe and positive experience for Program participants, ensure the confidence of the parents and legal guardians of Minors, and avoid mistaken allegations. University community members should exercise good judgment in determining whether a particular guideline pertains to Minors who are matriculated Lehigh students. For questions, please consult the Protection of Minors Committee for guidance.
DO:
- Maintain the highest standard of personal behavior at all times when interacting with Minors.
- Interact and treat all Minors with respect, dignity and integrity.
- Be aware of how others may perceive or misinterpret your actions and intentions.
- Maintain a professional environment with clear expectations and boundaries, preventing and discouraging inappropriate behavior by Minors.
- Consult and seek guidance and advice from the Program Director regarding situations involving disruptive Minors. Ask for assistance from Program Directors when unsure of situations.
- Have a roster of Program participants to include emergency information, first aid kit and water.
- Listen to and interact with Minors and provide appropriate praise and positive reinforcement.
- Be vigilant in protecting the well-being and safety of Minors.
- Review the Signs of Abuse and Neglect of Minors included in this Appendix.
- Watch for signs of abuse or neglect of Minors and follow appropriate reporting procedures if abuse or neglect is suspected.
DON’T:
- Be alone with a Minor unless the circumstances are appropriate (e.g., the Minor is a matriculated Lehigh student and/or a private meeting is appropriate due to confidentiality concerns such as when advising a student on academic concerns). If one-on-one interaction is necessary, the interaction should take place in an area visible to others.
- Have any direct electronic and/or social media contact with a Minor unless the circumstances are appropriate. Examples of appropriate circumstances may include: (a) the Minor is a matriculated Lehigh student; (b) the contact is for educational purposes, part of a course, for the purpose of academic or course advising, or related to a Program; or (c) other personnel and/or parents/guardians are included in the communication.
- Arrange to have contact with a Minor (excluding matriculated Lehigh students) outside of the Program or activity.
- Enter a facility in use by a Minor such as a bathroom, locker room, residence hall room or similar area without another Adult present unless that Minor is in need of assistance (e.g., a Minor under 5 years of age or with special needs).
- Sleep or rest in the same accommodations with a Minor unless the Adult is a parent or legal guardian of the Minor.
- Engage in abusive conduct of any kind toward or in the presence of a Minor.
- Hit, physically assault, or inappropriately touch a Minor: use language, make suggestions, or offer advice which is inappropriate, offensive or abusive; behave in a manner that is sexually provocative; act in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade a Minor; or otherwise perpetrate any form of emotional abuse.
- Provide alcohol or illegal substances to a Minor. Program personnel shall not provide prescription or over-the-counter medications to any Minor unless specifically prescribed by a physician, with the Minor’s name, dosage, name of medication, current date, and authorization in writing by Minor’s parent or legal guardian.
- Distribute, give or make available sexual or pornographic materials in any form to a Minor.
- Take photos or videos of a Minor without written authorization by Minor’s parent or legal guardian.
- Give gifts to Minors independent of gifts provided by the Program.
Signs of Abuse and Neglect of Minors
PHYSICAL ABUSE is non-accidental injury of a Minor by parent or caretaker.
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Physical signs may include: 1. Bruises, welts or swelling 2. Sprains or broken bones 3. Burns 4. Lacerations or abrasions 5. Bite marks 6. Unexplained or repeated injuries
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Behavioral signs may include: 1. Attempts to hide injuries 2. Difficulty sitting or walking 3. Wariness of physical contact with adults 4. Reluctance to go home 5. Depression or self-mutilation 6. Fear of parent(s) or caregiver(s) |
SEXUAL ABUSE is exploitation of a Minor for the sexual gratification of an adult or older Minor.
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Physical signs may include: 1. Difficulty walking or sitting 2. Torn, stained or bloody clothing 3. Genital pain or itching 4. Sexually transmitted diseases 5. Pregnancy
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Behavioral signs may include: 1. Precocious sexual knowledge or behavior 2. Extreme – hostile and aggressive or fearful or withdrawn 3. Self-mutilation 4. Substance abuse 5. Running away |
NEGLECT occurs when parents or caretakers do not provide proper supervision, control subsistence, education as required by law, or other care necessary for healthy development. By itself, lack of financial means to provide for a Minor is not neglect.
