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Office of the Youth Protection Coordinator

Participant Conduct Codes

See also UW’s Conduct Code: University Standards for Interacting with Youth, which must be used by UW youth activity leaders with their employees and volunteers

Youth Participant Conduct Codes serve multiple purposes:

  • For participants: They provide a clear roadmap for success, outlining expected behaviors, prohibited actions, and consequences for rule violations.
  • For parents/guardians: They offer guidance on how to support their child’s participation and reinforce key program policies.
  • For personnel: They act as a reference tool for addressing behavior issues consistently and objectively, using predefined expectations and consequences.

Note: These tools are only effective when actively used. It’s important to follow through when a participant or parent/guardian does not meet the agreed-upon expectations.

What to Include in a Participant Conduct Code

A well-written conduct code should:

  1. State the program’s purpose in brief.
  2. Include sections for participants, parents/guardians, and personnel, with required signatures from all three groups.
  3. Define expected behaviors and clearly list prohibited actions, including those that may result in dismissal.
  4. Highlight key policies for parents/guardians, along with guidance on how to support their child’s success.
  5. Outline a process for addressing violations, including steps and consequences.

How to Incorporate the Conduct Code into Your Program

  1. Customize the code to reflect your program’s tone, values, and expectations.
  2. Integrate it into intake or orientation, and collect signed copies before the program begins.
  3. Embed signatures or initials throughout the document to encourage thorough reading.
  4. Train personnel on the code and their role in enforcing it.
  5. Provide corrective action templates and discuss how to use them.
  6. Clarify personnel responsibilities for handling behavior issues (e.g., who can give warnings vs. who can dismiss a participant).
  7. Use scenarios to practice applying stepwise corrective actions.
  8. Establish internal documentation protocols for incidents and personnel responses.
  9. Reinforce conduct expectations throughout the program:
    • With younger youth, use themes like listen, communicate, participate, respect through songs, games, or mini-lessons.
    • With older youth, co-create group agreements to complement the conduct code and promote shared ownership.

Sample Participant Conduct Codes

Elementary-aged youth

Teen-aged youth