Minor Protection

The University of Connecticut is proud to serve the broader community through a wide range of educational and enriching opportunities, and is committed to promoting a welcoming and secure experience for the children and youth who participate in activities at UConn.

We trust that this site will serve as a resource for members of the University community and those responsible for coordinating programs and activities involving minors. or additional assistance and guidance regarding the scope of UConn’s Protection of Minors and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect Policy, please contact the Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator.

Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator
Julie Guild
Office of University Compliance
(860) 486-4510

The University’s Protection of Minors and Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect Policy, requires that University Sponsored activities involving minors register with the University’s Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the program or activity.

The registration process is structured into the following simple steps:

DEPARTMENTAL APPROVAL

Get the activity approved by the appropriate Dean, Director, or Department Head (DDD) prior to starting the registration process.

PHASE I

Email minorprotection@uconn.edu to request access to the Minor Protection Registration.

PHASE II

Please complete the MPP Application form.

After you complete the form, you will be able to view the record you created in SharePoint. Also, upon submission of your form, you will receive the following emails:
- A notification stating that your form was received, including a link to your submitted application in SharePoint
- An email asking you to complete the Authorized Adult Participant List

PHASE III

Complete the MPP Application Record you created in SharePoint

PHASE IV

Complete the MPP Authorized Adult Participant List Form using the link within the notification email “Minor Protection Program Authorized Adult Participant List”
Double click on the record you just created, a form view will appear. Make a change to one of the fields, then close the form using the “X” in the top right corner of the form. Your change should save and be reflected in the list view. Alternatively, you can use “Edit in Grid View", then make a change to one of the fields. Click “Exit Grid View", your change should save and be reflected in the list view.
You will be able to monitor ALL of your MPP programs through the SharePoint site

PHASE V

Once all requested have been submitted, the form will be reviewed by the Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator and you will be notified on the status of your registration.

All Authorized Adults in University-sponsored activities must complete UConn’s annual Minor Protection Training in advance of working with minors.

This training is offered via UConn’s Learning@Work and provides an overview of UConn’s policy for the Protection of Minors and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect, the various types and signs of child abuse, and strategies for responding to and reporting incidents of child abuse or neglect.

Below is an overview of the steps involved in this process. Additional guidance and other training resources are listed in the menu on the right-hand side of this page.

1. REQUEST ACCESS

Contact the University’s Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator to request access to the online training module. NOTE: If the activity you will be participating in has successfully registered with the Minor Protection Coordinator, you will receive and email from noreply@sabacloud.com.

2. RECEIVE EMAIL

Click the link in the email and begin the training. PLEASE NOTE: You will need your NetID and password to log Learning@Work. If you do not know your NetID and/or password, go to the NetID website to retrieve the information. You may also contact UITS at 860-486-HELP.

3. VIEW THE MINOR PROTECTION TRAINING

Once logged into Learning@Work, select the module titled “Protecting Minors on Campus” and view the training presentation. It should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. PLEASE NOTE: If you are hosting an event on campus, please also review the module “Planning a Program”.

Training Instructions
Training FAQ's
(UConn Health) Online Learning Center
(UConn Campuses) Learning@Work

4. COMPLETE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

After viewing the training presentation, please take a moment to review and complete the accompanying Acknowledgement Statement in order to satisfy this training requirements. Once you have completed the training you will receive an email and certificate.

Background Check requirements for individuals working in University-Sponsored Activities involving minors.

Anyone interested in supervising, chaperoning, or otherwise overseeing minors who participate in University-sponsored activities involving minors must be an Authorized Adult. In order to meet this Policy requirement and act as an Authorized Adult, individuals (paid or unpaid) must (1) successfully pass a Background Screening within the last four years, (2) complete the University minor’s protection training within the last year, and (3) be registered with the University’s Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator.

University Sponsored activities involving minors must ensure that all Authorized Adults have successfully passed a Background Screening prior to working with minors.

Background Screenings must be initiated using the steps provided by the University Department of Human Resources or the UConn Health Police Department, including collecting written permission and other requested forms.

UConn Campuses

Background Screenings for University Authorized Adults must be initiated using the steps provided by the University Department of Human Resources.

To learn more, visit: Pre-Employment Criminal Background Checks

UConn Health

Background Screenings for UConn Health Authorized Adults must be initiated using the steps provided by the UConn Police Department at Farmington.

To learn more, visit: Background Checks at UConn Health

Pursuant to Connecticut state law, virtually all University employees are Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect and must comply with the reporting requirements in Connecticut’s mandated reporting laws. (Connecticut General Statutes Sections 17a-101a to 17a-101d).

How to Report?

Please Note: If you witness child abuse or if there is an imminent or ongoing threat to an individual or the community, immediately call 9-1-1.

Connecticut state law, requires that reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect be made orally, as soon as possible, but no later than 12 hours to the Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) 24-hour hotline and/or law enforcement.

Within 48 hours of making oral reports, a written report must be made to DCF using DCF’s Report of Suspected Abuse Form (DCF-136 Form).

To make a report, contact:

DCF’s 24-hour hotline at (800) 842-2288;
the University Police at (860) 486-4800; or
UConn Health Police at (860) 679-2121.

University employees are protected under state law for the good faith reporting of suspected Child Abuse or Child Neglect, even if a later investigation fails to substantiate the allegations.

In addition to statutory reporting requirements, University employees must also comply with any other University policies that impose additional reporting obligations, such as the Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence.

Related Resources

Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
Additional Guidance on Child Abuse Reporting Laws
DCF's Report of Suspected Abuse Form (DCF-136 Form)
Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence

Online Communication

All University of Connecticut-affiliated online programs or events (as defined in the Protection of Minors and Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect Policy) engaging minors under the age of 18 must register with the Minor Protection Program prior to commencing program operations.

Review Guidance on Whether Your Event Requires Registration

Annual training is required if you will engage with youth in online environments.

Best Practices and Resources

All online activities occur through WebEx.
- Recording on any platform is prohibited.
- Each session must be locked to ensure safety. Presenters will allow participants to join the session. For more information and step by step directions, please view “Securing your Webex Meeting.”
“Rule of 3” ratio must be complied with at all times.
- If you are responding to email, direct messaging, or any communications there must be at least three people on the call and at least one person needs to be an Authorized Adult.
1:1 Interactions in online platforms puts you and the minor at risk. These are not allowed.
ADA Accessibility Online.
Review information for an Online Code of Conduct.

Children – Some internet sites may ask you to share information about yourself. Before sending any information about yourself over the Internet to us or anyone else, be sure to ask your parents/guardians for permission.

Parents/Guardians – the University recommends that parents/guardians take an active role in their children’s use of the Internet. We encourage you to talk to your children about safe and responsible use of their personal information while using the Internet. Here are some tips:

Teach children never to give Personal Information (such as name, address, phone number, school name, etc.) unless supervised by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.
Know the sites your children are visiting and which sites are appropriate.
Look for website privacy policies and know how your child’s information is treated.