Announcing Updates to Operational Requirements for University Youth Programs

December 14, 2022 - David Chupak

Michigan State University has updated the Operational Requirements for Conducting University Youth Programs. These updates bring our policy in line with the University’s settlement agreement and document previously developed procedures and practices that advance a culture of safety for University youth program participants.

The updates to this policy will be live and effective on January 1, 2023.

It is important to note that this update includes an expansion of criminal background check requirements for all adult employees, volunteers, and contractors who work with youth programs, regardless of whether they are supervised when interacting with minors in their care. This change brings our policy in line both with expectations from our community for promoting a safe learning environment and with terms of the University’s settlement agreement.

These operational requirements apply to all University youth programs, except those that are covered by other University youth program policies. MSU Extension (including 4H) has documented policies and practices that align with this policy through the MSU Extension Volunteer Selection Process and the 4-H Program Planning and Management Reference Guide. For questions on MSU Extension youth programming policies, please contact the Children and Youth Institute’s Policy and Risk Management Extension Educator.

In the coming months, the Youth Programs, Registration, Safety Assurance, and Education Program will offer informational sessions for MSU youth program leaders to address their questions about these updates.

To assist with implementing these changes, the Director of the Youth Programs: Registration, Safety Assurance, and Education Program will release a template for programs that have yet to create a chaperone guide and templates for orientation materials for youth program participants.

More information about the updates to this policy is outlined in the policy revision user guide. Please contact chupakda@msu.edu with any questions.

David Chupak

Director, Youth Programs: Registration, Safety Assurance, and Education Program