Youth Protection

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• Youth Protection
• Training

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Definition of Child Abuse

• The idea of what child abuse is has expanded
  greatly in the last 25 years.
• We first thought of parents who battered their
  children, but now it is much broader.
• Parenting actions that cause harm or violates
  social norms are forms of abuse.
• It just simply is not the way children should be
  treated.

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5 Point Plan for Youth Protection

• Educating volunteers, parents, and participating
  youth to aid in the detection and prevention of
  abuse
• Establishing leader-selection procedures to
  prevent offenders from entering Learning for Life
  leadership ranks
• Establishing policies that create barriers to
  abuse within the program
• Encouraging youth to report improper behavior in
  order to identify offenders quickly
• Swift removal and reporting of alleged offenders

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Four Kinds of Abuse

• Physical Abuse Non- accidental bodily injury by
  a parent or other adult
• Neglect Withholding lifes necessities from a
  child that is vital to the childs safety,
  health, or well-being

• Sexual Abuse Sexual activity where there is
  unusual power used such as age or size, or misuse
  of trust
• Emotional Abuse Denigrating name calling that
  harms a childs self image

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Characteristics of Child Abuse

• Child abuse is a cause of stress like other
  events in life such as a divorce, loss of a loved
  one, or family disruption or problems in school
  and can cause the same symptoms.
• Reactions to child abuse can be excessive crying,
  clinging, aggressive behavior, withdrawal, or
  depression.
• If any of these symptoms appear over a period of
  time, they must be looked into.

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Child Abuse

• The thought of child abusers as dirty old men or
  guys in raincoats are not true.
• Ordinary, well-respected people in positions of
  authority have been found to be child abusers.
• Relatives, public officials, clergy, and
  teachers both male and femaleare examples of
  child abusers.
• A child is more likely to be abused by somebody
  he or she knows or by someone in the family than
  by a stranger.

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Child Abusers

• Child abusers tend to be individuals with low
  self-esteem. Their own needs are so overwhelming
  that they are poorly equipped to meet the needs
  of children.
• Often abusive parents also abuse alcohol and
  drugs.
• Abusive parents sometimes have unreal
  expectations for their children and malign them
  when they fail to meet expectations.

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Child Abuse

• It is important for you to remember that any time
  abuse is suspected, your Scout Executive or
  designee must be contacted immediately.

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Date Rape

• Date or acquaintance rape is a real concern for
  high school youth programs.
• More than 50 percent of rape victims are
  adolescent females.
• Their greatest risk is from social relationships
  with a boyfriend or date.
• Date rape is a crime and must be dealt with just
  like other forms of abuse.

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Youth Protection/Creating BarriersThe following
policies have been adopted to guard against abuse
and to give protection to the adult leaders

• Two-deep leadership Two adult leadersboth at
  least 21 years of ageare required on all trips
  and outings.
• If male and female youth are present, 21 year old
  leaders of both sexes are required.
• There should be no one-on-one contact with youth
  except for authorized ride-along programs in
  Exploring .
• Separate (male/female) adult and youth sleeping
  facilities and bathrooms and showers on overnight
  activities are required.

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Youth Protection/Creating Barriers

• Proper preparation, equipment, and safety
  procedures on high-adventure activities are
  required.
• No secret organizations Parents are always
  welcome.
• Proper clothing is required according to
  activities.
• Discipline should be constructive corporal
  punishment is never permitted.
• Hazing is prohibited.
• Youth leadership is monitored, and guidance is
  given by adult leaders.

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Fraternization Policy

• Because high school programs are designed for
  young adults, there are often little differences
  in the ages of the adult leaders and the
  participants.
• It has been found that maintaining a close social
  relationship, such as dating, between adult
  leaders and youth participants is disruptive and,
  therefore, is not permitted.

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DisclosureWhat if someone told you they were
molested?

• Dont panic or overreact to the information just
  shared with you.
• Dont criticize the youth for telling of the
  abuse.
• Dont promise to keep it a secret you are
  required to inform your youth agency staff, who
  will advise you on what to do.

• Do respect the youths privacy take him or her
  to a place away from others to discuss the abuse.
• Do encourage the youth to tell the authorities
  let him or her know he or she is not to blame.
• Do keep abuse confidential dont discuss with
  other post/group participants.

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Reporting Requirements

• Reporting requirements are different in each
  state know your states reporting requirements.
• In some states youth care professionals are
  required to report abuse.
• No state requires the person making the report to
  have proof, but that it be in good faith.
• All states provide immunity from liability for
  those who report suspected child abuse.
• As a volunteer, you are cautioned to refrain from
  investigating the abuse but leaving it to the
  professionals.

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• Scout Executive Larry Pritchard
• Office 585-241-8550
• Cell 585-734-5706
• Home 585-388-7494
• Director of Field Service Del Newquist
• Office 585-241-8557

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Youth Protection Hotlines

• Monroe County Child Abuse/Maltreatment Hotline
• 585-461-5690
• New York State Hotline
• 800-342-3720
• Website
• www.DoRightByKids.org

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Youth serving agencies will not tolerate any form
of child abuse in their programs and will take
all necessary steps to remove offenders from
participation.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• David Finkelhor, Ph.D., director
• Family Research, University of New Hampshire
• Dr. Janet Squires, chairman of general pediatrics
• Childrens Medical Center of Dallas
• Richard Krugman, M.D., dean
• School of Medicine, University of Colorado
• Dr. Anthony Urquiza, psychologist
• Child Protection Center, University of
  California
• David Chadwick, M.D. (retired)
• Center for Child Protection, San Diego
  Childrens Hospital
• Jim Chavis
• School social worker, Pittsburgh, PA
• Dr. Anne Cohn Donnelly, D.P.H.
• Senior visiting scholar in nonprofit studies

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Youth Protection Training Certificate

• Congratulations you have just completed Youth
  Protection Training
• You may now complete the Certificate of
  Completion that was downloaded as a word document