Youth Protection Expectations
Program Expectations
Third-party organizations that operate youth programs on Cornell-owned or controlled property must comply with applicable requirements of University Policy 8.8 and other university standards designed to promote the safety and well-being of youth participants.
The resources below outline Cornell's requirements and expectations for youth program operations, including supervision, screening, training, participant safety, reporting obligations, and other requirements that may apply to your program.
| Expectations | Description |
|---|---|
| Supervision of Minors | Review Cornell's expectations for participant supervision and youth-to-staff ratios |
| Background Checks | Review Cornell's expectations for screening and background checks. |
| Training | Review Cornell's expectations for required youth protection training. |
| Standards of Behavior for Working with Minors | Review Cornell's expectations for appropriate conduct, communication, boundaries, and interactions with youth participants. |
| Behavioral Standards for Youth Participants | Review Cornell's expectations for youth participant conduct and program behavior standards. |
| Parental Consent Forms | Review Cornell's requirements for obtaining and collecting parental consent forms. |
| Safety Planning | Review Cornell's expectations for emergency preparedness and response procedures in youth programs. |
| Incident Reporting | Review Cornell's expectations for responding to, documenting, and reporting incidents involving youth participants. |
| Abuse Reporting | Review Cornell's expectations for recognizing, responding to, and reporting suspected abuse, neglect, misconduct, or other safety concerns involving minors. |
| Children's Camps in New York State | Review applicable New York State requirements and resources for children's camps. |
Compliance Expectations for Third-Party Programs
While Cornell may provide facilities, sponsorship, or other support, third-party organizations remain responsible for the management and operation of their youth programs. Organizations must comply with all applicable contractual, university, and regulatory requirements, including those related to youth protection, participant supervision, personnel screening, staff training, health and safety, emergency response, and incident reporting.
Third-party organizations retain primary responsibility for their personnel, participants, program operations, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.