Youth Protection Committee

Child abuse is one of the more significant societal problems facing our nation.  The Patriots’ Path Council’s Youth Protection Training Program is seen as a leader in the nation. PPC’s goal is to have every leader and youth trained in Youth Protection.

Youth Protection is required training for all registered adults. Registration for new adult leaders will not be approved without proof of training. For new leaders, print out the certificate at the end of the on-line training and attach it to your adult application before sending it in to Council.

Youth Protection training can be taken on-line or in a class upon request. Please contact your District Executive if your unit would like to have local in-person training. Youth Protection is offered by many units – contact your Cubmaster or Scoutmaster to see if your unit provides training.

Youth Protection Overview

Guiding the BSA’s Youth Protection plan is a five-point strategy to prevent child abuse:

1. Educating adult volunteers, parents, and youth to aid in the detection and prevention of child abuse.
2. Establishing leader-selection procedures to prevent offenders from entering leadership ranks.
3. Establish policies that create barriers to child abuse within the program.
4. Encourage youth to report improper behavior in order to identify offenders quickly.
5. Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders.

The Three Rs of Youth Protection

Members of the Boy Scouts of America are taught the Three R’s of Youth Protection, stressing that the child needs to recognize situations that place him at risk of being molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone can be a molester. The child needs to know that if he resists, most child molesters will leave him alone. And, if the child reports attempted or actual molestation he will help protect himself as well as other children from further abuse, and will not be blamed for what occurred.

Youth Protection Training

You do not need to be a registered member or have a member ID to take Youth Protection Training.

Go to Online Training To take the training, do the following:

1. Select button above and log in.
2. From the menu on the left, click E-Learning.
3. From the General tab, scroll down to Youth Protection Training and click Take Course.
4. When you complete the course, print a certificate of completion to submit with a volunteer application, or submit the certificate to the unit leader for processing at the local council. When your volunteer application is approved, you will receive a BSA membership card, which includes your member ID number. You must enter this member ID into your MyScouting profile so that your local council has a record of the training you have taken online. To do this, log into MyScouting, click My Profile, and enter your member ID number. This links your Youth Protection training, and any other MyScouting training, to your BSA membership.

Youth Protection Training Volunteers

Volunteers are needed to train others. Youth Protection trainers must have taken Facilitator Training. Several times a year Facilitator Training courses are taught at the council offices. Call Patriots’ Path Council or check the council calendar for training dates.

Along with conducting Youth Protection training for the council Scouting units, the Youth Protection Committee is involved in community programs bringing our message to as many youth as possible. We are only limited in what we can do by our imagination and the number of volunteers who are involved. We invite you to become a member of our committee and to bring with you your enthusiasm and concern for the young boys and girls in the communities we serve. Please contact Dennis Kohl at (973) 765-9322 x245 or [email protected]

Child Abuse Reporting Requirements

Reporting Child Abuse in Boy Scouting

Step 1 – Notify the State Central Registry: All reports of child abuse and neglect, including those occurring in institutional settings such as child care centers, schools, foster homes and residential treatment centers, must be reported to the State Central Registry (SCR). This is a toll-free, 24-hour, seven-days-a-week hotline.
Child Abuse Hotline (State Central Registry)
1-877 NJ ABUSE
(1-877-652-2873)
TTY 1-800-835-5510

Step 2 – Notify Patriot’s Path Council Scout Executives at (973) 765-9322.

Reporting Child Abuse to Council

The Boy Scouts require immediate notification to a Scout Executive whenever information about possible child abuse in the Boy Scout program is uncovered. The current policy for after-hours notification is to wait until the next business day and call the Council Service Center at (973) 765-9322.

The Scout Executive will ensure that all state reporting requirements have been met and will also take measures to protect the youth in the Scouting movement.

If an immediate report is to be made due to extreme urgency, contact the Office of Child Abuse Control: 1-800-792-8610.

The Council should be contacted by leaving a message on the Council Service Center answering machine. The “Suspected Child Abuse Reporting Form” should be completed and submitted to the Council.

Reporting Child Abuse in New Jersey

In New Jersey, the law requires any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or acts of abuse to immediately report this information to the State Central Registry (SCR). If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 as well as 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). A concerned caller does not need proof to report an allegation of child abuse and can make the report anonymously.

When a report indicates that a child may be at risk, an investigator from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly Division of Youth and Family Services) will promptly investigate the allegations of child abuse and neglect within 24 hours of receipt of the report.

Immunity From Civil or Criminal Liability

Any person who, pursuant to the law, reports abuse or 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

Any person who knowingly fails to report suspected abuse or neglect pursuant to the law or to comply with the provisions of the law is a disorderly person and subject to a fine up to $1,000 or up to six months imprisonment, or both.

Cub Scout Educational Video

This award winning production provides age-appropriate information about sexual abuse of boys.  It Happened to Me is a video for Cub Scout-age boys that show common situations in which sexual abuse could occur.  The video discusses how child molesters often resort to tricks for gaining access to their victims.  It emphasizes that if a boy has been sexually abused, he should talk to his parents or other trusted adults.  The video also stresses that it is not the child’s fault if he has been sexually abused. It is the child molester who is responsible.