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Physical signs may include: 1. Poor Hygiene 2. Inappropriate or ill-fitting clothing 3. Being left alone or with people unable to provide proper supervision 4. Obvious lack of necessary medical treatment
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Behavioral signs may include: 1. Chronic hunger or sleepiness 2. Delayed language development 3. Clinging behavior or development of indiscriminate attachments 4. Frequent complaints of feeling unwell 5. Frequent tardiness or absence from school |
Legally- Required and University-Required Duties to Report Suspected Abuse of Minors
Who Must Report and How to Report
Every member of the Lehigh University community – including all faculty, staff, students and Volunteers - has the duty and obligation to immediately report suspected instances of the Abuse of Minors.
What Must Be Reported
When in connection with your University employment or work or your volunteer service or any other involvement with a University-sponsored Program or other Program, you reasonably suspect an act of Abuse or neglect of a Minor, you must report it.
You must report acts of Abuse or neglect of a Minor that you have actual knowledge of, see, or have a reasonable cause to suspect based upon your own observations or knowledge, or based upon information shared with you by the Minor or any other information about an identifiable Minor.
How to Report
If you see, have knowledge of or reasonably suspect that an act of Abuse of a Minor has occurred, you must act immediately by making a report to law enforcement and state authorities as follows:
- Immediately contact the Lehigh University Police Department (LUPD) at 610-758-4200. Reports can be made 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.
- Immediately make an oral report to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services via ChildLine 1-800-932-0313 or an electronic report using the Child Welfare Portal at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home. Reports can be made 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.
Solely informing a supervisor that you suspect abuse or neglect of a Minor is NOT sufficient under Lehigh policy or the law. In deciding whether or not to make a report, you are not required to have proof that Abuse or neglect has occurred. You should err on the side of making a report if you have any doubt or uncertainty about whether to make a report. You may also consult with the Protection of Minors Committee for guidance regarding the applicability of this Policy.
Knowledge of Abuse of a Minor Independent of Your University Role
If you reasonably suspect an act of Abuse of a Minor independent of your University role as an employee or Volunteer – such as, for example, through your connection with a local community organization – you are encouraged to report such instance of abuse as a private citizen to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services via ChildLine or the Child Welfare Portal as described in Section 5.1.3. above. If you are a Mandated Reporter under Pennsylvania state law because of your profession, you must report any suspected act of Abuse of a Minor even in your private personal life (i.e., independent of your University role) (See Section 5.1.4. above.)
Pennsylvania State Law Regarding “Mandated Reporters”
All University faculty and staff are “School Employees” under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (23 Pa.C.S.§ 6303), and as such, are “Mandated Reporters” under Pennsylvania state law. This excludes only staff who have no Direct Contact with Minors as that term is defined in Lehigh policy.
Certain professionals, such as licensed healthcare providers, have additional reporting obligations. This paragraph applies only to them. If you are a University employee or Volunteer who is also a “Mandated Reporter” under Pennsylvania state law (23 Pa. C.S. § 6311) because you are a licensed professional, including but not limited to a licensed or certified medical professional or other licensed professional with additional reporting obligations beyond those in this Policy, you must also comply with any concurrent obligation to directly report injuries caused by suspected Abuse or neglect of Minors to law enforcement and other applicable authorities as required by your professional obligations which under state law obligate you as a Mandated Reporter in your private personal life (i.e., outside your University employment).
Protection of Minors Training Certification
I hereby certify that I have read and understand the foregoing Training Requirements, Guidelines for Working with Minors, and Signs of Abuse and Neglect of Minors. I have had an opportunity to raise any questions I have about this information with the Program Director, and have done so if necessary.
I agree to comply with all of the guidelines in the Training Requirements, Guidelines for Working with Minors, and Signs of Abuse and Neglect of Minors and also with the University’s Policy with respect to Legally Required and University Required Duties to Report Suspected Abuse of Minors (Section 5 of the University Protection of Minors Policy).
I certify that I have never been convicted of a crime related to the Abuse of Minors or entered a guilty plea or other plea associated with a crime related to the Abuse of Minors.
I further certify that no one has ever alleged that I have abused a Minor.
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Signature Date
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Printed Name
Program in which you are participating:
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Return this form to your program director.