Child Protection Policy

UAH is committed to maintaining a supportive, welcoming, and safe educational environment for children (individuals under the age of 18). In order to ensure the safety and well-being of children, UAH has adopted the Child Protection Policy and Guidebook. UAH faculty, staff, students, volunteers, and representatives as well as third-party vendors and their employees, representatives, or volunteers that contract for use of UAH facilities with responsibilities that involve interaction with children, must carefully review and abide by the Policy regarding abuse and neglect. Activities or programs include but are not limited to: overnight camps, instructional programs, community service, laboratory interns, day camps, academic camps, and sports camps whether operated on or off-campus.

The Child Protection Policy and Guidebook applies to:

• any event, operation, or endeavor operated, conducted, or organized by any unit/organization that is supported by or affiliated with the University or occurring on University property
• that includes individuals under the age of 18 or an individual under 21 years old who is incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability
• where parents/guardians are not expected to be responsible for care, custody, or control of their children

Registration Requirements

Every UAH affiliate volunteer and community volunteer who is planning such an event are required to submit the following information four weeks prior to the start date of the program:

1. Child Protection Registration Form
2. Staff Information Form

An application submitted less than four weeks prior to the start of the requested activities or programs may not be approved. Activities or programs for or including children are not permitted without prior UAH approval.

Child Protection Registration Checklist

Mandatory Training Instructions

Each person with care, custody or control of children must complete two online training modules:

• Protecting Children: Identifying and Reporting Sexual Misconduct
• Understanding the Clery Act

Training Instructions for UAH Faculty, Staff and Students

1. Login to access the Training Module. You'll be first taken to SSO login screen.
2. Scroll the "My Courses" bar to find the applicable modules (screenshots below)

Training Instructions for Third Parties

Each person with care, custody or control of children must complete two online training modules.

• Protecting Children: Identifying and Reporting Sexual Misconduct
• Understanding the Clery Act

1. Login or create an account. If this is your first training you will be asked to register and create an account.
2. Scroll the "My Courses" bar to find the applicable modules (screenshots below)

Waivers

It is strongly recommended that all programs use either the Liability Release for UAH Programs or Liability Release for 3rd Party Programs for each participant and staff member.

Additional requirements for Third Parties

Third-Party Activities and Programs must:

1. Establish a contractual relationship with the University for the use of facilities and/or resources,
2. Provide evidence of insurance coverage in accordance with the requirements outlined by UAH's Office of Risk Management (General Insurance Requirements)
3. Be sponsored by or affiliated with a UAH department, college or recognized student organization and have a designated UAH Program Contact;
4. Operate under the administrative purview of a UAH department

Compliance with this Policy and the Guidebook is required as a condition of operating camps at UAH. Failure to comply with the requirements of this Policy or the requirements further outlined in the Guidebook can result in the loss of program privileges and other sanctions at UAH.

Mandatory Reporting

If you know or suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect, you must act. It is not required that you have proof that abuse or neglect has occurred. First, immediately report the information to: The University of Alabama in Huntsville Police Department at 256.824.6596. In addition to making an oral report, you must also complete a Child Abuse or Neglect Report Form and deliver the same to the UAH Police and the Office of Risk Management and Compliance. Do not directly question or solicit information from the child or from the person suspected of improper behavior. That is not your role; the role of investigation lies with University, city, county, and state officials. Any person who makes a good faith report of child abuse or neglect shall not be subjected to retaliation. Further, any person or entity that makes a good faith report of child abuse or neglect is immune under Alabama law from any liability-civil or criminal-that might otherwise be incurred or imposed.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act

Compliance with the Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate a public annual security report (ASR) to employees and students every October 1st. This ASR must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding 3 calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety.