Thank you for giving your youth the opportunity to participate in an Ohio State-sponsored activity or program. Providing youth with high-quality educational programming is core to the university’s land-grant mission.
Ohio State is committed to providing quality programming for youth. In fact, hundreds of thousands of minors enjoy Ohio State-sponsored activities and programs on an annual basis. The university expects parents or guardians to provide supervision over sponsored programs unless they are involved in an OSU sponsored event. Parents or guardians should not leave minors unsupervised on university property.
In order to promote the safety and welfare of youth entrusted to the university’s care, the university implemented the Youth Activities & Programs policy. This policy has multiple components to it, including a background check, training and a signed standards of behavior agreement.
Another key component of the policy is a reporting obligation, which requires those working with minors to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect. Required training for all Ohio State community members on how to recognize signs of abuse and how to report is an important part of the policy.
If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your child’s participation in an Ohio State activity or program, please directly contact the activity or program administrator. If you have questions regarding the policy, or any concerns related to child abuse or neglect, please contact the Director of Youth Protection at youthpolicy@osu.edu or 614.292.1404
Resources
Below are some resources that may assist you in helping to protect your children and strengthen families. These resources are provided for informational purposes and inclusion does not constitute endorsement by the university.
- Child Welfare Parenting resources: Provides information to connect child welfare and related professional comprehensive resources to help protect children and strengthen families.
- Talking to children and teens about abuse: Aims to prevent the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed.
- Child Abuse/Family Violence: Resources for Kids & Teens on Prevention, Disclosure & Healing: Provides an extensive selection of books and resources available for purchase that focus on how to prevent, discuss, and heal from abuse.