Youth Protection
Three R's of Youth Protection
BSA Strategy to Guide the YP Program
Criminal Background Checks Being Implemented
Child Abuse Reporting Requirements
Youth Protection & the BSA
ONLINE Training Now Available
Tour Permit Requirements
Guide to Safe Scouting
Youth Protection Resources
Venturing Youth Protection Resources
Youth Protection & The Commissioner
If you have any questions concerning Youth Protection and the BSA, contact your
District Executive .
"Three Rs" of Youth Protection
Recognize that anyone could be a child molester and be aware
of situations that could lead to abuse.
Resist advances made by child molesters to avoid being abused.
Report any molestation or attempted molestation to parents
or other trusted adults.
BSA Strategy to Guide the Youth Protection Program
The Boy Scouts of America has identified the societal problem of child abuse
as one of five unacceptables. We have adopted a strategy to guide our Youth
Protection program.
Educating Scouting volunteers, parents, and Scouts to aid in the detection
and prevention of child abuse. This training program is a key element in the
educational program of the BSA. In addition, information is provided to members
and their families through BSA publications and video productions.
Establishing leader—selection procedures to prevent offenders from entering
the BSA leadership ranks. The adult leader application form requests relevant
information that should be checked by the chartered organization before accepting
the applicant into unit leadership. The National Council Registration Service
routinely screens applicants against a listing of individuals known to be ineligible
for BSA membership.
Establishing policies that create barriers to child abuse within the program.
BSA has adopted various policies to guide the interaction of adult and youth
members.
Encouraging Scouts to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders
quickly. Through stressing the "three Rs" of Youth Protection, members
are encouraged to report attempted or actual abuse.
Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders. Anytime abuse is suspected
in Scouting, the alleged offender will not be eligible to participate in the
program until completely exonerated of the accusations. The Scout executive
is responsible for reporting all suspected abuse to the proper authorities irrespective
of whether the person making the allegations to him reports to the authorities.
Youth Protection and the Boy Scouts of America
Because of the great concern the Boy Scouts of America has for the problem of
child abuse in our society, the Youth Protection program was developed in 1988
to help safeguard both our youth and adult members.
Training Now Available Online!
In support of our continued efforts to offer training to as many Scouters as possible and to support the requirement of having at least one youth protection-trained adult, a 30 minute internet version of youth protection training has been developed.
“Youth Protection Guidelines for Adult Leaders and Parents” training course can be completed by clicking on this link. This resource can ONLY be accessed through the approved BSA local council websites. This new online training course will help ensure that no activities will need to be cancelled because a youth protection-trained leaders is not available. A leader may take either the online course or the regular youth protection course that the council has been offering.
Upon completion of the online training, registered adult members will receive the following: Certificate of Completion, Letter from the Scout Executive, Course Information Handout, and Reporting Requirement Fact Sheet..
The training course is offered to schools, churches, or other youth-serving organizations in the Council. People who do not have access to a computer at home can go to a local library to take the course. Those completing the online training who are not registered adult members will receive all of the above except the certificate of completion.
Take the minute online training: Youth Protection Guidelines for Adult Leaders and Parents
Effective January 2003, both the Local Tour Permit Application and the National Tour Permit Application will include a requirement that at least one adult present during the event or activity must have completed BSA Youth Protection Training. The National Tour Permit will continue to include the requirement that all registered adults must have completed the BSA Youth Protection Training for participation in a nationally sponsored event/activity. Both applications are available below or the Council Service Centers.
Download the Local
Tour Permit Application (print on 8.5 x 14 paper)
Download the National
Tour Permit Application (print on 8.5 x 14 paper)
How does the BSA 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 barriers to abuse within the program. BSA policies and procedures are explained in the Guide to Safe Scouting available here.
From the BSA Guide to Safe Scouting:
Youth Protection in Scouting
How
to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide
Section
I - Information for Parents
Section
II - Information for Youth
Reporting Suspected Child Abuse
The BSA requires immediate notification of the Scout Executive whenever information about possible child abuse in the Boy Scout program is uncovered. Refer to the Child Abuse Reporting Requirements.
