The California State University (CSU) campuses have a wide range of activities including camps, clinics, workshops, recitals, tournaments, conferences, and competitions, all of which have persons under the age of 18 as the majority of participants or attendees. The CSU strives to offer safe and enjoyable educational environments for youth. In support of that goal, the CSU is committed to protecting youth who participate in CSU organized programs. The CSU has zero tolerance for the abuse or mistreatment of youth.
Safety & Risk Management (S&RM) is responsible for the Youth Protection Program at Stanislaus State. Our office will develop a procedures manual consistent with the Chancellor’s Office resource guide on Managing Risk in Youth Programs. Stanislaus State is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all members of the campus community and visiting members of the public, including youth on campus.
As part of our commitment to provide an open and safe campus environment for all, including youth, S&RM has developed the Youth Protection Program. This program intends to identify events and activities that serve, or otherwise engage youth, and establish standards and protocols for their safety and protection.
All University departments and auxiliaries, employees (staff), students, and volunteers with regular or direct contact with youth must comply with university procedures and policies.
Programs with youth do not include (1) University undergraduate or graduate academic programs in which the only minors participating in the programs are students enrolled at the University or another institution of higher education; (2) University events (e.g. fairs, festivals, athletic events, artistic events) that are open to the general public and people of all age groups, but at which children may be present or participate; or (3) University events, programs and activities at which children are expected to be accompanied and supervised at all times by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
All third-party directed programs with youth must comply with University requirements. These requirements can be found at Programs with Youth - Third Party Directed
The purpose of the procedures and guidelines is to establish standards and protocols for the safety and protection of youth, to guide staff and volunteer conduct, and facilitate the identification of high-risk interactions and program characteristics. These procedures and guidelines apply to all of Stanislaus State auxiliaries, faculty, staff, student’s, trainees, and volunteers as “campus community” activities. These procedures and guidelines also apply to co-sponsored activities which take place on our various campus properties and those that may take place off-campus.
University-operated activities and programs in which minors will be physically present and participating (both on Stanislaus State property or at off-campus locations) will require the Program Director to ensure all of the following is completed:
- Register for the program.
- Complete 25Live reservation.
- Confirmed each program staff and volunteer has been cleared prior to the pro
- Confirmed each program staff and volunteer has completed protection of youth training requirements.
Program Directors are required to register their programs on an annual basis by submitting the Youth Program Registration Form.
The Program Director or Director’s designee of Stanislaus State shall register the program with S&RM with sufficient advance notice to meet the requirements and intentions of this procedure. Registration for youth programs and youth activities shall be submitted to the University at least sixty (60) days before each event or activity starts. A program that does not register in a timely manner may not be approved to operate, or may cause a program delay.
S&RM will follow up with Program Directors if additional information is needed. Programs must be approved by S&RM before program activities can commence.
All University activites occurring on and off-campus requires a 25Live reservation. This will assist in proper review of the program taking place, allow for campus resources to be requested, and allows for review of University events on and off campus to ensure event success and safety.
Program Directors are responsible for identifying and documenting all youth program staff and volunteers, and ensuring individuals have been cleared to work wiht youth (i.e. background check. live scan fingerprints, etc) before the program start date. S&RM will determine the eligibility of staff and volunteers for participation in youth programs, with appropriate consultation from Human Resources. Note: S&RM does not manage the details of background and live scan.
It is the responsibility of the Program Director or Director’s designee to ensure that each individual who has direct contact with youth has submitted the background check request information and that Human Resources clearance has been received.
Background Checks: Per Executive Order 1083 and CSU Human Resources Technical Letter 2017-17, background checks, to include criminal records check and review of state and federal sex offender registries, are required for all University employees and volunteers for the purpose of identifying past behavior that may disqualify a person from working with minors.
Training helps to ensure employees have the knowledge and skills to keep children safe and minimize liabilities to the program. It should be specific and regular, so prevention and response are effective. Youth Protection courses are available via the Praesidium website. The Program Director, or designee, is responsible for ensuring that employees and volunteers have completed the appropriate training each year.
Once the Program Director, or designee, provides a list of youth program employees and volunteers, S&RM will provide the list of required trainings. Program Directors may request access to the platform to track training progress. S&RM will provide list of those who have completed the training. All trainings must be completed before employees interact with youth participating in the program.
Basis to Report: CSU Executive Order 1083 “Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect” requires all University employees, campus community volunteers and independent contractors, regardless of their status as a mandated reporter as defined by California law, who, in the course of their University business or volunteer activity, have reasonable suspicion of child abuse, as defined by California law, must make a report as outlined in this policy. For additional guidance, please visit Equity Programs & Compliance regarding on mandating reporting of child abuse and neglect.
Reporting other issues related to youth programs: If you would like to report other issues or concerns related to youth programs at Stanislaus State, please contact S&RM by emailing risk@csustan.edu.
For all Stanislaus State Youth Programs, the parent or guardian shall receive, review, and sign a University waiver before his or her minor child can participate in the Program. The Program director, or designee, is responsible for ensuring all participants have signed the waiver before participating. S&RM will provide the waiver specific to the youth program upon completion and review of the online registration.
Program director, or designee, will submit all signed waivers to S&RM for record retention, within 7 days upon completion of the activity. A waiver must be kept on file for every minor participant for three years following the activity or until age 20 if the participant is a minor, whichever is longer.
Updated: December 19, 2023