Youth Protection Program Requirements and Standards

Program Registration

Youth Program Directors are required to register their programs on an annual basis via the Youth Program Registration Portal, before program start. The respective Program Sponsors will follow up with Program Directors if additional information is needed. Programs must be approved by the appropriate Program Sponsors and division Vice President before program activities can commence. Failure to register programs in a timely manner may cause program delay.

Youth Program Registration Form

Questions?

Feel free to contact ypp@csun.edu for all questions related to youth program registration or administration. 

Program Directors must ensure that all requirements of the Youth Protection Program are met. Click on the Youth Program Documentation Portal link below to manage submission of the YPP requirements as follows:

• Program
1.   Certificates of Insurance
2.   Signed Facilities Use Agreement (if applicable)

• Participants
1.    Participant Roster
2.   Signed CSU General Release of Liability Form
3.   Signed CSU Visual/Audio Image Release Form
4.   Signed CSU Medical Treatment Authorization Form

(NOTE: Retain CSU Medical Treatment Authorization forms in your program files. These cannot be sent electronically due to personal health information. Instead, certify in the portal receipt of CSU Medical Treatment Authorization form for each participant on the Youth Program Documentation Portal.)
5.   Attestation from Program Director that participant orientation has been provided.
6.   Attestation from Program Director that each participant was provided a program handbook.

•  Employees/Volunteers/Independent Contractors 

1.  Roster of all individuals working in the youth program (employees, volunteers, independent contractors)
2.  If applicable, upload completed Volunteer Identification Form. If volunteers are minors, additionally upload the Volunteer Release for Minors Parent Consent Form. 
3.  Signed CSUN Code of Conduct: Standards for Interacting with Youth
4.  Signed Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse and Neglect Form
5.  Certificate of Completion of all required Youth Protection Training
6.  Email notification of clearance for background check (including Live Scan) from the respective Human Department entity (CSUN HR, Associated Students HR, USU HR, or The University Corporation (TUC) HR).
7.  Attestation from Program Director that employees/volunteers/independent contractors orientation has been provided.
8.  Attestation from Program Director that each employee/volunteer/independent contractors were provided program handbooks.
 

Youth Program Documentation Portal

1) Application

All applicants seeking employment with California State University, Northridge or its auxiliaries are required to complete a standardized employment application and disclose employment history, education, volunteer history, and provide a minimum of two references (at least one of which is personal) to determine suitability for a position of trust with minors. 

All volunteers seeking to volunteer with California State University, Northridge or its auxiliaries are required to complete a CSU Volunteer Identification Form. Volunteers who are minors must also submit a Volunteer Release for Minors Parent Consent Form. 

2) Interview

Programs should conduct face-to-face interviews with potential employees and volunteers seeking positions that will be interacting with minors. These interviews should include behaviorally based interview questions designed to screen applicants for the potential of abuse. All interviews should be documented with notes from each interviewer. 

3) Reference Checks

Program directors and administrators are responsible for conducting a minimum of two reference checks, at least one of which is personal, and should ask behaviorally-based questions that assess abuse risk before an applicant is offered a position. All reference responses should be documented and considered when making a hiring decision. 

4) Background Checks

Per Executive Order 1083 and CSU Background Check Policy (HR 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. 

The CSU requires fingerprinting (Live Scan and sex offender registry check) for any employee, volunteer, or consultant who will have direct contact with minor children in academic or recreational programs operated by the CSU or held on CSU property.

View Executive Order 1083

Training Requirements

All employee and volunteers must complete mandatory Youth Protection Training via CSU Learn: 

• Training must be completed annually or prior to program participation. 

• Program Directors are responsible for verifying and documenting training completion. 

• Training records are subject to audit by the University. 

Code of Conduct 

CSUN’s Code of Conduct for interacting with minors outline the minimum expectations we hold for youth program personnel. 

Code of Conduct

Mandate to Report 

CSU Executive Order 1083, "Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect," requires all University employees, campus community volunteers, and independent contractors to report any reasonable suspicion of child abuse encountered during their University-related work or volunteer activities. This obligation applies regardless of their status as mandated reporters under California law, and the report must follow the procedures outlined in the policy. 

View Full Executive Order

Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect 

If you need to report an emergency situation involving child abuse or neglect, please call 911. 

Otherwise, please contact the appropriate local and state authorities to report suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect. You can find detailed information on how to report child abuse or neglect on our Human Resources’ Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) website at https://www.csun.edu/hr/child-abuse-and-neglect-reporting-act-canra 

Reporting Concerns, Incidents or Policy Violations Related to Youth Programs 

These types of concerns related to youth programs at CSUN can be reported by contact Risk Management at (818) 677-5508 or ypp@csun.edu. 

Reporting Resources 

Visit the CSUN Human Resources’ Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA) website (link: https://www.csun.edu/hr/child-abuse-and-neglect-reporting-act-canra ) to learn more about: 

• Who is required to report 

• What is required to be reported 

• How to report 

• And more… 

CSUN Youth Protection Program Reporting Guidelines