Youth Protection program (Boy Scouts of America)
Encyclopedia
The Youth Protection program is a set of standards, guidelines and training developed by the Boy Scouts of America
to eliminate opportunities for the abuse
of youth members. All adults are required to complete the Youth Protection Program training before being registered as BSA leaders and must be re-certified every 2 years. When properly implemented, the program also helps to protect adult leaders from any accusations of impropriety. BSA has made the program available for use by other youth organizations, but the Boy Scouts have done the most in implementing it and have probably instructed more young people and parents in how to recognize and prevent child abuse in any venue.
In 2003, criminal background check
s were required for all new leaders. Leaders who had registered before 2003 were required to undergo background checks in 2008.
to commit abuse
. The abuser must:
The program also recognizes that the abuser may be a male or female, adult, youth or adolescent.
is performed on all adults when they register with the BSA. Adults applying for unit leader positions must be approved by the unit committee chair and the chartered organization representative.
The BSA recognizes that background checks can only identify those with past histories of abuse or criminal record. The unit leadership is expected to screen applicants for past experience and motivations of individuals that a criminal background check would not reveal.
Training materials for this education include parent's guides included in every handbook plus videos that are shown to each unit's members once a year. An emphasis on training is placed in April, Prevent Child Abuse Month.
The training materials for Scouts include the parent guides in each handbook, the It Happened to Me and A Time to Tell' videos and the Power Pack Pals comic book series. There are also youth protection training guides and videos for teenage girls and boys participating in the Venturing and Sea Scouting programs.
All adult leaders in BSA are required to be trained and follow the above policies. Failing to follow them can result in a leader being removed or a unit having its charter
revoked.
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
to eliminate opportunities for the abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
of youth members. All adults are required to complete the Youth Protection Program training before being registered as BSA leaders and must be re-certified every 2 years. When properly implemented, the program also helps to protect adult leaders from any accusations of impropriety. BSA has made the program available for use by other youth organizations, but the Boy Scouts have done the most in implementing it and have probably instructed more young people and parents in how to recognize and prevent child abuse in any venue.
Origins
In response to increasing awareness about sexual abuse in society as a whole, and concerns about the potential of sexual predators using the Boy Scout program to locate victims, BSA developed the Youth Protection program in the late 1980s in conjunction with input from leading law enforcement and psychiatric experts on the subject.In 2003, criminal background check
Background check
A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
s were required for all new leaders. Leaders who had registered before 2003 were required to undergo background checks in 2008.
Elements of abuse
The Youth Protection program recognizes four elements for a child abuserChild abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
to commit abuse
Abuse
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment for a bad purpose, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, sexual assault, violation, rape, unjust practices; wrongful practice or custom; offense; crime, or otherwise...
. The abuser must:
- have the desire and motivation to abuse children.
- be able to overcome any of their own inhibitions.
- bypass any protections or barriers that would normally protect the child.
- overcome the child's natural resistance.
The program also recognizes that the abuser may be a male or female, adult, youth or adolescent.
Leadership selection
BSA units are chartered by a community organization such as a religious congregation, fraternal group, service club, business, or other local community group. As part of the Youth Protection program, a criminal background checkBackground check
A background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
is performed on all adults when they register with the BSA. Adults applying for unit leader positions must be approved by the unit committee chair and the chartered organization representative.
The BSA recognizes that background checks can only identify those with past histories of abuse or criminal record. The unit leadership is expected to screen applicants for past experience and motivations of individuals that a criminal background check would not reveal.
Youth education
Youth Protection includes programs to educate youth in the "three R's": recognize, resist and report. Youths must recognize situations that might place them at risk must recognize the signs that someone may be an abuser. The youth must also understand that they have the right to resist unwarranted attention and that resisting will stop most attempts. Youth must also understand that they must report any abuse or attempts in order to prevent further abuse to themselves and others.Training materials for this education include parent's guides included in every handbook plus videos that are shown to each unit's members once a year. An emphasis on training is placed in April, Prevent Child Abuse Month.
The training materials for Scouts include the parent guides in each handbook, the It Happened to Me and A Time to Tell' videos and the Power Pack Pals comic book series. There are also youth protection training guides and videos for teenage girls and boys participating in the Venturing and Sea Scouting programs.
Youth Protection Policies
BSA adopted the following policies to provide additional barriers to child abuse within Scouting. These policies are primarily for the protection of its youth members; however, they also serve to protect its adult leaders from false accusations of abuse.- Two-deep leadership. Two registered adult leaders or one registered leader and a parent of a participant, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and outings. The "two-deep" policy requires that a minimum of two adults be present during all activities to minimize the potential for clandestine abuseClandestine abuseClandestine abuse is sexual, psychological, or physical abuse "that is kept secret for a purpose, concealed, or underhanded."Child sexual abuse is often kept secret:...
. 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 latrineLatrineA latrine is a communal facility containing one or more commonly many toilets which may be simple pit toilets or in the case of the United States Armed Forces any toilet including modern flush toilets...
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 hazingHazingHazing is a term used to describe various ritual and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group....
and initiationInitiationInitiation is a rite of passage ceremony marking entrance or acceptance into a group or society. It could also be a formal admission to adulthood in a community or one of its formal components...
s 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.
All adult leaders in BSA are required to be trained and follow the above policies. Failing to follow them can result in a leader being removed or a unit having its charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
revoked.
Cub Scouts
- Parents guides
- It Happened to Me training video
- Power Pack Pals comic book series
Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts
- Parents guides
- A Time to Tell is a youth protection training video aimed at boys aged 11-14. It teaches how to recognize, resist and report sexual abuse.