Fall 2024 - JEP Protecting Minors Training

Summary

Carissa Coons, Director of Youth Protection at USC, discusses the importance of safeguarding minors on campus. She covers office responsibilities, key policy components for working with minors, including guidelines for interactions and mandatory reporting. Coons emphasizes establishing healthy boundaries to prevent abuse, explains grooming behaviors, and stresses the critical nature of immediate reporting of any suspected abuse to both DCFS and the university office.

Takeaways

• 📢 Carissa Coons is the director of youth protection at USC, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding minors.
• 📅 The agenda includes an overview of the youth protection office, key policy components, and a Q&A session.
• 👥 The office of youth protection and programming comprises Carissa Coons, Madison Lang, and Gabe Gates, working under the larger Office of Culture, Ethics, and Compliance.
• 🏫 USC serves over 45,000 minors annually through various activities, highlighting the significant community impact.
• 📋 The office's role is to ensure safe environments for minors and compliance with the protecting minors policy.
• 🚫 Key requirements for working with minors include training, background screening, and operational guidelines to prevent one-on-one private interactions.
• 🤝 Guidelines for interactions with minors aim to ensure appropriate and safe behavior by adults towards young people.
• 📣 Mandatory reporting is a critical responsibility, requiring immediate reporting of suspected abuse or neglect to both DCFS and the USC office of youth protection.
• 👀 The video discusses the importance of recognizing and preventing grooming behaviors, which are manipulative strategies used to exploit children.
• 📚 Resources and support are available on the office's website, and the team is reachable for guidance or questions regarding youth protection.

Q & A

Who is Carissa Coons?

Carissa Coons is the director of youth protection at USC.

What is the primary role of the Office of Youth Protection and Programming at USC?

The Office of Youth Protection and Programming serves as a centralized resource to promote safe and supportive environments for minors at USC.

How many minors does USC serve annually?

USC serves over 45,000 minors every year in specific activities that meet a threshold requiring interaction with the Office of Youth Protection.

What are the key components of the Protecting Minors Policy at USC?

The key components of the Protecting Minors Policy include requirements for covered activities or youth programming, guidelines for appropriate interactions with minors, and requirements and procedures for reporting.

What are the operational requirements for working with minors in a covered activity?

Operational requirements include never being alone or in a private one-on-one interaction with a minor for everyone's safety.

Why is it important to maintain professional boundaries with minors?

Maintaining professional boundaries is important to protect the privacy of minors, ensure their safety, and prevent any misinterpretation or unintended harm.

What are some examples of safe interactions with minors?

Safe interactions include avoiding one-to-one private interactions, not using personal social media with minors, and understanding the difference between appropriate and inappropriate physical and verbal interactions.

What is meant by 'grooming behaviors' in the context of youth protection?

Grooming behaviors refer to manipulative actions used by someone to build trust with a child, their family, and community to gain access to a child, condition them to agree to abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught.

What should you do if you notice potential grooming behaviors?

If potential grooming behaviors are noticed, it's critical to interrupt and stop the behavior and report it immediately to the Office of Youth Protection and Programming.

What are the reporting requirements and procedures for suspected abuse or neglect involving minors?

Reporting suspected abuse or neglect involves immediately reporting to DCFS, notifying the Office of Youth Protection and Programming, and potentially filing a written report as guided by DCFS.

How can one access resources and support from the Office of Youth Protection and Programming at USC?

Resources and support can be accessed through their website, and one can contact the office via email or phone for any questions or concerns.