Youth Protection Training for Adult Leaders and Parents Now Available Online
As one of America’s largest youth-serving organizations, we continually address important issues that impact young people; among these is youth protection. We are committed to making the Scouting environment as wholesome as possible for our youth members and adult volunteers.
We continue to seek and implement improvements to our youth protection training. As of February 14, 2003, Youth Protection Guidelines for Adult Leaders and Parents will be available via the council Web site, www.bsa-gwrc.org. “Youth Protection is the most important training we offer. We anticipate that offering this important training via the convenience of the Internet will be well received by our volunteers who tend to have very full schedules”, said Gary Erlinger, Scout Executive.
Simply log on to the training section of the council Web site and begin the training, which concludes with a test. To complete the training, a passing score of 80 percent must be achieved.
Upon completion of the training, the volunteer will provide their name, address, e-mail address, and council information. Once this information is submitted, the volunteer’s name will be matched through the council’s database of registered leader. If the name is matched, the volunteer will receive a certificate of completion, letter form our Scout Executive, council youth protection reporting procedures, and a course information handout. If the name is not matched, the volunteer will receive everything but the certificate of completion. The volunteer may then take this information into the council Service Center to prove completion of the training.
As of January 1, 2003, the BSA Tour Permit Policy requires at least one youth protection-trained leader on all trips and outings requiring a tour permit. Completion of either this online youth protection training or our traditional youth protection training meets this requirement.
We believe the critical importance of protecting our youth from abuse or violence will be recognized by all and that parents and leaders will take comfort and pride in the steps we are taking.
The On-line training is only available through a local council web site link. To start your On-Line Youth Protection Training CLICK HERE
Boy Scouts of America’s National Board Votes to Implement
Expanded Volunteer Screening System
WARREN, Ohio (November 7, 2002) - The Boy Scouts of America has announced the selection of a state-of-the-art Internet-based criminal background checking system for its adult volunteers and leaders. The implementation of this new system, which will provide the Greater Western Reserve Council of the BSA with the capability to check new volunteer applicants against state and national databases, was approved by the BSA’s National Executive Board earlier this month.
After an exhaustive search process, the BSA chose the ChoicePoint company’s background checking system called VolunteerSelect. The Boy Scouts of America has been involved in updating and improving its youth protection guidelines and regulations on a consistent basis for decades.
“The safety of our youth has always been, and always will be, the paramount concern for the Boy Scouts of America,” said Gary Erlinger, Scout Executive of the Greater Western Reserve Council. “We continually seek new ways to improve our youth protection methods and procedures because we believe in the critical importance of protecting our youth from any form of abuse. The selection of this program, VolunteerSelect, is further evidence of how seriously we take youth protection and safety.”
The BSA is nationally recognized as having one of the most effective youth protection processes, involving youth instruction, parental commitment, and background/reference checks. Beginning in 1972, the BSA’s standards for leadership were developed as a guideline for screening adult volunteers. VolunteerSelect is the latest step, enabling the more than 300 local councils to include national criminal, state sex offender, and county criminal screening.
If a match is found on a volunteer applicant, he or she will be sent a copy of the information and can dispute the findings. The council and the organization that sponsors the applicant’s unit will then determine how to proceed, based upon BSA procedures.
The Greater Western Reserve Council is composed of 4,500 volunteers working together for the sole purpose of helping its 13,000 youth succeed in life. The Boy Scouts of America’s 92-year history is a testament to the enduring values of the Scouting program.
More required information on the adult application
Equals Improved security for our youth
Since Scouting’s inception, having the highest quality of volunteers as role models and mentors for youth has been of utmost importance. Our highest priority continues to be the safety of our youth members and participants.
Beginning in 1972, the Boy Scouts of America’s standards for leadership were developed as a guideline for screening adult volunteers. Further resources were created more recently to improve the recognition and reporting of child abuse, such as the Youth Protection Training for Adult Leaders video in 1988. Age-appropriate videos for youth members were created beginning in 1989, with the most recent versions released in 1999. To further aid in the delivery of Cub Scout-age youth protection training, the BSA developed a comic book to address areas of child abuse and appropriate protection methods. The first issue of the comic book was released in January 2002. It focuses on bullying among children. Periodic revisions are done to keep these resources up-to-date.
All of our youth protection videos have the distinction of being award-winning productions. They have won awards for excellence in training categories of the CINE Golden Eagle and the Telly Award.
We continue to seek and implement improvements to our youth protection guidelines and procedures. We are happy to report that new information technologies are now available to conduct accurate, reliable criminal history record checks on volunteer applicants.. These checks are based on the applicant’s Social Security number. This important development offers a practical way to limit the possibility of individuals with a history of criminal acts against children being granted positions with the BSA. When used in conjunction with other youth-protection strategies, criminal history record checks are valuable tools that discourage ineligible volunteers from seeking positions with the BSA and help to identify and screen out those who do apply. This process will supplement the current application process, which includes reference checks and the ineligible volunteer screening process. This new process will be conducted for all new adult volunteers in the traditional Scouting program. If a registration form is completed, the council will perform a background check.
The adult volunteer application now clearly advises applicants that a criminal background screening will be conducted, requires written consent to conduct the background check, certifies permission to use resulting information, and requires a Social Security number.
The application includes the following statement:
| By submitting this application, you are authorizing a criminal background check of yourself. This check will be made from public record sources. You will have an opportunity to review and challenge any adverse information disclosed by the check. |
What does this mean to our current volunteers? The primary impact will be a feeling of greater security and the knowledge that anyone with a history of criminal conduct with a child will more likely not be a volunteer in your pack, troop, team, or crew. It also means a new adult application cannot be processed without a Social Security number and consent to conduct the background check (the application must not be signed by anyone other than the applicant). Current leaders should make sure the required information is included on all adult applications before turning them in to the council service center.
We believe the critical importance of protecting our youth from abuse or violence will be recognized by all and that parents and leaders will take comfort and pride in the steps we are taking.