Kids in the House: Protecting Minors Within the Service

Youth-serving organizations are a prime target for sex offenders. Sexual abuse has been seen in schools, churches, and youth sports programs alike. EMS agencies throughout the nation employ volunteers to augment services in communities they serve. As such, EMS agencies that permit volunteers under the age of 18 via youth programs may be at risk for potential predators volunteering within their agency.

Acquaintance molestation is a term applied to predators who groom children by building trust with the child or adolescent over time. The predator may use tactics such as buying things, giving specialized attention, or utilizing their position of authority to gain trust and provide consolation to the child or adolescent. Grooming is often a slow, gradual, and escalating process that occurs over time. Typically children are immature, and they’re often unable to mentally process what is happening to them until it is too late. Parents and EMS leaders may also be groomed by a predator into believing that the individual is a model member of the agency and pillar of the community.

The prevalence of acquaintance molestation and grooming is unknown because often children don’t tell anyone what is happening to them for reasons that include guilt and embarrassment. Additionally, he or she may not realize what is happening to them is wrong. Providing a safe environment for children and adolescents within an EMS agency is crucial to protect young and prospective volunteers. As abuse investigator Kenneth Lanning and forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz warned in their 2014 article “Acquaintance Molestation and Youth-Serving Organizations,” to protect children in their care, “youth-serving organizations have to address both external victimization and internal victimization.”¹

The New Jersey Department of Health credentials all Emergency Medical Technicians, paramedics, flight medics, and mobile intensive care nurses in New Jersey, which includes a self-reporting mechanism for criminal history. Many volunteer agencies require no additional checks of volunteers within their organizations.

From 2013–2017, the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services received 252 complaints, of which 35 cases (14%) were sex-related (Figure 1). Of those 35 cases, 20 individuals (57%) were affiliated with agencies that utilized volunteers; seven (20%) did not, and eight (23%) were unknown.

The department strives to take immediate action against credentialed individuals alleged to commit sex-related crimes in New Jersey. Accordingly, 29 (83%) of the 35 cases identified during this time period had their credentials summarily suspended. One individual voluntary surrendered their credential, and five (14%) had no action taken for various legal or investigative reasons.

Organizational behavior and culture within EMS agencies should include strategies to protect minors. These may include creating policies and procedures to govern conduct and boundaries; establishing education for all new and existing employees and volunteers, parents/guardians, and minors within the organization; reference and criminal history background checks, and screening potential volunteers by creating interview questions centered around behavioral situations or indicators to identify behaviors that may not be aligned with organizational values and standards.

Reference

1. Lanning KV, Dietz P. Acquaintance Molestation and Youth-Serving Organizations. J Interpersonal Violence, 2014; 29(15): 2,815–38.

Terry Clancy, PhD, NRP, is chief of education and certification for the New Jersey Department of Health’s Office of Emergency Medical Services. Contact her at terry.clancy@doh.nj.gov.