General Information
Does my program involving minors fall under the Minor Protection Policy?
Review the University's Protection of Minors and Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect Policy and use this interactive flowchart to see if your program is considered a University-Sponsored Activity that falls under the Policy. If you are still unsure, reach out to minorprotection@uconn.edu to schedule a consultation meeting.
Does the Policy apply to virtual activities as well as in-person activities?
Yes, the Minor Protection Policy applies regardless of the modality.
What is an Authorized Adult?
An “Authorized Adult” is a University employee, student, or volunteer (paid or unpaid) who has care, custody, or control over minor participants. In order to be considered an “Authorized Adult,” the individual must have (1) successfully passed a Background Screening within the last four years, (2) completed the University’s minor protection training within the last year, and (3) has been registered with the University’s Minor Protection Program.
My program doesn’t fall under the Minor Protection Policy, but I still want to follow best practices for working with minors. Are there resources available?
Yes, please review the Minor Protection Best Practices for a quick guide on how to interact with minors, including maintaining boundaries, professional communication, and reporting obligations.
Registration
When do I need to register my activity?
University-Sponsored Activities involving minors are required to register with the University’s Minor Protection Program at least thirty (30) days prior to the start of the program or activity.
How do I register an activity?
The online MPP Registration Form is linked here.
What steps do I need to take to act as an adult who will supervise minors in a University-Sponsored Activity?
Any adult who will supervise minors must complete the requirements to become an “Authorized Adult.” See the FAQ above for the requirements to become an "Authorized Adult.”
Over the course of a semester, our department facilitates a number of activities that are all part of one initiative. Do we need to register as one activity or register each as an individual activity?
Consider who will be involved in the activities. If all parties (Authorized Adults and Program Participants) involved in all of the activities will remain the same, it may make sense to register as one activity. The Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator can help you decide the best way to register.
Our department offers the same program every semester. Can we fill out the registration form once and be done?
No. The registration form requires a start date and an end date for the program.
Some exceptions exist as determined in collaboration with the Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator, e.g., the same program being offered twice in back-to-back summer terms.
Background Checks
How do I complete the Background Screening process?
Background Screenings for UConn Storrs and Regional Campuses are initiated by the Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator through Human Resources after your program or activity is registered with the Minor Protection Program. You will receive an email from support@sscbsi.com with steps to complete your background check.
Background Screenings for UConn Health employees follow a separate process through backgrounds@uchc.edu. Please follow the link for more information: UConn Health Background Check Process
Training
How long is the online Minor Protection Training and when must the training be completed?
The online training takes approximately 40 minutes to complete and can be completed in more than one sitting. To become an Authorized Adult, you must complete this training prior to working with minors.
If I have taken the Minor Protection Training in the past, will I need to take it again?
Minor Protection Training must be completed annually by any adults who will have care, custody, and control of minors in order to be considered Authorized Adults.
How can University employees and students access the minor protection training? What about individuals who are not affiliated with the University?
The Minor Protection Training is available online in the Learning @ Work system. Please visit Learning@Work for a link to log in. Please contact the Compliance and Youth Protection Coordinator to learn how students, volunteers, and non-University employees can access the training.
Who should I contact if I encounter technical issues when taking the training?
Please complete and submit the Learning@Work Error Form or email learningatwork@uconn.edu.