Responding to Sexual Abuse

An allegation of sexual abuse is one of the most difficult situations an organization can experience. Such an incident can have damaging, lasting impact on the victim and his/her family, as well as the organization, its members and its impact to the community. Responding in an appropriate and timely manner is important in addressing the concerns of the individual and the organization, and limiting the lasting damage that can occur.

Should a misconduct claim or allegation take place, consider the following steps in responding to the situation:

1. The guardian of the child or vulnerable adult will be notified.
2. The employee or volunteer alleged to be the perpetrator of the abuse or misconduct will immediately be placed on leave pending an investigation and instructed to remain away from the premises during the investigation. He or she should be instructed to have no contact with the victim or with witnesses.
3. All allegations of abuse should be reported to the civil authorities, and the organization will comply with the state’s requirements regarding mandatory reporting of abuse as the law then exists. The organization will fully cooperate with the investigation of the incident by civil authorities.
4. Knowledge of your state’s mandatory reporting law is vitally important.* State law dictates who is a mandatory reporter, what to report, when a report should be made, and more. Formal training of mandatory reporters is required in some states. Failure to follow the state’s mandatory reporting law can result in criminal charges.
5. The insurance company will be notified, and the organization will complete an incident report. Any documents received relating to the incident and/or allegations will immediately be forwarded to the insurance company.
6. The organization will designate a spokesperson to the media concerning incidents of abuse or neglect. The advice of legal counsel will be sought before responding to media inquiries or releasing information about the situation to the congregation. All other representatives of others should refrain from speaking to the media.
7. Any person who is not found innocent of the alleged abuse or misconduct will be removed from their position working with children or youth.
8. If the organization learns that the individual has become involved in another youth-serving organization and that other children may be at risk, it should discuss with its legal counsel communication of this information to the other organization.

Once your organization has established a procedure for handling allegations of abuse, make sure to follow the procedure in every instance. Having a policy or procedure but not following it may be worse than having no policy at all.

By planning ahead and having the above information readily available, you may be better positioned to respond in the event an allegation of sexual abuse involving your organization comes to light.

*Information on reporting abuse in each state may be found by visiting the Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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