PHYSICAL or MENTAL ABUSE AND SEXUAL ABUSE
AND SEXUAL MOLESTATION PREVENTION POLICY

OhioDance does not permit actual or threatened acts of physical or mental abuse, sexual abuse, sexual molestation or sexual misconduct (“prohibited conduct”) to occur in the workplace or at any activity sponsored by or related to it. In order to make this “zero-tolerance” policy clear to all employees, volunteers, contractors and staff members, we have adopted mandatory procedures that employees, volunteers, contractors, family members, board members, individuals and victims must follow when they reasonably suspect, learn of or witness prohibited conduct.

Abuse of molestation means each, every, and all actual, threatened or alleged acts of physical or mental abuse, sexual abuse, sexual molestation or sexual misconduct performed by one person or by two or more persons acting together.

Reporting Procedure
All staff members, contractors, volunteers, consumers, who learn or, have a reasonable suspicion of prohibited conduct, must immediately report it to OhioDance Executive Director. In the case the report involves the Executive Director, reports shall be made to OhioDance’s President of the Board of Directors. If the victim is an adult, abuse or neglect will be reported to the local or state policy and/or Adult Protective Services (APS) Agency. If a child is the victim of abuse or neglect the designee will report it to the local or state police and/or Child Abuse Agency. Appropriate family members of the victim must be notified immediately of suspected child abuse or neglect.

Investigation & Follow Up
We take allegations of prohibited conduct seriously. Once the allegation is reported we will promptly, thoroughly and impartially initiate an investigation to determining whether there is a reasonable basis to believe that the prohibited conduct has occurred and that is was committed by the target(s) of the investigation. The investigation may be undertaken by an internal team comprised of fellow employees or we may hire an independent third party. We will cooperate fully with any investigation conducted by law enforcement or regulatory agencies and we may refer the complaint and the result of our investigation to those agencies. We reserve the right to place the target(s) of the investigation on an involuntary leave of absence or reassigning that person to responsibilities that do not involve personal contact with individuals or students. To the fullest extent possible, but consistent with our legal obligation to report suspected prohibited to appropriate authorities, we will endeavor to keep the identity (ies) of the target(s) and the alleged victim(s) confidential.
If the investigation substantiates the allegation, our policy provides for disciplinary penalties, including but not limited to termination of the target’s relationship with our organization.

Retaliation Prohibited
We prohibit retaliation, including an employee, volunteer, contractor, board member, student of individual, who in good faith report prohibited conduct. Retaliation against a participant in the investigation is also prohibited.
Anyone who retaliated against someone who has made good faith allegation of prohibited conduct or intentionally provides false information to that effect will be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.


Anti-Bullying Policy
Addendum to OhioDance Physical or Mental Abuse and Sexual Abuse and Sexual Molestation Prevention Policy
OhioDance will not tolerate the mistreatment or abuse of OhioDance staff, volunteers, or program participants. In addition, OhioDance will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying, and to the extent that such actions are disruptive, we will take steps needed to eliminate such behavior.

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional, is repeated over time, and involves an
imbalance of power or strength. Bullying can take on various forms, including:

a. Physical bullying – when one person engages in physical force against another person, such as by hitting, punching, pushing, kicking, pinching, or restraining another.

b. Verbal bullying – when someone uses their words to hurt another, such as by belittling or calling another hurtful names.

c. Nonverbal or relational bullying – when one person manipulates a relationship or desired relationship to harm another person. This includes social exclusion, friendship manipulation, or gossip. This type of bullying also includes intimidating another person by using gestures.

d. Cyberbullying – the intentional and overt act of aggression toward another person by way of any technological tool, such as email, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings (including blogs). Cyberbullying can involve:

• Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images.
• Posting sensitive, private information about another person.
• Pretending to be someone else in order to make that person look bad.
• Intentionally excluding someone from an online group.
• Hazing – an activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers that person regardless of that person’s willingness to participate.
• Sexualized bullying – when bullying involves behaviors that are sexual in nature. Examples of sexualized bullying behaviors include sexting, bullying that involves exposures of private body parts, and verbal bullying involving sexualized language or innuendos.

Anyone who sees an act of bullying, and who then encourages it, is engaging in bullying. This policy applies to all consumers, staff and volunteers.