Parent & Family Resources
Safety of Minors Policy
The University of Utah is committed to providing for the safety and protection of all youth that participate in University programs or programs operating on University premises. This commitment led to the creation of University Policy 1-015 Safety of Minors and the establishment of Youth Protection and Program Support, whose primary goal is providing for the safety and protection of youth participating in University programs. YPPS supports the policy by providing guidance and training to all staff, faculty, students, and volunteers working with youth.
The policy establishes minimum requirements for youth programs, as well as minimum requirements for the adults that will be working in support of the goal of providing a safe environment for all youth participating in programs:
What To Watch For
As a parent or guardian, you play an important role in providing for the safety of your children. Empowering your child to recognize boundaries and trust their intuition can be a powerful tool in preventing abuse. Children should feel comfortable recognizing and naming their feelings and going to an adult when they feel they need help. Some tips for providing this type of education to your children can be found on the websites below.
Prevent Child Abuse Utah provides information and education to both parents and children on abuse prevention. You may take their free online parent course “Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: Online Parent Course”.
Information from the American Academy of Pediatrics about preventing and identifying child sexual abuse.
Reporting Information
In accordance with the University Safety of Minors Policy all authorized adults working with minors are trained in mandatory reporting requirements.
A mandated reporter is a person who is legally required to ensure a report is made when abuse is observed or suspected. The state of Utah designates a Mandatory Reporter as “any person who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect” (Utah Code Ann. §62A-4a-403). This report must be made to a law enforcement agency or the Division of Child and Family Services.
In addition to notifying law enforcement or DCFS, the Safety of Minors Policy also requires that individuals report known or suspected abuse of a minor during a University program or event, or on University premises, to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at the University of Utah.
If you, as a parent or guardian, have concerns about any misconduct in connection with a University program or event, please contact the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at (801) 581-8365.
Related links: