Youth Protection in Scouting
Youth Protection in Scouting
The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for its youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA has developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies, and provides parents and leaders the following online and print resources for the Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing programs. Mandatory Report of Child Abuse All persons involved in Scouting shall report to local authorities any good faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation including the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. No person may abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person. Notify your Scout executive of this report, or of any violation of BSAs Youth Protection policies, so that he or she may take appropriate action for the safety of our Scouts, make appropriate notifications, and follow-up with investigating agencies. How does the BSA help prevent child abuse in Scouting? The Boy Scouts of America has adopted a number of policies aimed at eliminating opportunities for abuse within the Scouting program. These policies focus on leadership selection and on placing even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting. New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before sumbitting an application for registration. The BSAs Youth Protection training has been in existence long enough for it to be understood and accepted as a mandated training for ALL registered and new BSA adult volunteers. Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteers Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered. Leadership Selection The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of its adult leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. We work closely with chartered organizations to help recruit the best possible leaders for their units. The adult application requests background information that should be checked by the unit committee or the chartered organization before accepting an applicant for unit leadership. While no current screening techniques exist that can identify every potential child abuser, we can help reduce the risk of accepting a child abuser by learning all we can about an applicant for a leadership positionincluding his or her experience working with children and why he or she wants to be a Scout leader. Youth safety is of paramount importance to the Boy Scouts of America. It is important to implement this training at all levels of the organization. BSA continually seeks to increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting to provide the most secure environment possible for its youth members. Scouting's Barrier to Abuse The BSA has adopted the following policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies are primarily for the protection of its youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. Two-deep leadership on all outings required. Two registered adult leaders, or one registered leader and a parent of a participating Scout or other adult, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips and outings. There are a few instances, such as patrol activities, when the presence of adult leaders is not required and adult leadership may be limited to training and guidance of the patrol leadership. With the proper training, guidance, and approval by the troop leaders, the patrol can conduct day hikes and service projects. Appropriate adult leadership must be present for all overnight Scouting activities; coed overnight activitieseven those including parent and childrequire male and female adult leaders, both of whom must be 21 years of age or older, and one of whom must be a registered member of the BSA. The chartered organization is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided for all activities. One-on-one contact between adults and Scouts prohibited. One-on-one contact between adults and youth members is not permitted. In situations that require personal conferences, such as a Scoutmasters conference, the meeting is to be conducted in view of other adults and youths. Separate accommodations for adults and Scouts required. When camping, no youth is permitted to sleep in the tent of an adult other than his or her own parent or guardian. Councils are strongly encouraged to have separate shower and latrine
facilities for females. When separate facilities are not available, separate times for male and female use should be scheduled and posted for showers. Likewise, youth and adults must shower at different times. Privacy of youth respected. Adult leaders must respect the privacy of youth members in situations such as changing clothes and taking showers at camp, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety require. Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations. Innappropriate use of cameras, imaging, or digital devices prohibited. While most campers and leaders use cameras and other imaging devices responsibly, it has become very easy to invade the privacy of individuals. It is inappropriate to use any device capable of recording or transmitting visual images in shower houses, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected by participants. No secret organizations. The Boy Scouts of America does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders. No hazing. Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity. No bullying. Verbal, physical, and cyber bullying are prohibited in Scouting. Youth leadership monitored by adult leaders. Adult leaders must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by youth leaders and ensure that BSA policies are followed. Discipline must be constructive. Discipline used in Scouting should be constructive and reflect Scoutings values. Corporal punishment is never permitted. Appropriate attire for all activities. Proper clothing for activities is required. For example, skinny-dipping or revealing bathing suits are not appropriate in Scouting. Members are responsible for acting in accordance with the Scout Oath and Scout Law. All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Physical violence, theft, verbal insults, drugs, and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scouts membership. Units are responsible for enforcing Youth Protection policies. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and the local council must approve the registration of the units adult leader. Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance. Any violations of the BSAs Youth Protection policies must immediately be reported to the Scout executive.
are concerned about what happened to him and that you would like to get him some help. Allegations by a Scout concerning abuse in the program must be reported immediately to the Scout executive and the authorities. Since these reports are required, the child should be told that you have to tell the proper authorities but that you will not tell anyone else. Because the allegations have been referred to the authorities for investigation, you should not discuss the details of the allegations with others or make any accusations. What Youth Protection educational materials does the BSA have for youth members? How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parents Guide is a tear-out booklet bound with BSA youth handbooks. It is designed for parents or guardians and young people to use together for Youth Protection training. The Power Pack Pals comic books, available in English and in Spanish, are for Cub Scoutage boys. They include Power Pack Pals (No. 33980)/Los Superamigos del Pack (No. 46-33979), Power Pack Pals: Be Safe on the Internet (No. 33981)/Power Pack Pals: Seguridad en la Internet (No. 46-34464), and Power Pack Pals: Four Rules for Personal Safety (No. 46-34750)/Power Pack Pals: 4 Reglas Para Seguridad Personal (No. 46-34465). (No. 33981)/(No. 46-34464), and (No. 46-34750)/(No. 46-34465). These and other resources can be found at www.scouting.org/training/youth protection. The BSA has bilingual, age-appropriate videos for all youth age groups to address the problems of sexual abuse. It Happened to Me/A M Me Pas (No. AV-09DVD11) (No. AV-09DVD11) should be used annually by Cub Scout packs or dens, but only for Cub Scouts accompanied by a parent or other adult family member. The video for Boy Scouts, A Time to Tell/ Hora de Contarlo (No. AV-09DVD04), introduces the three Rs of Youth Protection, and should be viewed by troops annually. Personal Safety Awareness/ Concientizacin Sobre la Seguridad Personal (No. AV-09DVD33) is the video for Venturing-age young people. How can Scout leaders who are not social workers teach children about youth protection? The BSA recognizes that many of our leaders feel unprepared to talk to children about preventing sexual abuse. For this reason, the BSA has meeting guides online for all of the videos produced to be viewed by youths. The guides address everything from scheduling the meeting, contacting the police or social services for assistance, and notifying parents (a sample letter is provided), to questions and answers for discussion after the video has been viewed. What are the three Rs of Youth Protection? The three Rs of Youth Protection convey a simple message to youth members. Recognize situations that place you at risk of being situations that place you at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester. Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance will stop most attempts at molestation. Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent or attempted or actual molestation to a parent or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse and helps to protect other children. Let the child know he or she will not be blamed for what occurred.
Unit Responsibilities Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance. The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit leaders when disciplining youth members. The unit committee should review repetitive or serious incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the child to determine a course of corrective action including possible revocation of the youths membership in the unit. If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scouts membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scouts membership, it should promptly notify the council of the action. The unit should inform the Scout executive of any violations of the BSAs Youth Protection policies. Each Cub Scout den and Webelos Scout den and each chartered Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team, and Venturing crew shall have one leader, 21 years of age or older, who shall be registered and serve as the unit or den leader. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and the local council must approve the registration of the unit or den leader on the appropriate form.
Primary reference: Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America
Digital Privacy
A key ingredient for a safe and healthy Scouting experience is the respect for privacy. Advances in technology are enabling new forms of social interaction that extend beyond the appropriate use of cameras or recording devices (see Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting). Sending sexually explicit photographs or videos electronically and sexting by cell phones is a form of texting being practiced primarily by young adults and children. Sexting is neither safe, nor private, nor an approved form of communication, and can lead to severe legal consequences for the sender and the receiver. Although most campers and leaders use digital devices responsibly, educating them about the appropriate use of cell phones and cameras is a good safety and privacy measure.
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the adults is required to be Youth Protectiontrained. Adults must establish separation barriers or privacy zones such as a temporary blanket or a sheet wall in order to keep their sleeping area and dressing area separated from the youth area. When staying in tents, no youth will stay in the tent of an adult other than his or her parent or guardian. If separate shower and latrine facilities are not available, separate times for male and female use should be scheduled and posted for showers. Likewise, youth and adults must shower at different times. The buddy system should be used for latrines by having one person wait outside the entrance, or provide Occupied and Unoccupied signs and/or inside door latches. Adult leaders need to respect the privacy of youth members in situations where youth members are changing clothes or taking showers, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety require. Adults also need to protect their own privacy in similar situations. Two-deep adult leadership is required for flying activities. For basic orientation flights, the adult licensed pilot in control of the aircraft is sufficient for the flight, while two-deep leadership is maintained on the ground.
Internet Safety
It is recommended that the following personal protection rules be shared with all youth members. When you are online, you are in a public place, among thousands of people who are online at the same time. Follow these personal protection rules and you will have fun: Keep online conversations with strangers to public places, not in email. Do not give anyone online your real last name, phone numbers at home or school, your parents workplaces, or the name or location of your school or home address unless you have your parents permission first. Never give your password to anyone but a parent or other adult in your family. If someone sends or shows you email with sayings that make you feel uncomfortable, trust your instincts. You are probably right to be wary. Do not respond. Tell a parent what happened. If somebody tells you to keep whats going on between the two of you secret, tell a parent. Be careful to whom you talk. Anyone who starts talking about subjects that make you feel uncomfortable is probably an adult posing as a kid. Pay attention if someone tells you things that dont fit together. One time an online friend will say he or she is 12, and another time will say he or she is 14. That is a warning that this person is lying and may be an adult posing as a kid. Unless you talk to a parent about it first, never talk to anybody by phone if you know that person only online. If someone asks you to calleven if its collect or a toll-free, 800 numberthats a warning. That person can get your phone number this way, either from a phone bill or from caller ID. Never agree to meet someone you have met only online at any place off-line, in the real world. Watch out if someone online starts talking about hacking, or breaking into other peoples or companies computer systems; phreaking (the ph sounds like an f), the illegal use of long-distance services or cellular phones; or viruses (online programs that destroy or damage data when other people download these onto their computers). Promise your parent or an adult family member and yourself that you will honor any rules about how much time you are allowed to spend online and what you do and where you go while you are online.
Youth Protection Guidelines, No. 100-023 Topics covered include the BSAs Youth Protection policies, kinds of abuse, signs of abuse, how to respond to disclosure of abuse, and proper reporting procedures. How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parents Guide A booklet, included in the printed youth handbooks, providing tips to help parents talk with their children about child abuse.
The following materials may be obtained through your local council service center or atwww.scouting.org/training/youthprotection. The Power Pack Pals comic books, available in English and in Spanish, are for Cub Scoutage boys. Power Pack Pals, No. 33980 Los Superamigos del Pack, No. 46-33979 Power Pack Pals: Be Safe on the Internet, No. 33981 Power Pack Pals: Seguridad en la Internet, No. 46-34464 Power Pack Pals: Four Rules for Personal Safety, No. 46-34750 Power Pack Pals: 4 Reglas Para Seguridad Personal, No. 46-34465 Resources also include the following: It Happened to Me/A Mi Me Pas, No. AV-09DVD11. No. AV-09DVD11. This DVD should be used annually by Cub Scout packs or dens when Cub Scouts are accompanied by a parent or other adult family member. A Time to Tell/Hora de Contarlo, No. AV-09DVD04. Introduces the three Rs of Youth Protection and should be viewed by troops annually. Venturing Leader Youth Protection Training, No. AV-03DVD14 Topics covered include the BSAs Youth Protection policies, kinds of abuse, signs of abuse, how to respond to disclosure of abuse, and proper reporting procedures. Personal Safety Awareness/Concientizacin Sobre la Seguridad Personal, No. AV-09DVD33 Includes a sample letter to parents and guardians as well as English and Spanish meeting guides for facilitators use when showing the age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention video. Online Resources The Youth Protection training course is available at MyScouting.org . Topics covered include the BSAs Youth Protection policies, kinds of abuse, signs of abuse, how to respond to disclosure of abuse, and proper reporting procedures. How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parents Guide. A booklet, included in the printed Cub Scout and Boy Scout handbooks, provides tips to help parents talk with their sons about child abuse. These are available in English and Spanish. Facilitators Guide for Youth Protection Guidelines (DVD) Includes a sample letter to parents and guardians as well as how to use the Youth Protection Guidelines DVD. Available in English and Spanish. It Happened to Me meeting guide (Cub Scouts) Includes a sample letter to parents and guardians as well as the meeting guide for facilitators use when showing the ageappropriate sexual abuse prevention video. Available in English and Spanish. A Time to Tell meeting guide (Boy Scouts) Includes a sample letter to parents and guardians as well as the meeting guide for facilitators use when showing the ageappropriate sexual abuse prevention video. Available in English and Spanish. Personal Safety Awareness for Venturing meeting guide For facilitators use when showing the age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention video. Available in English and Spanish. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: www.missingkids.com U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website of state laws and statutes:www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state