Youth Protection is a REQUIRED training for all adult leaders accompanying Scouts on field trips, outings, camping trips, etc. Youth Protection Training is also offered by many individual units.

How to Report Child Abuse

The problem of child abuse has become one of the most significant social problems facing our nation. Recent public opinion polls rank the problem of child abuse second only to drug abuse as a national concern. Your participation in this training not only reflects your concern about children’s safety in this society, but also your willingness to take steps toward halting child abuse and its detrimental effects.

Youth Protection Overview:

FIVE POINT STRATEGY

Guiding the BSA’s Youth Protection 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 your organization 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 R’S OF YOUTH PROTECTION

Members of the Boy Scouts of America are taught the Three R’s of Youth Protection. This stresses 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.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED

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 908-654-9191 x113 or dekohl@bsamail.org