Youth Protection & Adult Leadership
How does the BSA prevent child abuse in Scouting?
The Boy Scouts of America has adopted a number of policies aimed
at eliminating opportunities for abuse within the Scouting program.
These policies focus on leadership selection and on placing barriers
to abuse within the program.
Leadership
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.
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.
Note: Bold type denotes rules and policies.
- 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 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.
How can parents help protect their children?
Parents participate in the protection of their children in a
variety of ways. BSA recognizes the need for open lines of
communication so that children are encouraged to bring any troubles
to their parents for advice and counsel. In addition, parents need
to be involved in their sons' Scouting activities. All parents
receive important information concerning the Scouting program as
part of their sons' membership applications. This information is
provided so that parents can detect any deviations from the BSA's
approved program. If any deviations are noted, parents should call
these to the attention of the chartered organization or the unit
committee. If the problems persist, parents should contact the local
council for assistance.
Parents also need to review the booklet, "How to Protect Your
Children from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parent's Guide,"
inserted in every Boy Scout and Cub Scout handbook. The information
in this booklet should be the subject of discussions between Scouts
and their parents prior to joining a pack or troop.
Why do most child victims of sexual abuse keep the abuse
secret?
A victim of child sexual abuse is under a great deal of pressure
to keep the abuse secret. In many cases of child molestation, the
molester has threatened to harm the child or a member of the child's
family. The molester might have told the child that he would not be
believed even if the child did tell. Another common situation is
that the molester will tell the child that if the child tells about
the abuse, he will get into trouble. The clear message is given to
the child that if another person finds out, something bad will
happen to the child. This pressure to maintain silence can often be
successfully overcome by establishing open communication between
children and adults through a proper educational program for
children.
What should I do if a child tells me that he has been
sexually abused?
How an adult responds to a child when he tries to disclose abuse
can influence the outcome of the child's victimization. By
maintaining an apparent calm, the adult can help reassure the child
that everything is going to be okay. By not criticizing the child,
we counteract any statements the molester made to the victim about
the child getting into trouble. Reassure the child that you are
concerned about what happened to him and that you would like to get
him some help. Allegations by a Scout concerning abuse in the
program must be reported to the Scout executive. Since these
reports are required, the child should be told that you have to tell
the proper authorities but that you will not tell anyone else. It is
important that you not tell anyone other than the Scout executive or
the child protective services agency about allegations of abuse—if
the allegations cannot be substantiated, you could be sued for
defamation of character.
How do I know what my reporting responsibilities are?
Every state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories
have different reporting requirements. As part of youth protection
training, you will receive reporting instructions for your area and
for your council. People are often concerned about being sued for
reporting child abuse. You are not required to know for certain that
a child has been abused. All that the law requires is that you have
a reasonable suspicion and are reporting in "good faith." When these
requirements are met, all states provide immunity from liability for
child abuse reporters.
What youth protection educational materials does the BSA have
for youth members?
"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. The Power Pack Pals comic books, available in
English and in Spanish, are for Cub Scout-age boys. They include
Power Pack Pals (No. 33980)/Los Superamigos del Pack (No. 33979),
Power Pack Pals Tackle the Internet (No. 33981)/Power Pack Pals:
Seguridad en la Internet (No. 3344646), and Power Pack Pals: Four
Rules for Personal Safety (No. 46-34750)/Power Pack Pals: 4 Reglas
Para Seguridad Personal (No. 34465). The BSA has bilingual,
age-appropriate videos for all youth age groups to address the
problems of sexual abuse. It Happened to Me/A Mí Me Pasó (No.
AV-09DVD11) should be used annually by Cub Scout packs or dens, but
only for Cub Scouts accompanied by a parent or other adult family
member. The video for 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. Personal Safety Awareness/Concientización
Sobre la Seguridad Personal (No. AV-09DVD27) is the video for
Venturing-age young people.
How can Scout leaders who are not social workers teach
children about youth protection?
The BSA recognizes that many of our leaders feel unprepared to
talk to children about preventing sexual abuse. For this reason, the
BSA has meeting guides for both of the videos produced to be viewed
by youths. The guides address everything from scheduling the
meeting, contacting the police or social services for assistance,
and notifying parents (a sample letter is provided), to questions
and answers for discussion after the video has been viewed.
What are the "three R's" of Youth Protection?
The "three R's" of Youth Protection convey a simple message that
the BSA wants its youth members to learn:
- Recognize situations that place him 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 of himself and
helps to protect other children. Let the Scout know he will not
be blamed for what occurred.
