Youth Programs Updates and Resources

Requirements for Summer 2022

6/07/2021

Following the guidance from multiple areas including Public Health, CDC, and ACA, if a participant presents with 2 or more symptoms, send them home. This means you will need to create a plan that will allow for supervised isolation until pick up.

A list of names of adults approved to pick up the youth in a timely manner should be provided by the parent/guardian.
This can be done during registration or check-in

All other COVID-19 specific guidelines are not required at this time. However, the health and safety of our youth is still important. Basic health and safety measures, such as handwashing and disinfecting high touch surfaces, are still recommended.

Please notify our office of any changes you’ll make to protocols you’ve listed in your CPM Application or Events with Minors Application. These updates are IMPORTANT because we will use what we have on file as criteria for observations at all site visits.

Important reminder: We will be unable to notify you in advance if/when we will site visit your program this summer. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the site visit process. I am happy to walk you through why, when, and how we conduct our observations.

Roadmap to Success (NPI’s)

When setting up your in-person program, you will need to set up protocols and procedures addressing the following areas: Pre-Screening, Daily Health Screenings, Co-Horting or Grouping, Altered Activities, Disinfection and Cleaning, Ventilation of Indoor Spaces, Handwashing, and Personal Protective Equipment. These Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been shown to decrease spread of communicable disease.

Requirements Through Summer 2022

11/22/2021

We strongly encourage all programs to follow these steps to maintain the health and safety of your staff and participants:

Step 1: Consider the size of your program (number of participants), the population you serve and their health needs, as well as the spaces (indoor and outdoor) that you will use during the program.

Step 2: After you’ve determined the needs of your participants based on those considerations, here are some specifics to follow:

WE CANNOT REQUIRE THAT FACEMASKS BE WORN; however, you are encouraged to support participants’ choices to wear their masks. Please note: Youth programs should not tolerate bullying of any kind including bullying based on any individuals right to or not to wear a mask. If this occurs, follow your current behavioral/conduct accountability process.
In situations of higher potential for exposure or spread, you CAN make recommendations for when a mask could be appropriate:
- Larger group gatherings
- Activities where participants are not physically distanced
- Indoor activities
Following the guidance from multiple areas including Public Health, CDC, and ACA, if a participant presents with 2 or more symptoms, send them home. This means you will need to create a plan that will allow for supervised isolation until pick up.
- A list of names of adults approved to pick up the youth in a timely manner should be provided by the parent/guardian.
  - This can be done during registration or check-in
- Attached please find two resources.
  - At Home Screening can be sent to parents prior to or during the program
  - Screening K-12 can be used for staff training and during the program
The Roadmap continues to be the best source of protocols you can have in place for health and safety. These steps help slow the spread of many contagious illnesses.
- Pre-Screening of all participants prior to arrival
- Daily health screenings for symptoms (see attached)
- Co-Horting or grouping is still important (currently recommended grouping size is no more than 15)
- Disinfection and cleaning of high touch surfaces and/or shared equipment
- Personal Protective Equipment
  - If your program has specific PPE requirements (ex: labs, experiments, etc.) please continue to use them when required
  - Again, you can recommend when a facemask is appropriate for any other activities during the program

Step 3: Please notify our office of any changes you’ll make to protocols you’ve listed in your CPM Application or Events with Minors Application. These updates are IMPORTANT because we will use what we have on file as criteria for observations at all site visits.

Previous COVID-19 Updates and Guidance

University Youth Programs is committed to keeping a safe environment for all youth at Texas A&M University. For updates and resources regarding working with youth during the Coronavirus Pandemic, please check back to this page regularly for updates.

University Leadership Guidance

05/24/2021

Due to programs allowing to be opened to full capacity and face masks no longer being a requirement, we strongly encourage all programs to follow steps to maintain the health and safety of your staff and participants.

If you have submitted an application for a virtual program for summer 2021 and are considering changing the format of your program to in-person, please contact Cyn Olvera at [email protected] for information about updating your compliance application. If you have already submitted an application for an in-person program and would like to revise your program’s itinerary or activities, you can email those updates to Cyn Olvera at [email protected] and we will attach it to your application.

05/18/2021

A Message from Texas A&M University:

Faculty, Staff, Students and Campus Visitors,

Pursuant to Executive Order No. GA-36 issued today by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, face coverings are no longer required on Texas A&M University campuses. This is effective immediately and therefore applies to remaining commencement ceremonies, as well as indoor and outdoor facilities and venues.

