1.1
Welcome
to Building a Safe Penn State: Reporting Child Abuse Training
All employees, volunteers working with minors, and individuals considered by Penn State to be Authorized Adults are required to take this training annually. Watch the video below to learn more about what to expect in this training.
Dr. Susan E. Cromwell is the director of Penn State’s Center for Workplace Learning and Performance.
Protecting children is everyone’s responsibility. Whether we work directly with children or not, part of our role here, as an employee or volunteer, at Penn State is to keep children who come to our campuses, SAFE! Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused must report that suspicion.
The training in which you are about to participate is designed to provide you with the information you need to make a report. While everyone at Penn State is mandated to report, some of you due to your work with children have special responsibilities. At Penn State you are considered to be authorized adults, and are required by the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services law to report suspected child abuse. Policies AD39 and AD72 specifically outline the responsibilities that Penn State employees and volunteers have for reporting abuse.
This training is required for all Penn State employees and volunteers. So, each year you will be required to complete the training on-line. It should only take between 60 and 90 minutes of your time to complete. At the end of the training, there will be an assessment of what you’ve learned. Upon successful completion of the training and assessment, a certificate will be issued that you want to keep in a safe place.
Our hope is that this training provides you with the tools and knowledge you need to report abuse. This training may impact you personally and if that is the case, know that we have listed numerous resources to help you manage your distress. Children often hesitate to report or disclose abuse for a variety of reasons. Therefore, it is essential to focus on the role and responsibility that adults play in the identification and reporting of child abuse.
Thank you for taking the time to care and learn more about your role at Penn State regarding keeping children safe.
HideThis training and the policies discussed apply to you only during the course of your employment or affiliation with Penn State.
Course Overview
In this training, you will learn:
- your responsibilities under Pennsylvania law and Penn State policies
- how to identify the signs or indicators of child abuse
- how to respond to a disclosure of child abuse
- how to report child abuse to the proper authorities.
Receiving Credit
At the end of this training, you will be asked to complete a short test. In order to receive credit for completing this training, you will need to pass with an 80% score or higher.
At the end of each lesson, you will find a Self-Knowledge Check that you can use to review key concepts and test your knowledge as you prepare for the final test. The Self-Knowledge Checks will not be recorded and there are no penalties for wrong answers.
Course Acknowledgements
The Reporting Child Abuse training was developed by the Center for Workplace Learning and Performance (CWLP) in the Office of Human Resources (OHR) in collaboration with University and community partners. Full List of Acknowledgments »
*Please note before you go any farther. There is no way to save your place if you exit the training at any time. It would be best for you to schedule 90 minutes to complete the entire training. If, for some reason, you do need to exit the training, please take note of the lesson you are working on so you can navigate back to that place when you return.