Reference: How to Protect Your Children from Child
Abuse: A Parent's Guide, No. 46-015
The Boy Scouts of America is a values-based youth development
organization that helps young people learn positive attributes of
character, citizenship, and personal fitness. The BSA has the
expectation that all participants in the Scouting program will
relate to each other in accord with the principles embodied in the
Scout Oath and Law.
One of the developmental tasks of childhood is to learn
appropriate behavior. Children are not born with an innate sense of
propriety and they need guidance and direction. The example set by
positive adult role models is a powerful tool for shaping behavior
and a tool that is stressed in Scouting.
Misbehavior by a single youth member in a Scouting unit may
constitute a threat to the safety of the individual who misbehaves
as well as to the safety of other unit members. Such misbehavior
constitutes an unreasonable burden on a Scout unit and cannot be
ignored.
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, and drugs and alcohol have no place in the Scouting
program and may result in the revocation of a Scout's membership in
the unit.
If confronted by threats of violence or other forms of bullying
from other youth members, Scouts should seek help from their unit
leaders or parents.
Unit Responsibilities
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.
The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit
leaders when disciplining youth members.
The unit committee should review repetitive or serious
incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the
child to determine a course of corrective action including possible
revocation of the youth's membership in the unit.
If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scout's
membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scout's membership,
it should promptly notify the council of the action.
The unit should inform the Scout executive about all incidents
that result in a physical injury or involve allegations of sexual
misconduct by a youth member with another youth member.
Each Cub Scout den and Webelos Scout den and each chartered
Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team, and Venturing
crew shall have one leader, 21 years of age or older, who shall be
registered and serve as the unit or den leader. A unit leader may
not serve simultaneously in any other position within the same unit.
The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization
representative and the local council must approve the registration
of the unit or den leader on the appropriate form.
Primary reference: Rules and Regulations of the Boy
Scouts of America
- Two-deep leadership:
Two registered adult leaders, or one registered leader and a
parent of a participating Scout or other adult, one of whom must
be at least 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips
or outings. There are a few instances, such as patrol
activities, when no adult leadership is required. Coed overnight
activities require male and female adult leaders, both of whom
must be 21 years of age or older, and one of whom must be a
registered member of the BSA.
- During transportation to and from planned Scout outings,
- Meet for departure at a designated area.
- Prearrange a schedule for periodic checkpoint stops as a
group.
- Plan a daily destination point.
A common departure site and a daily destination point are a
must. If you cannot provide two adults for each vehicle, the
minimum required is one adult and two or more youth members—never
one on one.
- Safety rule of four: No fewer than four individuals
(always with the minimum of two adults) go on any backcountry
expedition or campout. If an accident occurs, one person
stays with the injured, and two go for help. Additional adult
leadership requirements must reflect an awareness of such
factors as size and skill level of the group, anticipated
environmental conditions, and overall degree of challenge.
- Male and female leaders must have separate sleeping
facilities. Married couples may share the same quarters if
appropriate facilities are available.
- Male and female youth participants will not share the
same sleeping facility.
- Single-room or dormitory-type accommodations for Scouting
units: Adults and youth of the same gender may occupy dormitory
or single-room accommodations, provided there is a minimum of
two adults and four youth. A minimum of one of the adults is
required to be youth-protection trained. Adults must establish
separation barriers or privacy zones such as a temporary blanket
or sheet walls in order to keep their sleeping area and dressing
area separated from the youth area.
- When staying in tents, no youth will stay in the tent of
an adult other than his or her parent or guardian.
- If separate shower and latrine facilities are not available,
separate times for male and female use should be scheduled and
posted for showers. The buddy system should be used for latrines
by having one person wait outside the entrance, or provide
Occupied and Unoccupied signs and/or inside door latches.
Adult leaders need to respect the privacy of youth members in
situations where the youth are changing clothes or taking
showers, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety
require. Adults also need to protect their own privacy in
similar situations.
Reference: Tours and Expeditions, No. 33737
- Two-deep adult leadership is required for flying
activities. For basic orientation flights, the adult licensed
pilot in control of the aircraft is sufficient for the flight,
while two-deep leadership is maintained on the ground.
- Scoutmaster Handbook, No. 33009
- Tours and Expeditions, No. 33737
- How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's
Guide, No. 46-015
- Youth Protection Guidelines: Training for Adult Venturing
Leaders, AV-03V014
- Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness, AV-09DVD027
- A Time to Tell, AV-09DVD04
- It Happened to Me, AV-09DVD11
- Health and Safety Guide, No. 34415
