Youth Protection
The Boy Scouts of America places the
greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our
youth members. To maintain such an environment, the BSA developed numerous
procedural and leadership selection
policies and provides parents and leaders the following online,
video, and print resources for the
Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and
Venturing programs.
Online Resources
[back to
top]
Video Resources
The following bilingual, age-appropriate
videos to help prevent sexual abuse are available through your local council
service center:
- Cub Scouts
It Happened to Me / A Mi Me Pasó (No. AV-09DVD11)
This video should be used annually by Cub Scout packs or dens when Cub
Scouts are accompanied by a parent or other adult family member.
(English and Spanish facilitator's guides, and a sample letter to
parents and guardians, are available at
http://www.scouting.org/pubs/av/46-182)
- Boy Scouts
A Time to Tell / Hora de Contarlo (No. AV-09DVD04)
Introduces the "three R's" of Youth Protection and should be viewed by
troops annually. (English and Spanish facilitator's guides are available
at
http://www.scouting.org/pubs/av/46-180)
- Venturing
Personal Safety Awareness / Concientización Sobre la Seguridad
Personal (No. AV-09DVD27)
[back to
top]
Print Resources
The following print materials may be
obtained through your local council service center:
- The Power Pack Pals comic books, available in English and in
Spanish, are for Cub Scout-age boys.
- Power Pack Pals (No. 33980)
Los Superamigos del Pack (No. 33979)
- Power Pack Pals: Be Safe on the Internet (No. 33981)
Power Pack Pals: Seguridad en la Internet (No. 34464)
- Power Pack Pals: Four Rules for Personal Safety (No.
34750)
Power Pack Pals: 4 Reglas Para Seguridad Personal (No. 34465)
- The Guide to Safe Scouting (No. 34416) includes the chapter
"Youth Protection & Adult Leadership."
- How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide
is a tear-out booklet bound in with BSA youth books. It is designed for
parents or guardians and young people to use together for youth
protection training.
[back to
top]
Leadership Selection
The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride
in the quality of our adult leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a
privilege, not a right. The quality of the program and the safety of our
youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. We work closely with our
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 molester, we can reduce the
risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant
for a leadership position—his or her experience with children, why he or she
wants to be a Scout leader, and what discipline techniques he or she would
use.
The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of our adult
leadership. Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The
quality of the program and the safety of our youth members call for
high-quality adult leaders. Our chartered organizations endeavor to 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 f or unit leadership. While no current screening techniques
exist that can identify every potential child molester, we can reduce the
risk of accepting a child molester by learning all we can about an applicant
for a leadership position—his or her experience with children, why he or she
wants to be a Scout leader, and other matters.
[back to
top]
Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting
The BSA has adopted the following policies
to provide additional security for our members. These policies are primarily
for the protection of our youth members; however, they also serve to protect
our adult leaders from false accusations of abuse.
- Two-deep leadership. Two registered adult leaders or one
registered leader and a parent of a participant, or other adult, one of
whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and
outings. The chartered organization is responsible for ensuring that
sufficient leadership is provided for all activities.
- No one-on-one contact. One-on-one contact between adults and
youth members is not permitted. In situations that require personal
conferences, such as a Scoutmaster's conference, the meeting is to be
conducted in view of other adults and youths.
- Respect of privacy. 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.
- Separate accommodations. When camping, no youth is permitted
to sleep in the tent of an adult other than his 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.
- Proper preparation for high-adventure activities. Activities
with elements of risk should never be undertaken without proper
preparation, equipment, clothing, supervision, and safety measures.
- 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.
- Appropriate attire. Proper clothing for activities is
required. For example, skinny-dipping is not appropriate as part of
Scouting.
- Constructive discipline. Discipline used in Scouting should
be constructive and reflect Scouting's values. Corporal punishment is
never permitted.
- Hazing prohibited. Physical hazing and initiations are
prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity.
- Junior leader training and supervision. Adult leaders must
monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by junior leaders and
ensure that BSA policies are followed.
- Member responsibilities. 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 Law. Physical violence,
hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, drugs, and alcohol have no
place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a
Scout's membership in the unit.
- Unit responsibilities. The head of the chartered organization
or chartered organization representative and the local council must
approve the registration of the unit's 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 in dealing with
it.
[back to
top]
The "three R's" of Youth Protection
The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a
simple message to youth members:
- Recognize 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 other
trusted adult. This prevents further abuse and helps to protect other
children. Let the Scout know he or she will not be blamed for what
occurred.
[back to
top]
Cub Scout Youth Protection Resources
-
The Guide to Safe Scouting,
(No. 34416) Youth Protection & Adult Leadership.
- Cub
Scout Leader Youth Protection Training. Topics covered include the
BSA's 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 Parent's Guide.
A booklet, included in the printed handbooks, providing tips to help
parents talk with their sons about child abuse.
- It Happened to Me / A Mi Me Pasó (No. AV-09DVD11)
This video should be used annually by Cub Scout packs or dens when Cub
Scouts are accompanied by a parent or other adult family member.
(English and Spanish facilitator's guides, and a sample letter to
parents and guardians, are available at
http://www.scouting.org/pubs/av/46-182)
- It Happened to Me,
Cub Scout Video Facilitator Guide. A sample letter to parents and
guardians as well as English and Spanish meeting guides for
facilitators' use when showing It Happened to Me
- Volunteer
Leaders and Parents Youth Protection Training Guides
- The Power Pack Pals comic books, available in English and in
Spanish, are for Cub Scout-age boys.
- Power Pack Pals (No. 33980)
Los Superamigos del Pack (No. 33979)
- Power Pack Pals: Be Safe on the Internet (No. 33981)
Power Pack Pals: Seguridad en la Internet (No. 34464)
- Power Pack Pals: Four Rules for Personal Safety (No.
34750)
Power Pack Pals: 4 Reglas Para Seguridad Personal (No. 34465)
[back to
top]
Boy Scout Youth Protection Resources
[back to
top]
Venturing Youth Protection Resources
|
