YPT Response Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a youth discloses abuse to you, what should you do after listening calmly?
- Tell the youth you will keep it a secret between you two
- Immediately contact law enforcement yourself and skip reporting to your organization
- Report the disclosure to the appropriate authority within your organization as soon as possible (Correct answer)
- Ask the youth detailed follow-up questions to gather more information
Correct answer: Report the disclosure to the appropriate authority within your organization as soon as possible
After listening calmly, you must report the disclosure to the appropriate authority within your organization promptly, as mandated reporters are required to act quickly.
Question 2: Which action is considered a barrier to reporting suspected child abuse?
- Fear of being wrong or overreacting (Correct answer)
- Following your organization's reporting chain
- Documenting the youth's disclosure in writing
- Notifying a supervisor immediately
Correct answer: Fear of being wrong or overreacting
Fear of being wrong or overreacting is one of the most common barriers that prevents adults from reporting suspected abuse, even though reporters are protected when acting in good faith.
Question 3: If you witness a colleague behaving inappropriately with a youth, your first action should be to:
- Confront the colleague directly and warn them to stop
- Document the behavior and report it to the appropriate authority (Correct answer)
- Ignore it unless the youth complains directly to you
- Discuss it only with other staff members to gather more opinions
Correct answer: Document the behavior and report it to the appropriate authority
You should document what you observed and immediately report it to the designated authority — not confront the individual, which could compromise any investigation.
Question 4: What is the appropriate way to respond when a child recants (takes back) an abuse disclosure?
- Accept the recantation and close the matter
- Still report the original disclosure since recantation is common in abuse cases (Correct answer)
- Encourage the child to reconsider and tell the truth
- Document the recantation but take no further action
Correct answer: Still report the original disclosure since recantation is common in abuse cases
Recantation is a well-documented phenomenon in abuse cases driven by fear or pressure, so the original report should still be filed.
Question 5: Which statement best describes the 'two-deep leadership' rule in response to abuse prevention?
- Two adults must review every report before it is submitted
- No adult should be alone with a single youth in a secluded setting (Correct answer)
- Two supervisors must approve any disciplinary action against a youth
- Two witnesses are required for any allegation to be investigated
Correct answer: No adult should be alone with a single youth in a secluded setting
Two-deep leadership means at least two registered adults must be present with youth at all times, reducing opportunities for abuse.
Question 6: What is a mandatory reporter legally required to do when they suspect child abuse?
- Conduct a personal investigation before reporting
- Report suspicions to child protective services or law enforcement (Correct answer)
- Consult with an attorney before making any report
- Only report if they have photographic or physical evidence
Correct answer: Report suspicions to child protective services or law enforcement
Mandatory reporters are legally required to report suspicions of abuse directly to child protective services or law enforcement — they do not need proof.
Question 7: After making a report of suspected abuse, what is the reporter's responsibility regarding the investigation?
- To lead the internal investigation within the organization
- To gather additional evidence to support the report
- To cooperate with investigators but not conduct their own investigation (Correct answer)
- To immediately notify the accused adult of the allegation
Correct answer: To cooperate with investigators but not conduct their own investigation
Once a report is made, the investigation is handled by trained professionals; the reporter should cooperate but must not conduct their own inquiry.
YPT Response Protocols 2
When a youth discloses abuse to you, what should you do after listening calmly?