��ƷSM����ӰƬ

Effective Date

November 1, 2024

Approved By

Justin Schwartz, Chancellor

Policy Owner

Office of Compliance, Ethics and Policy��

I. Introduction

The ��ƷSM����ӰƬ (��ƷSM����ӰƬ) hosts many educational, cultural, service learning,
volunteer, athletic, and other programs where youth are involved. ��ƷSM����ӰƬ strives to protect and ensure
the safety of youth on campus.

This policy provides requirements for the safety and protection of youth participating in university sponsored
programs or programs operated by non-university entities on university premises. This policy outlines the
requirements for faculty, staff, students, and volunteers working with youth. ��ƷSM����ӰƬ requires all such
persons to adhere to and act in accordance with this policy. Failure to comply with the requirements set
forth in this policy may lead to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.

II. Definitions

Affiliated Youth Program: Event, activity, program, or research, regardless of location, that is operated or sponsored (e.g., using ��ƷSM����ӰƬ branding, funding, etc.) by a university department or unit in which youth are a primary audience.

Child / Minor/ Youth: Individual(s) under the age of 18 or any individual(s) under 21 years old incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability who is a participant in a youth activity or program.

Child Abuse and Neglect: Child abuse, as defined by Colorado C.R.S. § 18-6-401, occurs when someone causes “injury to a child’s life or health, or permits a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that poses a threat of injury to the child’s life or health, or engages in a continued pattern of conduct that results in malnourishment, lack of proper medical care, cruel punishment, mistreatment, or an accumulation of injuries that ultimately results in the death of a child or serious bodily injury to a child.”

Direct Contact: Contact expected to entail care, custody, guidance, control, and/or supervision of youth in individual or group settings.

Active Supervision: Constant focused attention on, and intentional observation of, youth participants and activities.
Employee: University employees, including staff, faculty, and student employees.

Mandatory Reporter: Any individual who, by virtue of their profession or licensure, is required under Colorado law (see C.R.S. § 19-3-301) to report child abuse and neglect to specified authorities.

Third Party Youth Program: An organization or individual not affiliated with ��ƷSM����ӰƬ that operates or administers a youth program.

University Community: Employees, students, volunteers, youth program staff, third parties, and others that interact or engage with ��ƷSM����ӰƬ.

University Premises: The ��ƷSM����ӰƬ campus and any other property, building or facility that is owned, operated, or controlled by the university.

Volunteer: An individual appointed to perform official university duties without compensation or remuneration. The volunteer performs activities at the request of, for the benefit of, and under the supervision of, the university. This includes university employees and students serving in a volunteer capacity in a youth program.

Vulnerable Population Background Check: The process by which an individual’s information and background is verified and confirmed to help determine whether they are suited to work with youth in a youth program.

Youth Program: Any activity, camp, program, or event in which the care, custody, or supervision of one or more youth is expected to be the responsibility of one or more youth program staff, including university employees, students, volunteers, or third-party staff acting on behalf of or pursuant to a contract with ��ƷSM����ӰƬ.

Youth Program Administrator: An individual age 18 or older, paid, or unpaid, with university authorization to run a youth program, who has successfully cleared a Criminal Records Check, Sex Offender Registry Check, and completed required ��ƷSM����ӰƬ training(s).

Youth Program Staff: All individuals over 18 expected to work with or otherwise come into direct contact with youth in a youth program. This includes employees, students, volunteers, and third parties administering a youth program, including all individuals employed by, contracted by, or volunteering for a third party in connection with a youth program.

III. Policy Statement��

��ƷSM����ӰƬ is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and well-being of youth who participate in programs and activities both on and off campus. Members of the university community who interact with youth in any official capacity are expected to foster and maintain an appropriate and secure environment for youth.

To support the protection of youth, this policy outlines what is required of university employees, students, and volunteers who engage in programs or activities involving youth, hereafter, “Youth Programs.” Sections 2 and 3 establish requirements for Youth Programs affiliated, hosted, or supported by the university.

Employees must follow reporting requirements. University employees who are mandatory reporters under Colorado law (see C.R.S. § 19-3-301) must report pursuant to the provisions in that law.

