Protection of Minors

This policy is designed to educate our community members about the state laws and regulations regarding the prevention, identification, and reporting of child abuse. Moravian University is committed to the protection and safety of minors. While the vast majority of the members of the Moravian community are adults aged 18 and over, our community also includes minors less than 18 years of age, both in formal relationship to the University, and more informally, as frequent visitors. For example, minors may be matriculated or prospective students, dual-enrolled high school students, or participants in camp programs, volunteer programs, outreach and enrichment programs.

It is the obligation of the University community to report suspected child abuse as soon as possible as outlined below. Nothing in this policy is intended to supersede obligations imposed by law regarding the maintenance of privilege by specified professionals.

Duty to Report

Every employee (inclusive of student employees), volunteer, or student participating in any University-sponsored program or activity involving direct contact with minors has a duty to report as soon as possible if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse based on:

1. Information shared with them by the child or any individual; or
2. Their own observations or knowledge.

The duty to report is triggered by reasonable suspicion or belief. There is no requirement that there be actual evidence of abuse, nor should any individual seek to investigate the matter for themself. Any doubt as to whether or not to report should be resolved in favor of making the report to ensure that the appropriate professionals in child protective services can assess the report and evaluate the safety of the child.

Process

Under this policy, any Moravian University employee or volunteer suspecting abuse of a child is required to bring all reasonable suspicions or beliefs to the immediate attention of the appropriate state authorities. Students are also considered mandatory reporters if employed by the University or participating in any University-sponsored program or activity involving direct contact with minors.

Reports should be made by calling ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313, including sharing all relevant information with the ChildLine representative and answering their questions. Alternatively, experienced reporters of child abuse may also submit information electronically at PA ChildLine.

When contacting ChildLine, the reporter is also required to contact the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator at (610) 625-7023 to document their call. The reporter may also consult the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator for guidance in advance of, or for assistance with, making the call to ChildLine. Outside of business hours or in the event the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator is unavailable, the Moravian University Police Department should be contacted at (610) 861-1421 for this purpose. These individuals have the obligation to verify that appropriate authorities have been notified and to coordinate investigations by the appropriate police jurisdiction or other agencies.

When calling ChildLine, the reporter may also be directed to complete a Report of Suspected Abuse form (CY-47) within 48 hours. This form is submitted electronically through the Child Welfare Information Solution (CWIS) Portal and directed to the Children & Youth office for the county where the abuse is suspected to have occurred, if known. 

Generally or when the location is uncertain, employees on Moravian University’s Bethlehem campus should direct their submission to the attention of the Northampton County Children, Youth & Families Division. The form may also be faxed to (610) 559-3750 or mailed/delivered to:

Northampton County Human Services
Attention: Children, Youth & Families Division
2801 Emrick Blvd.
Bethlehem, PA 18020

Generally or when the location is uncertain, employees on Moravian University’s Lancaster campus should direct their submission to the attention of the Lancaster County Children & Youth Social Services Agency. The form may also be faxed to (717) 299-7929 or mailed/delivered to:

Lancaster County Government Center
Attention: Children & Youth Services Agency
105 N. Queen St.
Lancaster, PA 17603

Failure by any mandatory reporter or university official to report information related to suspected child abuse as soon as possible following this process may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination for employees or dismissal for students.

Definition of Child Abuse

A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18. The term "child abuse" shall mean intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly doing any of the following:

Causing bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act.

Fabricating, feigning, or intentionally exaggerating or inducing a medical symptom or disease which results in a potentially harmful medical evaluation or treatment to the child through any recent act.

Causing or substantially contributing to serious mental injury to a child through any act or failure to act or a series of such acts or failures to act.

Causing sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any act or failure to act.

Creating a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act.

Creating a likelihood of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any recent act or failure to act.

Causing serious physical neglect of a child.

Causing the death of a child through any act or failure to act.

Engaging a child in a severe form of trafficking in persons or sex trafficking, as those terms are defined under section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 1466, 22 U.S.C. § 7102).

Engaging in any of the following recent* acts, regardless of any resulting injury or condition:
(i) Kicking, biting, throwing, burning, stabbing or cutting a child in a manner that endangers the child.
(ii) Unreasonably restraining or confining a child, based on consideration of the method, location or the duration of the restraint or confinement.
(iii) Forcefully shaking a child under one year of age.
(iv) Forcefully slapping or otherwise striking a child under one year of age.
(v) Interfering with the breathing of a child.
(vi) Causing a child to be present during the operation of a methamphetamine laboratory, provided that the violation is being investigated by law enforcement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 7508.2.
(vii) Leaving a child unsupervised with an individual, other than the child's parent, who the parent knows or reasonably should have known was required to register as a Tier II or Tier III sexual offender, has been determined to be a sexually violent predator, or has been determined to be a sexually violent delinquent child under Pennsylvania law.

*Recent defined by PA's Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) as within two years from the date the report is made to ChildLine. Sexual abuse, serious mental injury, serious physical neglect, and deaths have no time limit.

Pennsylvania law requires that private institutions, including Moravian University, their employees (inclusive of student employees), and persons affiliated with the University, such as volunteers and students participating in any University-sponsored program or activity involving direct contact with minors, report suspected child abuse. Reports of suspected abuse must be made by members of the Moravian community to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. Consistent with this policy, however, and as stated above, it is expected that notice of this report will also be shared as soon as possible with the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator (or MUPD when unavailable) after ChildLine has been notified.

Consequences of Abuse

The employment of any University employee who is convicted of a charge related to abuse of a minor will be terminated, whether the abuse occurred on or off campus. Any employee against whom a credible allegation of child abuse has been made as determined by a preponderance of the evidence, on or off campus, is subject to University discipline up to and including termination. Any Moravian student who is convicted of a charge related to abuse of a minor will be expelled from the University, whether the abuse occurred on or off campus. Any Moravian student against whom a credible accusation has been made as determined by a preponderance of the evidence, on or off campus, is subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.

Source Documents

PA Child Protective Services Law (CPSL)    

This Policy and its procedures are updated annual and as necessary to reflect the reporting requirements. Policy originally created and approved March 2019. Questions about this policy should be directed to compliance@moravian.edu.