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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