For employees and students who have not been vaccinated, face coverings are highly recommended to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We encourage vaccination, with information for doing so available here.

Please be aware that signage on campus will be replaced with new guidance soon.

For continued updates regarding COVID-19 information including testing and vaccinations, please visit https://www.tamu.edu/coronavirus/, which soon will be updated with new information including summer and fall protocols.

5/1/2020:

UPDATE TO CAMPS AND PROGRAMS FOR MINORS GUIDANCE ISSUED APRIL 03,2020

The following measures regarding Texas A&M University camps and programs for minors are effective immediately, May 1, 2020:

Any face to face/in person programs are cancelled through July 31st, 2020
Individual colleges/departments are encouraged to explore online alternatives. If programs move to an online platform, please contact University Youth Programs for adjusted risk and compliance information including adjusted requirements to the yearly compliance checklist.

If the COVID 19 situation improves dramatically nationwide, evaluation of any remaining August camps that have not cancelled will be determined by June 15th. We continue to monitor the national situation and make informed decisions with the utmost consideration for the impact on individuals and the community. Thank you for your attention and continued flexibility as we navigate this unprecedented season together.

Note: Events specific to adult educational or training opportunities will follow the current COVID-19 protocols for TAMU which can be found at www.tamu.edu.

Kevin P. McGinnis
Chief Risk, Ethics, and Compliance Officer
Texas A&M University

04/06/2021

Starting June 1, 2021, youth programs can open at full capacity. The only university requirement is that facemasks be worn indoors and physical distancing is still highly recommended. Previous information provided in the Youth Programs Roadmap is still an effective tool in fighting the spread of COVID-19. Strategic Covid-19 Standards in consideration of the programs’ population, space, and need are highly recommended by University Youth Programs.

4/03/2020:

The following measures regarding Texas A&M University camps and programs for minors are effective immediately:

Any face to face/in person programs are cancelled through June 30^th
Institutional level decisions regarding the remainder of the summer will be made May 1st
Individual colleges/departments are encouraged to make decisions regarding the cancellation of any programs scheduled after June 30^th based on their unique needs, personnel requirements and financial commitments
Individual colleges/departments are also encouraged to explore online alternatives. If programs move to an online platform, please contact University Youth Programs for adjusted risk and compliance information including adjusted requirements to the yearly compliance checklist.

Making the decision to limit opportunities for potential future Aggies to experience the many wonderful things Texas A&M has to offer was very difficult, and we are diligently making informed decisions with sincere consideration for their impact on individuals and the broader community. Thank you for your attention and continued flexibility as we navigate this unprecedented season together.

Note: Events not subject to camps and programs for minors regulations will follow the current COVID-19 protocols for TAMU which can be found at www.tamu.edu

Kevin P. McGinnis
Chief Risk, Ethics, and Compliance Officer
Texas A&M University

11/24/2020:

Howdy!

In order to prevent contribution to positive COVID cases prior to the completion of Fall 2020 and the start of Spring 2021, in person youth programs are subject to the following schedule:

Colleges and Department have discretion to cancel all youth programs through February.
If your department or college allows, the following dates can be utilized for day programs:
- Red light days (no programs allowed)
  - From November 24^th until December 19^th
  - January 25^th through February 21^st
  - after January 24^th, youth programs are suspended, and further information will be sent out regarding the potential for reopening after February 21^st
- Green light days (day programs allowed)
  - December 20^th to January 24^th
  - If you are planning a program during the Green Light days, contact University Youth Programs immediately to complete the appropriate forms and risk management requirements – [email protected]
Virtual programs are all green lighted, and we ask that you remember to contact our office immediately for the appropriate forms and risk management requirements for virtual youth programs.

We encourage program sponsors who are planning for Summer 2021 to read the additional COVID-19 requirements for in person programing. Please visit our website for the Roadmap here https://cpm.tamu.edu/covid-19-resources/ . We highly recommend that while you are planning for Summer 2021, please be prepared with a backup plan which should include how to handle registration reimbursements, notification to UYP of any changes, and the potential for moving your program online.

If we can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected]. Thank you!

Cynthia A. Olvera | University Youth Programs
Texas A&M University
Office of Risk, Ethics, & Compliance

Resources

Please note, Texas A&M University has cancelled all events, including Campus Programs for Minors, through February 21st. To continue to receive COVID updates regarding Campus Programs for Minors, sign up for the UYP Listserv.

For more information and guidance, please see:

Forms and Handouts:

Program Logistics