Conduct Requirements when Interacting with Minors

Report abuse, neglect, or inappropriate behavior.

• You are required to immediately report to the Notre Dame Police Department any incident you observe or learn about that involves physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, or any conduct that adversely affects the safety of minors.

• If an adult observes another adult violating these requirements or engages in other conduct which causes him/her to have reason for concern for the wellbeing of a minor, the adult should confront that other adult and report their concerns to their supervisor and the Office of Institutional Equity at youthprotection@nd.edu.

Establish and maintain appropriate boundaries when interacting with minors.

• Do not have private one-on-one interactions with minors except in emergency circumstances, or in approved clinical or research situations. All interactions between an adult and a minor are to be observable and interruptible. In other words, contact must be able to be seen by another individual (observable), and someone must be able to stop the interaction easily (interruptible).

• Do not engage in private electronic communication with minors. You may communicate with the minor if you copy a second adult (either a staff member or the minor’s parent/guardian) on that communication.

• You may not socialize with minors outside the program. Communicating via a social network application or website is never permitted. Socializing by telephone, email, social media, or text messages is not permitted when the communication is not part of your responsibilities as a member of the program.

• Do not shower, bathe, or undress in the presence of minors.

• You must never give a personal gift to minors. Gifts that are equally accessible to all minors and serve a motivational or educational purpose are permitted.

Always understand and exhibit appropriate behavior.

• Topics or vocabulary that would not be discussed or used comfortably in the presence of parents should not be discussed or used with minors.

• Avoid physical contact with a minor. Never engage in any corporal punishment. If a minor initiates physical contact, you may respond in an appropriate manner. Appropriate physical contact (with consent) includes handshakes, side hugs, high fives. Inappropriate physical contact includes prolonged front-to-front hugging, massages, wrestling, piggyback rides, lap sitting, hitting, pinching.

• Do not engage in sexual activity, sexually explicit conversations, or share sexually explicit material with minors.

Prioritize the safety and wellbeing of minors.

• Do not take or post images of minors on social media or elsewhere without prior parental consent.

• Do not possess, use, or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while responsible for a minor’s welfare or in the presence of a minor.

• Monitor interactions among minors and take steps to prevent or address any of the following conduct: bullying, hazing, derogatory name-calling, sexual harassment or touching, harassment or discrimination based on protected categories.