CU Boulder Youth Protection Policy and Procedures for Third Parties

Effective September 14, 2016, programs for youth are required to follow the University of Colorado Boulder Child Protection Policy and Procedures.  This policy was created to protect Minors participating in programs both sponsored by CU and third parties that take place on University of Colorado property.

While not all youth programs are bound by the policy, it is best practice to abide by the policy and procedures to ensure the safety of all involved in your program. 

A summary of the policy is helpful to review and the information below will assist you in navigating the Policy's Procedures for working with Minors while at the University of Colorado Boulder.

A third party led youth program is an activity or set of activities in which youth are a primary audience, the activity is operated or sponsored by a CU Boulder Affiliated organization, business or group, and the activity is sited in facilities or property of the University.

Each program needs to have written protocols around the following areas. These protocols and forms need to be submitted using the CU Boulder Youth Program Document Upload form for Third Parties. This needs to be done prior to your contract being finalized.

  • Participant Code of Conduct
  • Volunteer Plans (if applicable)
  • Transportation Plans (if applicable)
  • Registration Protocol
  • General Waiver (Including Medical Care Form)
  • Emergency Contact Form
  • Activity Specific Waivers (if applicable)
    • If your program does activities such as a ropes course, swimming, rock climbing, field trips, etc., you’ll need an activity-specific waiver.  Some examples are in the Forms section below.
  • Emergency Communications Plan (e.g. severe weather, illness outbreak, missing camper, etc.).
  • Emergency Management Plan (e.g. severe weather, active harmer, fire, etc.)
  • General Protocols and Guidelines for Program and the Staff, this includes but is not limited to:
    • Daily Sign-in/Sign-out procedures, which shall take account of participants’ age and maturity.
    • Procedure to ensure the location of participating youth is known at all times.
    • The programs procedure on guidance, positive instruction, supporting positive behavior, discipline and consequences.
    • Policies regarding staff/volunteer interaction with participating youth that address issues such as prohibited contact, and that require that the staff/volunteer agreement with the university include an acknowledgment of the application of such policies.
    • Training Plan for counselors, faculty, coaches, or volunteers running the camp.
    • Management of medications and medical devices legally prescribed to campers.
    • Recruitment of future students in compliance with university admission policies and NCAA rules.
    • Ratios of staff/volunteers to children.

Each program is required to conduct at a minimum a fingerprint-based national criminal history check on all individuals acting in a role of responsibility over Participants. This includes but is not limited to Program staff, counselors, leaders, assistant leaders, peer leaders, employees, volunteers, or agents. If the background ground check reveals a conviction for any of the items listed in a - g, then the program shall not allow this person to participate in the event.

  1. Child abuse, as specified in Section 18-6-401, C.R.S.
  2. A crime of violence, as defined in Section 18-1.3-406, C.R.S.
  3. An offense involving unlawful sexual behavior, as defined in Section 16-22-102(9), C.R.S.
  4. A felony, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by the court on the record to include an act of domestic violence, as defined in Section 18-6-800.3, C.R.S.
  5. A felony involving physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense within the five years preceding the date of application for a license or certificate.
  6. A pattern of misdemeanor convictions within the ten (10) years immediately preceding submission of the application. “Pattern of misdemeanor” shall include consideration of Section 26-6-108(2), C.R.S., regarding suspension, revocation, and denial of a license, and shall be defined as:
    1. Three (3) or more convictions of third (3rd) degree assault as described in Section 18-3-204, C.R.S., and/or any misdemeanor, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by any court on the record to include an act of domestic violence as defined in Section 18-6-800.3, C.R.S.; or
    2. Five (5) misdemeanor convictions of any type, with at least two (2) convictions of third (3rd) degree assault as described in Section 18-3-204, C.R.S., and/or any misdemeanor, the underlying factual basis of which has been found by any court on the record to include an act of domestic violence as defined in Section 18-6-800.3, C.R.S. or,
    3. Seven (7) misdemeanor convictions of any type.
  7. Any offense in any other state, the elements of which are substantially similar to the elements listed in this Subsection a-f.

For clarity, if the background check does not reveal any such or similar convictions expressly it should not be construed that the individual has successfully completed a criminal background check. Event Sponsor is solely responsible, and shall indemnify and hold harmless the University, with respect to any and all liability or claims of any kind arising from Event Sponsor’s failure to abide by this provision.  If Event Sponsor has questions with respect to what constitutes a successful background check, Event Sponsor shall contact Owner.

All individuals acting in a role of responsibility over participants must have training on proper reporting of child abuse and youth protection. The training must include but is not limited to the following:

a.     Promoting safe interactions with youth.

  •   Behaviors, supervision ratios, and boundaries.

b.     Recognizing boundary violations, signs of grooming, and signs of abuse and neglect.

c.     Mandatory reporting responsibilities.

Departments or units that choose to host third party-led youth programs are responsible for registering the program using the CU Boulder Youth Program Registration Form

Additionally, hosting units or departments are required to obtain an agreement in writing from the third party they are hosting that the third party will meet or exceed the requirements and engage with the process highlighted above. This written agreement should be included with other contracts/formal agreements with the third party.