Reporting Procedure For Harm to Self and Others Including Child Abuse

Part of UUA Youth Safety Guidelines

  1. Youth and adult leaders will report any knowledge of harm to self or others to the UUA staff responsible for the event.
  2. Harm to self or others may include, but is not limited to: suicidal ideation; cutting; burning or shocking oneself; physical or verbal aggression towards self or others; violent intimate relationship; bullying or threatening to harm another; potentially dangerous relationship (e.g. much older adult); addiction to dangerous substances; Internet grooming; symptoms of eating disorders, such as food refusal or frequent vomiting; and/or any suspicious or concerning participant behavior.
    • Suicide: Suicidal ideation will be taken seriously as an immediate emergency
    • Self-harm: Cutting and other self-harm behavior which can include a wide range of behaviors including punching or hitting objects and burning or shocking oneself.
    • Any suspicion of child abuse including on site non-consensual peer sexual contact and sexual contact between peers with an age gap beyond what is legally allowed.
  3. Emergency services will be brought in as necessary. See Special Point on Law Enforcement (below).
  4. If UUA staff is not on site, event staff will contact the UUA staff responsible for the event immediately.
  5. If appropriate, UUA staff will follow the Mandated Reporting Procedure for Child Abuse and/or Neglect immediately.
  6. Event staff will complete an incident report form.
  7. UUA staff will ensure that parents/guardians and local religious professionals are informed. except in cases where youth may be harmed. Any exceptions to not inform parents/guardians or local religious professionals must be made in consultation with one’s supervisor and the reason must be recorded in writing.
  8. UUA staff, parents/guardians and local religious professionals will assess whether and when youth is able to keep themselves safe at future UUA events.
  9. UUA staff is responsible for collecting documentation of all action taken and the decisions made.