Youth Safety at OSU
Update on safety policy implementation
Kyle Cole, Assistant Director Precollege Programs (PCP)
Faculty Senate
November 8th, 2012
Youth Safety at OSU
Overview
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Youth safety policy implementation
Compliance monitoring
Criminal History Check policy (OAR576)
Future work
Youth Safety Workgroup
Karen Swanger (KidSpirit)
Kyle Cole (PCP)
Marianne Vydra (Athletics)
Marilyn Lesmeister (4-H)
Roger Rennekamp (4-H)
Ryan Collay (SMILE)
Skip Rochefort (PCP)
Tracy Crews (Sea Grant)
Partners
Becca Lynch (General Counsel)
Jacque Rudolf and Tracey Yee (OHR)
Brandi Aston (Risk Management)
Roni Sue (Equity and Inclusion)
Youth Safety Workgroup
• Youth Safety Workgroup convened by Larry Roper in
December 2011
Charge to the workgroup
• Develop comprehensive policies and procedures that protect
youth, meet program needs, minimize risk and satisfy legal
requirements.
• Balance vigilant protection of youth, while ensuring the positive
relationships between adults and youth are not lost.
Activities
• Developed policies, procedures, training plans and materials to
ensure the safety of youth program participants.
• Culled information and adapted existing resources
(e.g., 4-H, KidSpirit, CDC, DHS, Boy Scouts, ACA)
Youth Safety Policy Activities
Risk Management
Screening
Training
Monitoring
Response
•Liability release
Templates for:
Volunteer
application
Interview
questions
Criminal
History Checks
Reference
Check
Training
workshops for
employees and
volunteers
Yearly
compliance
certification
Clear mandatory
reporting policy
Elements
Media release
Volunteer waiver
Special Event
Insurance
•All volunteers and
employees receive
training
Programs keep
documentation
Internal response
team: PCP, URM, OGC,
ORM
•Online training
Activities
Publicize policies
PCP assists
programs with
compliance
•Work with ORM on
new liability waiver
•Work with OHR
on criminal
history check
policy (OAR 576)
University-wide
manual for working
with youth
•Develop training
materials
•Develop online
training video
Program
leaders
document
compliance
Develop Universitywide reporting policy
for working with youth
Publicize information
PCP collects
information for
annual report
= activity accomplished
Youth safety policy implementation
• Released “OSU Youth Program Policies and Guidelines”
manual in April 2012.
• Rolled out new polices in May 2012:
 Notifications sent to Deans and all known program affiliates
 PCP delivered 7 training sessions with Steven Harder, Youth Safety
Specialist (3 general sessions, 4 for Athletic programs).
 73 youth program leaders, employees and volunteers attended
 45 Athletic Dept. coaches, staff and trainers attended. Jacque
Babich and Hillary O’Brien held subsequent training sessions.
Policy compliance monitoring
• PCP surveys youth programs annually for participant
numbers and demographic information.
• This year we included this mandatory field in the survey:
“I certify to the Provost that I am responsible and accountable for my program complying
with the policies stated in the OSU Youth Program Policies and Guidelines manual. I will
maintain the following records for at least two years: verification that staff and
volunteers received training, contact information for all staff and volunteers (including
whether they passed a criminal history check) and accident/incident reports for my
program. By entering my name above, I am certifying that my program is in compliance.”
• If programs are NOT in compliance, there is a text field to
explain how and why.
• PCP goal: assist programs with compliance
New Criminal History Check Policy (OAR576)
• OAR576 planned implementation 1/1/13.
• Changes:
• Expanded definition of “critical or security sensitive” positions
for employees and volunteers working with “Youth Programs”.
• CHCs will be repeated every two years for qualifying employees
and volunteers working for a “Youth Program”.
• A CHC database will eliminate repeating checks within one year.
• Office of Human Resources will perform CHCs. FBI checks for
people that have resided outside Oregon in the previous 7 years.
Mandatory child abuse reporting law
• As of 1/1/13 all OUS employees will be mandatory
reporters of child abuse.
• (See ORS 419B.005 for more details)
• OHR will be conducting university wide training sessions
and has partnered with PCP and Professional Noncredit
Education to develop online training modules.
Future work
• Revised manual released by 1/1/13
• Mandatory reporting, new liability waiver (ORM), etc.
• Develop training materials
• Written training materials for program leaders, staff and volunteers
• Online training video
• Host “Youth Safety Symposium” in Spring 2012
• Youth community leaders across state engage in safety conversation.
• Youth safety training sessions will be offered in Spring 2013.