All members of the university community are expected to be role models for young people, and to therefore maintain the highest standards of behavior when interacting with youth. This includes acting in a respectful and appropriate manner that is consistent with the university’s Code of Conduct.
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1. Reporting Requirements for All Youth Programs
   1. Employees who in their duties suspect that a youth is being abused, mistreated, or neglected shall report such information to law enforcement immediately. University employees who are mandatory reporters under Colorado law (see C.R.S. § 19-3-301) shall report pursuant to the provisions in that law. Reports can be made by calling 303-492-6666.
   2. Serious incidents and violations relating to youth in connection with youth programs must be reported to the Office of Compliance, Ethics and Policy within one business day. Such incidents or concerns may include, but are not limited to, the following:
      1. Serious injuries, accidents, etc.
      2. Medical or mental health emergencies.
      3. Near misses (e.g., a situation that could have resulted in a serious accident or injury).
      4. Inappropriate behavior, including grooming behavior, or boundary violations.
      5. Violations of this policy or ��ƷSM����ӰƬ Guidelines for Interacting with Youth.
   3. If the incident involves discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, intimate partner violence, or stalking, a report to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (“OIEC”) must also be made. Reports can be made by calling 303-492-2127 or filing a report at cureport@colorado.edu, or filling out a report online.
   4. Affiliated youth program staff also have a reporting requirement as Campus Security Authorities (CSA) to report a Clery Act Crime occurring within our Clery Geography. To file a report, email clery@colorado.edu, or filing a report online.
2. Requirements for Affiliated Youth Programs
   1. Registration and approval: All affiliated youth programs must register with the Office of Compliance, Ethics and Policy. The Office of Compliance, Ethics and Policy reserves the right to delay or cancel programming that has not completed the registration process.
      1. Affiliated youth programs must follow the registration process outlined in the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ Affiliated Youth Program Registration Process procedures.
      2. Registration must be applied for, reviewed, and approved 30 days before the program or event starts.
   2. Background checks: All affiliated youth program staff and volunteers must have a background check completed through ��ƷSM����ӰƬ; this must include a vulnerable population background check.
   3. Plans and procedures: Affiliated youth programs must ensure that they have documented and followed all the plans and procedures outlined in the Required Procedures, Plans, and Protocols for Affiliated Youth Programs.
   4. Affiliated youth programs that fail to provide required registration information or that do not meet the minimum requirements outlined in this policy will not be approved to operate on campus.
   5. Affiliated youth programs must always have active supervision.
3. Requirements for Third-Party Youth Programs
   1. All third-party youth programs must have a contract with their campus sponsor on file that meets contract guidelines set forth in the Third-Party Youth Program Contract Guidelines.
   2. All third-party youth programs must be registered and be approved by the Office of Compliance, Ethics and Policy.
   3. Third-party youth programs that fail to provide required registration information or that do not meet the minimum requirements outlined in this policy and their contracts will not be approved to operate on campus.
4. This policy does not apply to:
   1. University academic programs and activities that include persons under the age of 18 who are engaged as enrolled students for academic credit at ��ƷSM����ӰƬ.
   2. Events on university property that are open to the public where youth attend.
   3. Private events with no contract, such as birthday parties.
   4. Children in the workplace.
   5. Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved research.
   6. Youth working for the university as employees.
5. Youth Protection Committee
   1. A committee shall be formed that consists of the Youth Protection Compliance Manager; the Director of Compliance, Ethics and Policy; a representative from Student Affairs; a Representative from University Risk Management; a representative from the Office of University Counsel; and a representative from a youth program as nominated by the Youth Protection Compliance Manager.
   2. The Youth Protection Committee is charged with reviewing Youth Programs that are not in compliance with this policy.
   3. ��ƷSM����ӰƬ reserves the right to delay or cancel youth programming that is not in compliance with this policy.
   4. ��ƷSM����ӰƬ may terminate relationships or take other appropriate actions against non-university entities that violate this policy, in accordance with the applicable agreements.
   5. This committee shall report to the Deputy Executive Vice Chancellor of Operations & Senior Compliance and Policy Officer who will have final authority on matters brought before the committee, including appeals
6. Non - Compliance
   1. In addition to the criminal penalties and sanctions that may apply for failure to report child abuse or neglect, failure to comply with the requirements set forth in this policy may lead to disciplinary action up to and including revocation of permission to use university premises and termination of employment.

IV. Related Policies

1. Administrative Policy Statements (APS) and Other Policies
   APS 7009 - Protection of Children Participating in University-Run and University-Contracted Programs for Children
2. Procedures

V. History

Adopted: September 14, 2016
Revised: November 1, 2024
Last Reviewed: November 1, 2024