Youth Protection

Protection of Minors

CSUSB is dedicated to the welfare and safety of minors who attend the university, participate as a visitor in one of our programs, or are entrusted in our care. To promote the protection of minors, CSUSB participated in an assessment to determine how we measure against the CSU Managing Risk in Youth Programs Resource Guide and identified areas that will be addressed in a campus-specific policy. This umbrella policy will also support program specific procedures that informs all members of the university community and program participants of their obligation to report any instances of known or suspected abuse or neglect of minors.

The Office of Risk Management is responsible for the Youth Protection program. This office will publish guidelines for implementation of the policy consistent with CSUSB’s mission and best practices in this area.

Registration

The Program Director or Director’s designee of CSUSB is responsible for registering the program with the Office of Risk Management with sufficient advance notice to meet the requirements and intentions of this procedure. Registration should be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the event/program. All supporting documents must be kept on file by the sponsoring department for three years following the activity or until age 20 if the participant is a minor, whichever is longer.

Youth Program Registration Form (Online)Youth Program Registration Form (PDF)

Execute Written Agreement(s)

For all CSU Programs that involve minors, the parent or guardian shall receive, review, and sign a university participation agreement before his or her minor child can participate in the Program. The sponsoring department is responsible for ensuring a form is 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. The following is the authorization and release form: Waivers and/or Release of Liability Form.

Third-party contracts must include language to ensure visiting programs and guests who engage with minors in partnership with CSUSB follow established guidelines, processes, and legal mandates followed by the University to protect youth.

Background Checks

It is the responsibility of the Program Director or Director’s designee to ensure that each participating adult has submitted the background check request information and has subsequently received clearance to participate for each program serving youth. And training in Mandatory Reporting and Abuse Protection available in CSU Learn. The following is the CSUSB Volunteer Identification Form that can be used to track this information.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

Executive Order 1083 enacts amendments to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA). CANRA is intended to provide a safe environment for our children and will enhance our own awareness of and responsibility to report suspected abuse and neglect.

As a designated mandated reporter, whenever you, in your professional capacity or within the course of your employment, have knowledge of or reasonably suspect child abuse or neglect has occurred, you must report the incident.

Abuse That Must Be Reported:

Physical injury inflicted by other than accidental means on a child
Sexual abuse meaning sexual assault or sexual exploitation of a child
Neglect meaning the negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by a parent or caretaker under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child’s health or welfare
Willful harming or injuring or endangering a child meaning a situation in which any person inflicts, or willfully causes or permits a child to suffer, unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or causes or permits a child to be placed in a situation in which the child or child’s health is endangered

Your report of suspected child abuse must be made to University Police immediately or as soon as practically possible. The University Police can be reached at (909) 537-5165. Mandated reporters are not civilly or criminally liable for their reports (Penal Code § 11167(d)).

After making the report to University Police, employees must complete and submit the Department of Justice form SS 8572 (Attachment D of Executive Order 1083) to University Police within 36 hours of coming into information regarding the incident of suspected abuse or neglect.

The Department of Human Resources can provide more information about mandated reporting and they have a resource who is available to assist employees in identifying whether there is a reasonable suspicion that abuse has occurred and how to report it, and provide appropriate resources.

Training

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. The following Youth Protection courses are available in CSULearn, CSU Learning Bridge (student platform) and the Praesidium website. The Program Director or designees is responsible for ensuring that employees and volunteers have the appropriate training each year and it is kept on file.