Boy Scout Educational Video

This videotape, A Time To Tell was produced to educate boys 11-14 tears of age about sexual abuse. This video introduces the “three Rs” of Youth Protection. Boy Scout troops are encouraged to view the video once each year.

Venturing Educational Video

The videotape Personal Safety Awareness was developed for any young person age 14-20.  It is made up of 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.

These videos are available to borrow from the council service center and many packs elect to show it at a special meeting for Scouts and their parents.  Meeting and discussion guides supporting the video are also available.

Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse

The BSA has adopted the following policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. Parents and youth using these safeguards outside the Scouting program further increase the safety of their youth. Scout leaders in positions of youth leadership and supervision outside the Scouting program will find these policies help protect youth in those situations as well.

Two-deep leadership on all outings required. A minimum of two registered adult leaders, or one registered leader and a participating Scout’s parent, or another adult are required for all trips and outings. One of these adults must be 21 years of age or older.

• Patrol Activities
  There are instances, such as patrol activities, when the presence of adult leaders is not required and adult leadership may be limited to patrol leadership training and guidance. With proper training, guidance, and approval by troop leaders, the patrol can conduct day hikes and service projects.
• Adult Supervision/Coed Activities
  Male and female adult leaders must be present for all overnight coed Scouting trips and outings, even those including parent and child. Both male and female adult leaders must be 21 years of age or older, and one must be a registered member of the BSA.

One on-one contact between adults and youth members prohibited. In situations requiring a personal conference, such as a Scoutmaster’s conference, the meeting is to be conducted with the acknowledgement of and in view of other adults and/or youth.

Two-deep leadership and no one-on-one contact between adults and youth members includes digital communication.Leaders may not have one-on-one private online communications or engage one-on-one in other digital activities (games, social media, etc.) with youth members. Leaders should copy a parent and another leader in digital and online communication, ensuring no one-on-one contact exists in text, social media, or other forms of online or digital communication.

Age-appropriate and separate accommodations for adults and Scouts required.

• Tenting
  When camping, no one is permitted to sleep with a person of the opposite sex or an adult other than his or her own spouse, parent, or guardian. Assigning youth members more than two years apart in age to sleep in the same tent should be avoided unless the youth are relatives.
• Shower Facilities
  Whenever possible, separate shower and latrine facilities should be provided for male/female adults and male/female youth. If separate facilities are not available, separate shower times should be scheduled and posted.

The Buddy System should be used at all times. The Buddy System is a safety measure for all Scouting activities. Buddies should know and be comfortable with each other. Self-selection with no more than two years age or significant differences in maturity should be strongly encouraged. When necessary, a buddy team may consist of three Scouts. No youth should be forced into or made to feel uncomfortable by a buddy assignment.

Privacy of youth respected. Adult leaders and youth must respect each other’s privacy, especially in situations such as changing clothes and taking showers at camp. Adults may enter youth changing or showering areas only to the extent that health and safety requires. Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.

Inappropriate use of smart phones, cameras, imaging, or digital devices prohibited. Although most Scouts and leaders use cameras and other imaging devices responsibly, it is easy to unintentionally or inadvertently invade the privacy of other individuals with those devices. The use of any device capable of recording or transmitting visual images in or near shower houses, restrooms, or other areas where privacy is expected is inappropriate.

No secret organizations. The BSA 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.

Youth leadership monitored by adult leaders. Adult leaders must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by youth leaders and ensure BSA policies are followed.

Discipline must be constructive. Discipline used in Scouting must be constructive and reflect Scouting’s values. Corporal punishment is never permitted. Disciplinary activities involving isolation, humiliation, or ridicule are prohibited. Examples of positive discipline include verbal praise and high fives.

Appropriate attire for all activities. Proper clothing for activities is required.

No hazing. Hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity.

No bullying. Verbal, physical, and cyberbullying are prohibited in Scouting.

All adult leaders and youth members have responsibility. Everyone is responsible for acting in accordance with the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Physical violence, sexual activity, emotional abuse, spiritual abuse, unauthorized weapons, hazing, discrimination, harassment, initiation rites, bullying, cyberbullying, theft, verbal insults, drugs, alcohol, or pornography have no place in the Scouting program and may result in revocation of membership. For more information, please see BSA’s Guide to Safe Scouting and Youth Protection resources.

Units are responsible to enforce Youth Protection policies. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and their committee chair must approve the registration of the unit’s adult leaders. Adult leaders in Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. If youth members misbehave, their parents should be informed and asked for assistance.

Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse All persons involved in Scouting must 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. This duty cannot be delegated to any other person.

Immediately notify the Scout Executive of this report, or of any violation of BSA’s Youth Protection policies, so he or she may take appropriate action for the safety of our Scouts, make appropriate notifications, and follow up with investigating agencies.

State-by-state mandatory reporting information: www.childwelfare.gov

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 “Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse”). Sending sexually explicit photographs or videos electronically or “sexting” by cell phones is a form of texting being practiced primarily by young adults and children as young as middle-school age. 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 would be a good safety and privacy measure. To address cyber-safety education, the BSA has introduced the age- and grade-specific Cyber Chip program, which addresses topics including cyberbullying, cell-phone use, texting, blogging, gaming, and identity theft. Check it out.