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The Safe Supervision of Minors at UC San Diego

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 2:24:05 PM PDT
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Learn how UC San Diego works to ensure the safe supervision of minors on campus.

Overview

The University of California, San Diego is a public institution that provides services to thousands of minors each year.

To ensure a safe environment for the entire UC San Diego population, protect vulnerable minors and comply with University of California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act Policies, all units that supervise activities involving minors should implement procedures tailored for their operations that protect youth.

UC San Diego’s Implementing Procedures of the CANRA Policy outline the following processes:

  • Identification of Mandated Reporters
  • Notification to Individuals who are Mandated Reporters
  • Required Training and Education of Mandated Reporters
  • Reporting Requirements for Mandated Reporters
Visit the CANRA Mandated Reporters page for detailed procedures for identification, notification and training requirements. 

 

To assist UC San Diego’s Administrators and Supervisors in developing safe procedures we provide Best Practices for the Safe Supervision of Minors that have proven to be successful for other prominent institutions.

Responsibilities

Program Administrators

The Program or Department conducting activities involving minors has primary responsibility for monitoring compliance with applicable UC Policies and any additional policies adopted by their department. Additionally, all programs/events with or for youth/minors should be registered as part of the Youth Program Registry.

In conjunction with their departmental human resources coordinators, administrators will make sure employees and volunteers in activities involving minors have completed all required registration and screening actions, signed their CANRA Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement Forms, and completed their assigned Praesidium Inc. Training Courses (on-line modules are available).

Administrators should regularly observe activities involving minors to ensure the activities are managed in accordance with applicable policies.

Administrators should take steps to observe activities at a variety of times and locations to confirm the following:

  • The area where the activity is occurring is safe for the participating minors
  • Activities are organized and well-supervised
  • Adults and minors are interacting appropriately
  • Staff and volunteers are interacting appropriately
  • Staff and volunteers are interacting appropriately with parents/guardians

Administrators are expected to investigate complaints or concerns from parents or participants and provide written reports of identified problems.

Office of EH&S Risk Management

  • Responsible for administering the CANRA Policy
  • Provides login privileges for Praesidium Inc.’s on-line training classes
  • Provides referrals to Praesidium Inc. for program consultations

Human Resources

  • Provides advice on CANRA Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement Forms
  • Provides access and advice on criminal background checks for employees
  • Maintains a website for posting information on Safe Supervision of Minors

UCSD Police Department

  • Investigates complaints of suspected abuse and neglect of minors
  • Investigates internal CANRA reports

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

1. California Child Abuse and Reporting Act (CANRA)

As required by CANRA, a University Employee, Official, or Volunteer who because of their licensure or profession, or their University position or activities is considered a mandated reporter and must report suspected abuse or neglect of a minor. Abuse and neglect include, but are not limited to:

  • Physical injury or death inflicted by other than accidental means
  • Sexual abuse, assault or exploitation
  • Willful endangerment
  • Unlawful corporal punishment
  • Neglect

Each UC San Diego Department identifies the Mandated Reporters on their staff.

Mandated Reporters must immediately, or as soon as practicable:

  1. Call the Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 344-6000 / (858) 560-2191 and one of the following local law enforcement agencies: 
    1. UC San Diego Police Department: 911 or (858) 534-HELP; or
    2. San Diego Police Department: 911 or (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154; or
    3. San Diego County Sheriff’s Department: 911 or (858) 565-5200

AND

  1. Submit Form 8572 within 36 hours to the County of San Diego, Child Welfare Services, HHSA Child Abuse Hotline using one of the following three methods:
    1. Fax to: (858) 467-0412
    2. Mail to: Child Welfare Services/Hotline, 8911 Balboa Ave, San Diego CA, 92123; or
    3. Online: via a web-based system link through the MRA (Mandated Reporter Application), which they will receive after making their phone report to the Child Abuse Hotline. See https://www.sdcda.org/helping/mandated-reporting for more information.

AND

  1. Report observed or suspected Child Abuse or Neglect internally to the University of California Whistleblower Hotline or to their supervisor. If reported to a supervisor, the supervisor must make the report to the University of California Whistleblower Hotline.
    1. By telephone: (800) 403‐4744; or
    2. Online: universityofcalifornia.edu/hotline

The report may be anonymous; however, providing contact information for the Mandated Reporter may expedite the University’s ability to follow-up on the report.

2. California Penal Code §152.3

In addition to the CANRA regulations described above the campus will fully comply with California Penal Code §152.3, which has long required any person who reasonably believes that he or she has observed the murder, rape, abuse, or sexual assault of a child under 14 years old to notify a law enforcement official. Failure to notify is punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both.

Mandated reporters have immunity from criminal or civil liability for reporting as required by law.

Resources and references UC San Diego

University of California

State of California

Contact EHSRisk@ucsd.edu or (858) 534-2454 for more information.