Introduction We seek to create welcoming communities of trust and must take steps to ensure that appropriate policies, procedures and safeguards are in place for relationships of trust to grow. Youth, who are particularly vulnerable to abuse due to the developmental realities of adolescence, need extra protection from harm. The UUA Youth Safety Guidelines guard against abuse and provide our youth with as safe an environment as possible for their spiritual exploration and growth.
Policy Statements The UUA is committed to all of its youth programs and activities being welcoming and inclusive of youth of any race, color, national origin, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion, or other protected classes. It is also committed to provide UU youth with a safe environment in which to explore their faith and values, learn about the worth and dignity of all people and the requirements for a just and equitable world. This commitment is realized through specific recommended policies any person or organization working with youth should strive to adopt.
- UUA Youth Safety Policy Read our 5 paragraph policy statement.
- Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying and Retaliation at Youth Events Inclusive, welcoming community cannot exist in a climate that allows the targeting for harmful treatment of any person. Learn how to recognize abuses and know our specific policies for governing and reporting these unacceptable behaviors:
  - Harassment
  - Bullying
  - Retaliation
  - Report and Investigation of Complaints of Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying or Retaliation
Youth Involvement Philosophy During their teen years youth are developmentally open to making connections with the physical and transcendental reality. The relationships and connections made at this time of their life will carry them into adulthood. It is the responsibility of adults who support youth to create an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, non-exclusive, based upon the truth that we are all better then our worst moments, and that even when we fall out of covenant with community we can be welcomed back in through restorative practice. Know the following guidelines to create that environment.
Hiring and Approving Staff and Volunteers The people who support youth event attendees as staff or volunteers have an incredible influence over maintaining an environment for safe spiritual and personal growth and development of youth. That is why the UUA has policies describing the skills, responsibilities, and reporting requirements for adult and youth staff or volunteers. Here is how to join the youth event support community:
- Adult Staff and Volunteer Leaders
  - Approval Process
- Volunteer Attendees and Adult Sponsors
  - Age
  - Approval for the Role
- Background Check Philosophy and Requirements
  - Background Checks - Technical Information
- Adult Alcohol and Substance Use
- Removal/Restriction of Adult Volunteers
  - Reinstatement of Suspended Adult Volunteer Leaders
- Youth Staff or Volunteer Leader Approval Process
- Removal/Restriction of Youth Volunteer Leaders
  - Reinstatement of Youth Volunteer Leaders
Training Requirements The UUA Youth Safety Guidelines includes training in recommended practices that is adapted to and covers the age and role of the person participating in youth events.
Youth Eligibility and Registration Process Unitarian Universalist (UU) programs are specifically directed toward UU youth, although other youth are also welcome under certain circumstances. Youth live through discrete developmental phases which need to be taken into account when creating safe environments for spiritual and personal growth. Guidance on these policies is here:
- Youth Eligibility and Age Requirements
  - Age Range for “Youth”
  - Middle School or Junior High Events Age Range
- Religious Professional Endorsed
  - Programs Open to Youth who are not Unitarian Universalist
- Pairing Youth With Sponsors
- Youth Orientation Pre-Event
- Permission Form Requirements
Rules and Expectations The essential structures and processes to creating safe space for youth at events fall into 6 categories. Knowing these structures and processes allows the freedom in which nurturing, life affirming, and empowering exploration can happen for youth as they grow into healthy adults.
Mandatory Reporting and Harm to Self or Others Mandatory reporting of harm or potential harm to youth is not optional—it must be done. The UUA Youth Safety Policy recognizes the potential worries youth, parents, and congregations may have and implements procedures to ensure the safety of youth as well an appropriate regard for the privacy of the involved parties.
Adult Supervision Requirements There are specific practices for situations Adult Supervisors encounter that must be followed to be in compliance with the Youth Safety Guidelines. Find them here:
- UUA Staff Oversight and Adult Leadership
- Adult: Youth Ratios
- Guests
- Partner Organization Staff
- Daytime Supervision
- Offsite Supervision
- Housing and Nighttime Supervision
  - Congregations
    - Nighttime Supervision and Sleeping in Congregations
    - When youth have the option to stay awake
    - When youth are expected to sleep
  - Cabins and Camp Facilities
    - Nighttime Supervision and Housing in Cabins
  - Dormitories
  - Hotels and Convention Centers
- Multigenerational Events with Youth-Focused Programming
  - Multigenerational Housing in Dormitories
Medical and Emergency Policies There are specific policies to prepare describing what to do in case of medical emergency, follow up steps, providing non-emergency medical care, and handling medication.
- Life-Threatening Medical Emergency Policy
- Non-Life Threatening Medical Emergency Policy
- Onsite Medical Staff
  - First-Aid Staff
  - Programs needing higher level medical staff
  - Hiring EMT’s and Paramedics
- Option for On Call Nurse/Doctor
- Sharps Policy
- Medication Policy
  - With First Aid or EMT Staff
  - With Onsite Nurse, Doctor or Paramedic
- Medical forms and documentation
Transportation Policy Transporting youth exposes them to particular risks, and protecting them from those risks requires considerations specific to the risks. Who can transport youth? In what vehicle? What if youth are traveling alone? Find the policies to answer to those questions here:
Specific Activities While many youth events are held indoors in a controlled environment, not all are. The Youth Safety Guidelines include recommended practices for less typical situations:
- Sexuality Education
- Outdoor and Higher Risk Activities
  - Swimming
  - High Risk Activities
  - Other Outdoor Activities
- Service Work
- Justice/Advocacy/Witness
Documentation Policies What are the documents youth need to participate safely, what documents does a program need, and how to manage them?
- Medical Documentation
  - Program Medical Forms
  - Incident Documentation
  - Medical Documentation Confidentiality
- Incident Report Forms
- Record Retention Policy
- Access to Documentation
Photo/Media Issues How to protect the privacy of youth who participate in programs:
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