In addition to the Online Youth Protection Training, the BSA offers three additional adult courses. “Youth Protection Training for Adult Leaders” AV-09V001A, a 90 minute comprehensive program. “Youth Protection: Boy Scouts and Cub Scout Leader Training Module” AV-09V010, an abbreviated version of the 90-minute course. “Youth Protection Guidelines: Training for Adult Venturing Leaders” AV-03V014 for Venturing leaders.
For youth, the BSA uses a variety of tools, including videotapes, to communicate with young people about protecting themselves against all forms of abuse. The BSA’s award-winning videos of child abuse prevention help youth recognize dangerous situations and avoid becoming victims.
The video “It Happened to Me” AV-09V011 is designed for Cub Scouts, boys ages 6 to 10, to view with their parents or guardians. The video presents five scenarios of high-risk situations that boys may encounter. It establishes safety rules that help the boys counteract the fear and shame that can result from potentially abusive situations.
“A Time to Tell” AV-09V004 is designed for Boy Scouts, boys ages 11 to 14. This video depicts the risks of sexual abuse through dramatizations of adolescent experiences.
A third video, “Youth-Protection: Personal Safety Awareness,” AV-09027is designed for any young adult (boy or girl) ages 14 to 20. It is made up vignettes dealing with the issues of acquaintance rape, Internet safety, stalking, and fraternization. Each scenario is followed by instructions for local group discussions and a teen panel discussion, with pertinent advice regarding each situation.
“How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse”, is a pull-out pamphlet in the front of each youth and adult handbook.
Venturing Youth Protection Resources
Venturing Advisors and Sea Scout Skippers should recognize that the content of the on-line training course is not specifically directed toward these programs, and that is is important to view the Venturing Youth Protection video in addition.
Youth Protection Guidelines for Venturing Leaders video. BSA Supply No. AV-03V014 "Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness" - Video for 14 to 20 year-old coed crews and ships. Scenarios are presented, local discussion allowed, and then Reality Check segments are presented to clarify the information regarding issues of acquaintance rape, internet safety, stalking, and sexual harassment. BSA Supply No. AC-09V027
Youth Protection and the Commissioner
Each unit commissioner plays an important role in youth protection:
Annually explain and promote the latest training, booklets, and videos about BSA Youth Protection for unit adults in every unit you are assigned to serve. This is usually done as part of your November visit at a unit committee meeting.
Help units and their chartered organizations use proper leader-selection procedures.
Coach unit people if child abuse occurs.
Promote unit use of the videos designed to protect youth from sexual abuse: It Happened to Me, No. AV-09V011, for Cub Scout age, A Time to Tell, No. AV-09V004, for Boy Scout age, and Personal Safety Awareness, AV-09V027, for high school age.
Explain to unit adults how the boy and parent use the inserts in the front of the youth handbooks.
Talk with your district commissioner or district executive to find out about
the latest BSA resources on the prevention of child abuse.
If you have any questions concerning Youth Protection and the BSA, contact your
District Executive.
Criminal Background Checks Being Implemented
Effective April 1, councils nationwide will implement a new system for conducting
criminal background checks on volunteers. This process will supplement the current
application process, which includes reference checks and the ineligible volunteer
screening process. This new process will be conducted for all new adult volunteers
in the traditional Scouting program. If a registration form is completed, the
council will perform a background check.
Great Sauk Trail Council Boy Scouts
of America
CHILD ABUSE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Contacting the Council
The Boy Scouts requires immediate notification of the Scout Executive whenever information about possible child abuse in the Boy Scout program is uncovered. Call the Great Sauk Trail Council Service Center at (734) 971-7100 during normal business hours. For after-hours notification, call the next business day.
If the suspected abuse or neglect happens at a Council Property, it should be reported to the Camp Ranger who will then notify the Scout Executive.
Download the Child Abuse Reporting Requirements
Reporting Child Abuse to Authorities
The law says any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or acts of child abuse shall report this information immediately to the Michigan Department of Child & Family Services, Child Protective Services.
Investigations
As a volunteer in Scouting, you are cautioned that you are not an investigator and the investigating of allegations of abuse is best left to proper authorities.
Immunity From Civil or Criminal Liability
Any person who, pursuant to the law, reports abuse and neglect or testifies in a child abuse hearing resulting from such a report is immune from any criminal or civil liability as a result of such action.
Penalty For Failure To Report
If you have any questions concerning Youth Protection and the BSA, contact
your District Executive.