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Youth Protection

Risk Management

Purpose and Scope 

The purpose of the CSUMB Youth Protection Policy guidelines, and our Youth Protection Procedures Manual with support documents, is to establish standards and protocols for the safety and protection of youth, to guide staff and volunteer conduct, and facilitate the identification of high-risk interactions and program characteristics.  These processes and guidelines apply to all of CSUMB, our Auxiliaries, faculty, staff, students, trainees, and volunteers as “campus community” activities, as well as activities sponsored by outside groups and third parties which take place on our various campus properties. These processes and guidelines are to include campus-sponsored activities that may also take place off campus property grounds. 

Youth Protection/Minors on Campus

The California State University (CSU) campuses have a wide range of activities, including camps, clinics, workshops, recitals, tournaments, conferences, and competitions, all of which have persons under the age of 18 as the majority of participants or attendees. The CSU strives to offer safe and enjoyable educational environments for youth.  In support of that goal, the CSU is committed to protecting youth who participate in CSU-organized programs. The CSU has zero tolerance for child abuse and neglect.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect Policy: EO 1083

Youth Protection Procedures Manual

 

Additional Information

Adults should serve as positive role models for youth, and act in a caring, honest, respectful, and responsible manner that is consistent with the mission and Founding Vision statement of the University.


To help ensure that the behavior of all Authorized Adults providing services to youth reflects this ideal, all Authorized Adults shall complete University-approved child abuse prevention and mandatory reporting training courses annually, in consultation with the Youth Protection Officer in Risk Management. Failure to assign or to satisfactorily complete training will result in termination of the Authorized Adult’s ability to participate in the program/youth activity, and/or in termination of the program/youth activity, and/or termination of the contract to utilize University resources and/or facilities.

  • CSUMB authorized adults may click here to access and take the online youth protection training course: Keeping Your Higher Education Program Safe in the CSU Learnlearning management system.
  • Submit certificate evidence of training completion to your youth program administrator.

The CSU and CSUMB have partnered with Praesidium to conduct a review and risk assessment of CSU Monterey Bay’s youth programs and to collaborate with department stakeholders to assist with the protection of minors. In addition to Praesidium’s work with the CSU’s system over the last several years, they have worked with public and private higher education institutions and other youth-serving organizations across the nation for over 25 years to help prevent sexual abuse of youth and to prevent false allegations of abuse.  

In addition, Safety, Risk & Sustainability (SRS) has been tasked with the development, facilitation, and oversight of the Youth Protection Policy with guidance from staff who have received certification in the Praesidium Guardian program, and that staff serves as our campus Youth Protection Officer. 

Lastly, this partnership provides the CSU and CSUMB with valuable resources such as the required CSU Learn training, informative flyers, kids' consent (video), along with invaluable guidance, and on-going support, and Guardian training. 

What is the frequency of Cyberbullying?

There are two sources of federally collected data on youth bullying:

  1. The 2017 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, among students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school during the school year, 15% were bullied online or by text.
  2. The 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that an estimated 15.7% of high school students were electronically bullied in the 12 months prior to the survey.
  3. Let us ALL Prevent Cyberbullying 

Around 95% of youth ages 12 to 17 use the internet daily. Internet usage may expose youth to sexual offenders, who seek contact with minors via social networking sites and apps. With changing technologies, the dynamics of abuse have also changed.

15 APPs Law Enforcement Recommends Parents Know
eBook: Seven Things You Don’t Know About your Child’s Digital Life (free)

Need Assistance?

Please reach out with any questions you may have regarding the Youth Protection policy and process.

Safety, Risk, and Sustainability

Our office provides oversight of the campus Youth Protection Policy.

Jennifer Geertsen

Youth Protection Officer