You must notify the Youth Protection Coordinator of any violations of the University Standards for Interacting with Youth that occur during youth activities and constitute a ‘behavior of concern.’
A behavior of concern is an apparent disregard for a conduct standard, which could put youth at risk.
**In the list below, behaviors of concern that also indicate suspected child abuse or neglect are marked with the tag [MANDATED REPORT]. These behaviors must also be reported to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) at 1-866-END-HARM (363-4276) or to law enforcement, in accordance with Executive Order 56.**
Contact the Youth Protection Coordinator for further guidance as needed. For additional resources and downloadable documents addressing behaviors of concern, see Additional Resources.
Examples of behaviors of concern requiring notification of the Youth Protection Coordinator are provided below.
This list is not exhaustive—other behaviors may also require notification.
Professional Boundaries Violations
Professional Boundaries Violations
- Recurring unsanctioned 1:1 personnel-youth interactions (planned or unplanned).
- Intentional seclusion of a youth by an adult, whether in person or online.
- Private, unmonitored 1:1 personnel-youth interactions that intersect with other behaviors indicating suspected abuse or neglect. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Unsanctioned meeting between youth and personnel.
- Unsanctioned visit to personal events or home of youth.
- Visit by youth to personal dwelling of personnel.
- Unsanctioned electronic communication with youth outside of approved platforms or activities.
- Physical contact with youth that is not approved nor necessary for the purpose of the activity.
- Any use of physical force for any purpose (including to restrain youth) without a physical restraint policy previously in place.
- ALL behaviors that meet the definition of physical abuse. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Physical force used against youth resulting in an injury or severe psychological trauma. [MANDATED REPORT]
- All instances of showering, bathing, or undressing in the presence of youth.
- Taking photos, video, or work product of youth using a personal device, or for purposes outside of what is allowed by activity.
- Saving youth’s personal data (images, work products) on a personal device or in a personal account.
- Publicizing images (photo, video) of youth on a personal social media account.
- Collecting or using images or work products of youth in conjunction with other indicators of abuse. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Having sexually explicit conversations with youth (e.g., about the personnel’s or youth’s sexual activities or preferences, about sexual acts, or any conversation that can be perceived as sexually explicit by others).
- Discussing sexually explicit content with other behaviors that indicate suspected abuse (e.g., sexual abuse). [MANDATED REPORT]
Safety and Well-Being Violations
Safety and Well-Being Violations
- Negligent supervision resulting in a “near miss” safety concern for a child, e.g., lose track of a kid briefly within a controlled space, children enter into a hazardous environment but aren’t injured.
- Negligent supervision resulting in a lost child or youth, injury or harm to a child, or a significant safety risk to a child.
- Abandoning children or youth while responsible for supervision. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Using threatening, derogatory or violent language towards youth.
- Using coercion or intimidation to wield power over youth.
- Any use of physical force for any purpose (including to restrain youth) without a physical restraint policy already in place.
- Withholding meals, water, toileting, sleep, or other basic needs.
- ALL behaviors that meet the definition of physical or verbal abuse. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Physical force used against youth resulting in an injury or severe psychological trauma. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Behaviors that indicate suspected neglect of a child. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Persistent or egregious instances of withholding meals, water, toileting, sleep, or other basic needs to discipline youth. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Viewing sexually explicit content in the presence of youth.
- Sharing sexually explicit images, video, or other content with youth, whether purposeful or inadvertent.
- Viewing or sharing child sexual abuse images. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Physical contact that might be construed as sexual in nature, such as massages, back rubs, etc.
- Sexual innuendo (e.g., flirting, jokes, etc.) between youth and personnel that is not disclosed to a supervisor or is not deterred by personnel.
- Personnel-initiated flirting or sexual innuendos with youth.
- Sharing sexually explicit information or having sexually explicit conversations with youth.
- Sexual contact or sexualized interactions, in person or online, between personnel and youth indicating suspected child abuse or neglect. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Sharing sexually explicit content with youth. Sexually explicit content includes any detailed or graphic depictions of sexual acts, nudity, or other sexual themes. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Youth-initiated romantic expression towards personnel that is not immediately reported to supervisor and/or not deterred by personnel.
- Personnel-initiated romantic overtures or involvement with youth.
- ‘Dating’ between personnel and youth, with additional behaviors indicating suspected sexual or physical abuse. Note: Any sexual interaction between personnel and youth may indicate sexual abuse. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Possessing or using alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, or illegal or mind-altering drugs during activity or while in contact with youth.
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol during activity.
- Selling drugs.
- Providing alcohol or drugs to youth.
- Any instance of bringing or possessing weapons during activity or around youth.
- Transporting youth in a personal vehicle under any circumstances.
- Transporting youth in a personal vehicle, along with other behaviors indicating suspected child abuse or neglect.
Equity Violations
Equity Violations
- Personnel making overtly derogatory (e.g., racist, sexist, homophobic, etc.) comments toward youth based on their identity.
- Youth disclosing that they have experienced discrimination perpetrated by personnel.
- Persistent or covert (i.e., intentionally secretive) preferential treatment by personnel despite being previously advised against it.
- Harassment of youth based on their sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, culture, place of birth, age, class, ability, health, citizenship, language, or other identities.
- Assault or other crime motivated by prejudice on the basis of sex, race, ability, religion, etc. [MANDATED REPORT]
- Giving gifts to certain youth with no sanctioned programmatic objective and not disclosing to supervisor.
- Any perception of favoritism or grooming.
- Asking youth who receive a gift to keep it a secret.
- Receiving a gift from youth and not disclosing it to a supervisor, i.e., apparently keeping it secret.
- Gift giving or receiving that intersects with other behaviors indicating suspected child abuse or neglect.
Additional Resources
- Download the “Red Flag Behaviors” handout developed by OYPC| [PDF]
- Download the “Scenario Training for UW Led Youth Programs” which includes in-depth scenarios to discuss with your staff | [PDF]
- More resources to view and download can be found under “Documents, tools and templates“