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	Educators Revisit Sex Abuse Reporting Policies By Jason Cato and Jodi Weigand Pittsburgh Tribune-Review December 2, 2011 http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_770031.html The Penn State scandal has universities and school districts revamping or revisiting policies and procedures for reporting suspected sexual abuse, particularly involving children. Duquesne University adopted a new policy specifically regarding minors on campus, and Carnegie Mellon University this week sent a reminder of its policies to staff members. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. on Thursday said his staff plans to meet with teachers and school districts to make sure they understand reporting requirements. Riverview School District Superintendent Charles Erdeljac said a refresher course is welcome. "Every single person I've worked with for 39 years recognizes our obligation to report suspected abuse or serious concerns regarding children," Erdeljac said. "But in the current climate, I think it is helpful and appropriate for experts in this field from both the counseling and legal perspective to continue our professional development in this realm because we can never do enough to keep children safe." On Nov. 4, prosecutors charged former Penn State football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, 67, with 40 counts involving child sex abuse incidents spanning more than a decade. The scandal cost head football coach Joe Paterno and school President Graham Spanier their jobs over questions about whether they did enough when they learned of allegations against Sandusky. On Nov. 7, prosecutors formally charged two administrators with lying to a grand jury and failing to report allegations as required by state law. Those charges raised some debate over the strength of that reporting law and how it applies to college-level staff working with children on campus. Zappala said he wants to brief all of the county's school districts on the Child Protective Services Act, which details what professionals should do when they suspect child abuse and mandates that certain public employees report such incidents. Some universities are taking steps. "Recent events at Penn State University and within our own Catholic Church make it imperative that we clearly articulate university policy with respect to the protection of minors," Duquesne President Charles J. Dougherty wrote in a Nov. 18 memo informing employees, students and others of a new policy. "Sexual abuse of a minor is moral turpitude and an intolerable crime." The new policy dictates that everyone associated with the Uptown school is responsible for reporting suspected child sexual abuse to the university's public safety director, general counsel or human resources director as soon as possible. Failure to report or the conviction of such crimes will result in termination for employees and dismissal for students, the new policy states. On Tuesday, Carnegie Mellon University President Jared L. Cohon sent a memo reminding everyone at the Oakland university of the school's long-standing policies designed to protect students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests from "harassment, intimidation, assault and other behaviors that threaten the safety and security of our community." CMU officials were reviewing campus safety and security policies before the Penn State scandal broke, said spokesman Ken Walters. "This action was not precipitated by any particular incident at the university," Walters said. "Like many universities at this time, CMU is taking an opportunity to review and enhance its strong policies in these areas." Robert Morris University recently formed a task force of faculty and staff to review the school's policies regarding sexual assault as well as overall safety. The Penn State case was the catalyst, but RMU reviews risk management assessment on an ongoing basis, said university spokesman Jonathan Potts. "We believe that we are already doing all the right things," Potts said, "but we simply cannot afford to be complacent or self-satisfied." The Penn State scandal prompted discussions about child protection policies in schools across the state. In the weeks after the news broke, calls doubled to ChildLine, the statewide child abuse reporting hotline. School officials said they review reporting requirements annually with employees. In some districts, including Quaker Valley, someone from the county's office of Children, Youth and Families speaks to teachers each year. "It's a widely held and understood obligation that we are all mandated reporters, whether we think it's credible or not," said Heidi Ondek, assistant superintendent at Quaker Valley. "I believe it's my moral obligation to protect children." Read more: Educators revisit sex abuse reporting policies - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_770031.html#ixzz1fPhmKXW0
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