boy scouts of america 1 director of youth protection mike johnson
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Boy Scouts of America
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Director of Youth ProtectionMike Johnson
This is who we are up against!
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Anna Salter video
In 102 Year History
1 Billion Youth Served
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BSA Youth Memberships
1960 – 3,783,073
1970 – 4,682,558
1980 – 3,179,639
1990 – 4,293,185
2000 – 3,539,874
2011 – 2,836,739
2012 – 57,976 Eagles
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Sexual Abuse/Exploitation
• 1 of 3-4 girls by age 18• 1 of 6-7 boys by age 18• 1/3 of youth abused by other youth• 19% of youth solicited on-line in last
year (Mitchell 2001)• “Children experiencing/witnessing
domestic violence are 15 times more likely to experience abuse.” - COPS*
* U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services
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Do the math…
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“Most sexual abuse occurs within established family & social networks…
Motivated offenders, wherever they happen to live, can go where they wish in search of victims.”
~ Finkelhor, 2009
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Youth experience abuse/exploitation
90-95% of youth are sexually abused or exploited by someone they & their parents know
• At home (Finkelhor)
• In the neighborhood (church, playground)
• On line (NetSmartz / NCMEC)
• At school (Shakeshaft)
• At youth-serving organizations
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Youth-Serving Organizations
• Schools (Pre-K to College)• Day Care• Mentoring – Big Brothers/Sisters, 100 Black
Men, La Raza• Youth ministries, church, mission trips• Camping – ACA, Kanakuk• Leadership development – BSA, American
Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts of America• STEM programs (Science/Technology/• Engineering/ Math)• Sports – US Swimming, Little League• Recreational – YMCA, municipal facilities
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We are the communityand we care
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“Prevention is as simple as…”
• Teaching kids to “just say no.”
• Criminal background checks (BSA 2003)*
• Screening & asking the right questions
• Reference checks (BSA 1911)*
• Living in the right neighborhood
• Attending the right church or synagogue
www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/bsayouthprotection
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*
“Real Experts” say otherwise
BSA National Youth Protection Symposium
Atlanta, Georgia
David Finkelhor Victor Vieth
Anna Salter Charol Shakeshaft
Barbara Bonner Janet Warren
Keith Kaufman Robert Farley
Lisa Jones Kristen Anderson
Suzanne Tiapula Sharon Cooper
Amy Russell Michael Haney
Stephanie Smith
www.nationalyouthprotectionsymposium.org
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In 2007
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
National Center for Injury Prevention & Control
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Components of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (A Beginning)
1. Screening / Selection
2. Guidelines (Policies) for Interaction between Individuals
3. Monitoring Behavior
4. Ensuring Safe Environments
5. Response
6. Training
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Every organization does not have to take on all strategies presented in this document.
Not all strategies presented in this document will apply to all organizations.
~ U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services/CDC
2007, p.2
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Participants
American Camp Association
American Youth Soccer Organization
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Boy Scouts of America
Crimes against Children Research Center, Univ. of New Hampshire
Darkness to Light
National School Boards Association
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Nonprofit Risk Management Center
Portland State University
Sensibilities, Inc.
Special Olympics, Inc.
Stop it NOW!
Union for Reform Judaism Camps
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Methodist Church
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BSA’s 3 Phases of Youth Protection
Prevention
The hardening of our organization to keep out abusers and enforce youth protection policies.
Recognition
Inward-facing education and training to ensure constant vigilance.
Response
Equipping employees and volunteers to support anyone who is aware of or suspects abuse to come forward and promptly report it to organization leadership and law enforcement and authorities.
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BSA’s Commitment
• Educate Scouting professionals, volunteers, parents, and youth members to aid in the detection and prevention of all forms of child abuse.
• Strengthen chartered organizations’ leader selection procedures to help defend against suspected or alleged abusers entering the BSA leadership ranks.
• Strengthen and enforce policies that create barriers to child abuse within the Scouting program.
• Encourage the immediate reporting of abuse, improper behavior, or violations of BSA policy.
• Identify and swiftly remove suspected or alleged offenders.
• Provide support and resources to Scouts, families, units, and councils as needed.
