Training:
All program staff, including volunteers, who will have direct contact with minors and all Program/Activity Approving Officials must undergo three required trainings on 1) their role as a mandatory reporter, 2) the University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and the Board of Regents Sexual Misconduct Policy, and 3) completion of a Staff Code of Conduct. Required training should at a minimum be completed every two years.
Additionally, Program Administrators are responsible for developing program-specific trainings at a level appropriate to the program/activity; program-specific training must cover participant codes of conduct; disability and other accommodations; safety and security protocols; first aid guidelines and medication management; and activities, risks, and responsibilities specific to each program/activity.
An ancillary policy for minors protection has been implemented. The Policy on Minors (not Acting as Students/Employees) in Research Laboratories, Clinics, and Animal Facilities aims to ensure the safety and security of minors by designating when they will be allowed to perform research in University laboratories, greenhouses, clinic areas, or animal facilities. All employees who work with minors in laboratory settings need to review and follow this policy.
Important: A Guide for Best Practices has been created. This guide is designed for minors program leaders and their staff to provide information on several key planning and operational areas including Medical and First Aid, Safety and Security, and Residential Programs. The Guide is available here: Best Practices Guide.
Training Opportunities:
The Director of Compliance is available to provide training sessions on the policy to university units. If you would like to schedule a training on the policy, contact us at programsforminors@uga.edu.
New: Training will be offered for minors camp directors and senior staff in February to better prepare teams to run safe and well managed programs for summer 2025. The training will include topics like staff hiring, training, and supervision; safety and security; first aid and medical; emergency procedures; discipline; and more. The two offered sessions will be: Thursday, February 6th, 10:00-11:30am, in person at the Georgia Center; or Wednesday, February 12th, 2:00-3:30pm via Zoom. To register, e-mail programsforminors@uga.edu and let us know your preferred session to attend.
Sessions will be offered in the spring of 2025 to provide an overview of the protection of minors Policy, "Protecting Minors on Campus: An Overview of the University Policy and Best Practices for Safe Programs". An online session will be offered on Wednesday, March 12th at 2:00pm; an in person session will be offered on Thursday, April 17th, at 10:00am at the Learning & Development Building. You can register for these courses with Learning & Development at the Professional Education Portal.
Online Resources to Complete Required Training:
Training may be accomplished through a variety of methods, including in person training or via the online trainings.
Online trainings for Mandatory Reporting and the University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and the Board of Regents Sexual Misconduct Policy for UGA programs and programs taking place on UGA properties are accessed through UGA’s eLearning Commons (eLC).
To access these online trainings, follow the directions below:
1. If you are an individual who will be working with a minors program or activity, you need to work through your Program/Activity Administrator to access the online training.
2. If you are a UGA Program/Activity Administrator, you need to contact your unit’s eLC Administrator to access the online training. Your administrator will take the actions listed below to access the online training and configure it for your unit. If you do not know who your eLC Administrator is or if you are unsure if your unit has an eLC Administrator, contact the Director of Compliance at programsforminors@uga.edu for assistance.
3. If you are a third party Program/Activity Administrator, you will need to contact the Director of Compliance at programsforminors@uga.edu for assistance.
4. If you are an eLC Administrator, follow the directions below to set up the online training for your unit. If you need assistance, contact the Director of Compliance at programsforminors@uga.edu for assistance.
If you have any issues with the training modules, contact your Program/Activity Administrator or eLC Administrator. If Administrators are not able to resolve the issue, contact the Director of Compliance at programsforminors@uga.edu for assistance.
Information for eLC Administrators on Accessing Minors Training:
Instructions for creating the Minors Training Course shell and enrolling participants are located in the template shell in eLC. To access, login to UGA eLearning Commons with your Collaborative Admin account. Using the “waffle” menu in the top right Navbar of the course, search for the course “Minors on Campus Training Template” and follow the instructions given in the “Instructions for eLC Administrators” widget. Please read all information thoroughly and follow the steps provided.
Additional Training Resources:
1. Two-Adult Rule Guidelines: The Two-Adult Rule ensures the safety of both minors and Program/Activity Staff. This document provides details for your Program/Activity on the Rule: Two-Adult Rule Guidelines
2. Youth Mental Health Guide: This guide provides information on assisitng a minor going through a mental health issue while at a minors program: Youth Mental Health Guide
3. Missing Minors Guide: This document provides instruction on steps to take if a minor is found to be missing from a program: Missing Minors Guide
4. The Monique Burr Foundation for Children provided a series of webinars on child protection issues during the summer of 2020. You can view the recordings of these indepth webinars on their website: Let's Talk About Prevention Webinar Series