Risk Services

Youth Protection Program

Youth Protection Program

Safeguarding Positive Engagement With Minors  

Common activities and programs that require registration: 

  • Youth Sports Athletic Camps and Clinics
  • Day Camps and Programs (non-sport) 
  • Overnight Camps and Programs
  • Mentoring and Tutoring Programs
  • Outreach Programs
  • Community Service Activities 
  • ALL internships for minors (labs, field, office, etc.) 
  • Recruitment Activities

Requirements

Required Annually and BEFORE an activity or program with minors begins. A minor is defined as an individual under the age of 18 who is not enrolled in an academic or graduate degree program for academic credit.

  1. Register Your Program or Activity
  2. Employees, Students and Volunteers who HAVE care, custody or control of minors. Employees defined here as Staff, Faculty, Academic Appointees and Student Employees. Complete PRIOR to working with minors Background check: Live Scan of the DOJ, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Registry, Staff Human Resources, Background Checks.
  3. Minors and Parents/Legal Guardians complete PRIOR to program
    • Waiver of Liability
    • Emergency Information and Contacts for Minor 
    • Authorization to Consent to Treatment of Minor
    • Complete Waiver if there will be Minors in laboratories or shops, UC Minors in Laboratories and Shops Policy

Contracts with non-University Organizations bringing minors on campus must include the following provisions: 

  • General Liability Insurance with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 aggregate.
  • Sexual Misconduct Liability Insurance (also known as Abuse and Molestation) with limits of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 aggregate.
  • Confirmation from the non-University organization that all their employees, volunteers, or staff under their direction providing direct, on-site supervision (or if there aren’t employees, the lead contractor or supervisor) of the activity is a mandated reporter under CANRA and has signed a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse.
  • An indemnification clause in which the non-University organization agrees to indemnify The Regents of the University of California for claims, lawsuits, or other actions that arise as a result of the non-University organization’s use of campus facilities.

Abuse Reporting 

IMMINENT THREAT: Contact UCSC Police Department immediately or local law enforcement if off campus to intervene. To reach campus police, call 9-1-1, or (831) 459-2231. Report to immediate supervisor. Immediately contact the local child protective agency. Mandated reporters: submit the Required Mandated Reports.

Local Child Protective Agencies in the Santa Cruz and Nearby Counties
  • Santa Cruz County: (877)-505-3299 or (831)-454-2273
  • Santa Clara County: (833)-722-5437, 24 hour hot line
  • Monterey County: (800)-606-6618 or (831)-755-4661

Required Mandated Reporting

Suspected Abuse of Minors MUST Be Reported. University of California Policy – Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

Any suspected abuse or neglect of a minor participant – whether on or off campus property or whether perpetrated by employees, volunteers, or others – must be reported to state authorities.  Reports may be made confidentially or anonymously.  A person who mistakenly reports suspected abuse is immune for civil or criminal liability as long as the report was made in good faith and without malice. Both External and Internal reports are required.

Reports of suspected or known abuse must be made to the following:

External Reporting Requirement

Required external report may be made to any police, sheriffs’ departments, and county welfare departments. Such report must be made immediately, by telephone, and followed by a Suspected Child Abuse Report Form as soon as reasonably practicable, but in any event within 36 hours. Report is individual.  No one shall impede the reporting duties.  No one shall be subject to any sanction for making a report.  

Internal Reporting Requirement

File an internal report with the University by first reporting observed or suspected child abuse or neglect to their supervisors or through the University Whistleblower Hotline. Supervisors who receive reports should promptly forward those reports to the Hotline. These internal reports may be made anonymously. When two or more persons are aware of an instance of abuse or neglect, and when there is an agreement among them, the report may be made by one of them. The duty to report is individual. No one shall impede the reporting duties. No one shall be subject to any sanction for making a report.  

Background Checks  

Staff, Faculty, Academic Appointees and Students 

Departments are responsible for ensuring that a background check is completed for all staff, faculty, academic appointees and students who have direct responsibility for the care, safety and security of minors.  Refer to policy PPSM-21, see Staff Human Resources, Background Checks.

 Volunteers

Before volunteers can start, they must complete and clear a background check in accordance with PPSM-21, Staff Human Resources Volunteers Process, and the Volunteer Service Policy.

Procedures for Transporting Minors

Departments are responsible for ensuring the procedures for transporting minors is adhered by all staff, faculty, academic appointees and students who have direct responsibility for the care, safety and security of minors. 

When transporting minors: 

  • Must have a valid driver’s license and submit a current Department of Motor Vehicles Driver’s Record Printout 
  • Must complete the Defensive Driving Fundamentals course on the Staff Human Resources UC Learning Center
  • Program Directors must be notified of all transportation activities 
  • Minors must NOT be transported without written permission from their parents/guardians 
  • Should avoid transporting minors in their personal vehicles. 
  • For a single minor, two authorized persons must be present during transportation, or at least two minors must be present if transported by a single authorized person
  • When transporting minors by bus or van:
    • Drivers should not be assigned as supervisors for the minors 
    • Authorized persons should be strategically seated through the bus for effective supervision, with at least one authorized person in the middle of the bus and one in the far rear
    • Minors should not be seated behind authorized persons 
    • Authorized persons should occupy outside seats to facilitate supervision of minors on the bus 
    • Minors should be seated by grade, gender and behavior 
    • Conduct a head count or roll call before entering and exiting the bus or van
    • In van transportation, another authorized person should supervise the minors and assist the driver.
  • In EMERGENCY situations requiring the use of non-program vehicles
    • Program Directors must be promptly notified of the emergency transportation activities 
    • For a single minor, two authorized persons must be present during transportation, or at least two minors must be present if transported by a single authorized person 

For Questions and Information, Contact: risk@ucsc.edu

Last modified: Aug 08, 2025