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Awareness, Guidelines, Policies, and Training Geared Toward
• Youth• Parents• Volunteers• Professionals• Everyone
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Current & EmergingThreats to Youth
• Online sexual exploitation (exposure, solicitation, etc.)
• Youth on youth• Grooming of:
– Youth– Parents– Organizations– Society– E-grooming
• Secular vs. Non-secular Response to Abuse• Bystander Dynamic• Banned List/Ineligible Volunteer Files & Information
Sharing• State Reporting Laws• Compliancy• Empowerment
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Mandatory Reporting & BSA
BSA has 285 councils in all 50 states.
• Inconsistency in mandatory reporting laws (Tiapula, Vieth, Daro, Vandevort)
• Inconsistency in law enforcement/ department of child & family services accepting reports
• Decisions made in 1950, 1960, 1970 viewed via the lens of 2013
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Reporting of Laws / AbuseState by State / CAPTA*
• Mandated Reporters• Privileged Communication (?)• Different Definitions• Reasonable cause, cause to believe,
good faith suspicion• 105 bills were introduced in 30 states in
2012 – National Conference of State Legislatures (www.ncl.org)
*Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2010
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US Department of JusticeOffice of Community Oriented Policing
Services (March 2010)
Child abuse & neglect in the home
3. Clarifying mandatory child abuse reporting laws subjectivity and ambiguity in mandatory child abuse reporting laws contribute to the failure to report suspected abuse.27 Not only do these laws need to be clear, but also they should be streamlined to ensure response efficiency…
Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Problem-Specific Guides Series No. 55
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BSA SolutionNational Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Policy*
LIT Review and Collaboration with NDAA`s NCPCA
BSA policy requires allegations of child abuse be reported to local law enforcement and child protection organizations. When such an allegation is brought to your attention as an employee, you should:
• Stop the abuse or policy violation.• Ensure the safety of the child.• Get detailed information from the person who is
reporting the abuse.• Inform that person of his or her duty to report to local
law enforcement or child protective services.• Notify the Scout executive or his/her designee
immediately.
www.scouting.org/youthprotection
Guide to Safe Scouting24
**
Mandatory Report of Child Abuse
All persons involved in Scouting shall 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. No person may abdicate this reporting
responsibility to any other person.
Notify your 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.
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BSA’s PoliciesScouting’s Barriers to Abuse
A minimum of two-deep leadership is required on all outings. (1981)
One-on-one contact is prohibited between adults and Scouts. (1991)
Separate accommodations are required for adults and Scouts.
Privacy of youth is respected.
Inappropriate use of cameras, imaging, or digital devices is prohibited.
No secret organizations are allowed.
No hazing is allowed.
No bullying is allowed.
Youth leadership is monitored by adult leaders.
Discipline must be constructive.
Appropriate attire is required for all activities.
Members are responsible to act according to Scout Oath & Scout Law.
Units are responsible for enforcing Youth Protection policies.
Guidelines for use of social media (2010)
Mandatory reporting of child abuse (2010)
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Policy Violation
• Scouting’s Barriers to Prevent Abuse
www.scouting.org/YouthProtection
• Fact Gathering by Scout Executive
• Consult with Youth Protection Director
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BSA Prevention
• Clear Policies• Parental Involvement• Leader Selection / Screening• CBC – Lexis Nexis• Ineligible Volunteer Check• Mandatory Youth Protection Training• Parent Handbook Discussion w/ Youth• BSA Resources
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BSA Youth Protection
• Real Multidisciplinary Experts• Effective Collaborations• Practical Review of Research• Incident Analysis• Mobilize the Masses
One Scout at a Time
Lead Where Leadership is Needed
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BSA’s Response
• Mandatory Reporting• Policy Development• Scout Help• Professional / Volunteer / Youth Training
(Mandatory)• Scout First / Youth Protection Begins With
YOU (mantra)• BSA Youth Protection Champions• BSA Youth Protection Committees / Task
Forces
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You are all invited
BSA NYPS 2013
Irving, Texas
October 13-15
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Michael Johnson (Detective Retired)
BSA Youth Protection Director
youth.protection@scouting.org
QUESTIONS
Youth Protection Begins With You™
Position Statement
Youth protection can only be achieved through the shared involvement of
everyone in Scouting.
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