Youth ProtectionYouth Protection

TrainingTraining

Definition of Child AbuseDefinition of Child Abuse

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

5 Point Plan for Youth Protection5 Point Plan for Youth Protection

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

Four Kinds of AbuseFour Kinds of Abuse

Physical Abuse: Non- Physical Abuse: Non- accidental bodily accidental bodily injury by a parent or injury by a parent or other adultother adult

Neglect: Withholding Neglect: Withholding life’s necessities from life’s necessities from a child that is vital to a child that is vital to the child’s safety, the child’s safety, health, or well-beinghealth, or well-being

Sexual Abuse: Sexual Sexual Abuse: Sexual activity where there is activity where there is unusual power used unusual power used such as age or size, such as age or size, or misuse of trustor misuse of trust

Emotional Abuse: Emotional Abuse: Denigrating name Denigrating name calling that harms a calling that harms a child’s self imagechild’s self image

Characteristics of Child AbuseCharacteristics of Child Abuse

Child abuse is a cause of stress like other Child abuse is a cause of stress like other events in life such as a divorce, loss of a loved events in life such as a divorce, loss of a loved one, or family disruption or problems in school one, or family disruption or problems in school and can cause the same symptoms.and can cause the same symptoms.

Reactions to child abuse can be excessive Reactions to child abuse can be excessive crying, clinging, aggressive behavior, crying, clinging, aggressive behavior, withdrawal, or depression.withdrawal, or depression.

If any of these symptoms appear over a period If any of these symptoms appear over a period of time, they must be looked into.of time, they must be looked into.

Child AbuseChild Abuse

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

Child AbusersChild Abusers

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

Child AbuseChild Abuse

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

Date RapeDate Rape

Date or acquaintance rape is a real Date or acquaintance rape is a real concern for high school youth programs.concern for high school youth programs.

More than 50 percent of rape victims are More than 50 percent of rape victims are adolescent females.adolescent females.

Their greatest risk is from social Their greatest risk is from social relationships with a boyfriend or date.relationships with a boyfriend or date.

Date rape is a crime and must be dealt Date rape is a crime and must be dealt with just like other forms of abuse.with just like other forms of abuse.

Youth Protection/Creating BarriersYouth Protection/Creating BarriersThe following policies have been adopted to guard against abuse and The following policies have been adopted to guard against abuse and

to give protection to the adult leadersto give protection to the adult leaders::

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

Youth Protection/Creating BarriersYouth Protection/Creating Barriers

Proper preparation, equipment, and safety Proper preparation, equipment, and safety procedures on high-adventure activities are procedures on high-adventure activities are required.required.No secret organizations: Parents are always No secret organizations: Parents are always welcome.welcome.Proper clothing is required according to activities. Proper clothing is required according to activities. Discipline should be constructive; corporal Discipline should be constructive; corporal punishment is never permitted.punishment is never permitted.Hazing is prohibited.Hazing is prohibited.

Youth leadership is monitored, and guidance is Youth leadership is monitored, and guidance is given by adult leaders.given by adult leaders.

Fraternization PolicyFraternization Policy

Because high school programs are designed for Because high school programs are designed for young adults, there are often little differences in young adults, there are often little differences in the ages of the adult leaders and the the ages of the adult leaders and the participants.participants.

It has been found that maintaining a close social It has been found that maintaining a close social relationship, such as dating, between adult relationship, such as dating, between adult leaders and youth participants is disruptive and, leaders and youth participants is disruptive and, therefore, is not permitted.therefore, is not permitted.

DisclosureDisclosureWhat if someone told you they were molested?What if someone told you they were molested?

Don’t panic or overreact Don’t panic or overreact to the information just to the information just shared with you.shared with you.

Don’t criticize the youth Don’t criticize the youth for telling of the abuse.for telling of the abuse.

Don’t promise to keep it a Don’t promise to keep it a secret; you are required secret; you are required to inform your youth to inform your youth agency staff, who will agency staff, who will advise you on what to do.advise you on what to do.

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

Reporting RequirementsReporting Requirements

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

Scout ExecutiveScout Executive Larry PritchardLarry Pritchard– OfficeOffice 585-241-8550585-241-8550– CellCell 585-734-5706585-734-5706– HomeHome 585-388-7494585-388-7494

Director of Field ServiceDirector of Field Service Del NewquistDel Newquist– OfficeOffice 585-241-8557585-241-8557

Youth Protection HotlinesYouth Protection Hotlines

Monroe County Child Abuse/Maltreatment Monroe County Child Abuse/Maltreatment HotlineHotline– 585-461-5690585-461-5690

New York State HotlineNew York State Hotline– 800-342-3720800-342-3720

WebsiteWebsite– www.DoRightByKids.orgwww.DoRightByKids.org

Youth serving agencies will Youth serving agencies will not tolerate any form of child not tolerate any form of child abuse in their programs and abuse in their programs and

will take all necessary steps to will take all necessary steps to remove offenders from remove offenders from

participation.participation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSACKNOWLEDGMENTSDavid Finkelhor, Ph.D., David Finkelhor, Ph.D., directordirectorFamily Research, University of New HampshireFamily Research, University of New HampshireDr. Janet Squires, Dr. Janet Squires, chairman of general pediatricschairman of general pediatricsChildren’s Medical Center of DallasChildren’s Medical Center of DallasRichard Krugman, M.D., Richard Krugman, M.D., deandeanSchool of Medicine, University of ColoradoSchool of Medicine, University of ColoradoDr. Anthony Urquiza, Dr. Anthony Urquiza, psychologistpsychologistChild Protection Center, University of CaliforniaChild Protection Center, University of CaliforniaDavid Chadwick, M.D. David Chadwick, M.D. (retired)(retired)Center for Child Protection, San Diego Children’s HospitalCenter for Child Protection, San Diego Children’s HospitalJim ChavisJim ChavisSchool social worker, Pittsburgh, PASchool social worker, Pittsburgh, PADr. Anne Cohn Donnelly, D.P.H.Dr. Anne Cohn Donnelly, D.P.H.

Senior visiting scholar in nonprofit studiesSenior visiting scholar in nonprofit studies

Youth Protection Training Youth Protection Training CertificateCertificate

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