Creating a Culture of Care: A Peer-Informed Needs Assessment of Youth Protection at Duke University

Abstract

Duke University hosts over 60,000 minors annually through a wide range of programs, necessitating robust youth protection practices. This needs assessment, conducted utilizing inductive coding and guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), identified critical barriers to full policy implementation, including cultural disconnects, inconsistent training, operational inefficiencies, limited data-driven oversights, and insufficient leadership engagement. Through qualitative analysis of Duke affiliated stakeholder interviews, peer interview benchmarking, and peer document review, the study offers a five-year strategic roadmap for cultivating a university-wide Culture of Care. Strengthening youth protection at Duke not only fulfills ethical and legal obligations but also positions the institution as a national leader in higher education safety.