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Recently, the
Boy Scouts of America announced important
changes to its Youth Protection policies. The
purpose of these changes is to increase
awareness of this societal problem and to create
even greater barriers to abuse than already
exist today in Scouting.
Effective June 1, 2010:
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Youth Protection training is required for
all BSA registered volunteers, regardless of
their position.
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New leaders are required to take Youth
Protection training before submitting an
application for registration. The
certificate of completion for this training
must be submitted at the time the
application is made and before volunteer
service with youth begins.
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Youth Protection training must be taken
every two years. If a volunteer's Youth
Protection training record is not current at
the time of recharter, the volunteer will
not be reregistered.
To find out more
about the Youth Protection policies of the Boy
Scouts of America and how to help Scouting keep
your family safe, see the
Parent's Guide
in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting
handbooks, or go to
http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx.
Questions and Answers
The following are answers to some of the
questions we have received about these important
changes. To read more, visit
www.scouting.org/youthprotection.
Q1: When does the change go into effect?
A1: As of June 1, 2010, all registered adult
volunteers--no matter what their position
entails--must complete Youth Protection training
prior to beginning their volunteer service.
Q2: Why a new training policy on such short
notice?
A2: Youth
safety is the No. 1 concern of the Boy Scouts of
America. It is important to implement this
training at all levels of the organization. The
BSA is always reevaluating and reassessing its
policies to ensure the safest youth program and
the best training are offered. The BSA's Youth
Protection training has been in existence long
enough for it to be understood and accepted as a
mandated training for all registered BSA adult
volunteers.
Q3: What is the deadline to meet the new Youth
Protection training standard?
A3: All registered leaders should take or
renew their Youth Protection training so that it
is current as of today. A unit will not be able
to recharter without its key registered adults
being up-to-date on their Youth Protection
training. No individual leader will be able to
register without being up-to-date on his or her
Youth Protection training.
Q4: Is there a grace period to get all adults
trained?
A4: No.
If a leader's Youth Protection training is not
current, the volunteer must take or renew this
training immediately. Every effort should be
taken so that all adults involved in Scouting
have a current certificate of completion of the
Youth Protection training.
Q5: Will the system be able to handle the
overload of people taking training at the last
minute?
A5:
The system platform that houses e-learning is
expected to be able to handle
the high
volume.
Q6: Does "all volunteers" mean
all
volunteers -- even board members and council
presidents?
A6:
Yes. The goal is to have all registered
volunteers Youth Protection-trained. This is an
important statement for the Boy Scouts of
America as a youth organization and reinforces
the BSA's commitment to the well-being of all
youth members and volunteers.
Q7: I am sure I know all there is to know about
youth protection. Can I "test out" by only
taking the Youth Protection online quiz?
A7: No. You must complete the entire online
training in order for your Youth Protection
certificate to be valid. This ensures you
receive the latest information on BSA Youth
Protection.
Important: Please note that
the quiz has been removed from the e-Learning
Center because the content did not reflect the
new changes in Youth Protection policy.
Q8: Does the executive officer (institutional
head) of a unit need to take Youth Protection
training?
A8: If
the executive officer is not a registered
leader, he or she is not required to complete
Youth Protection training, although it is
strongly recommended. If the executive officer
is a registered member of the BSA, then he or
she must complete Youth Protection training.
Q9: I am a Tiger Cub adult partner and
ScoutParent. Do I need to take Youth Protection
training?
A9: The
Tiger Cub adult partner and ScoutParent
designations are not registered adult positions;
therefore, mandatory Youth Protection training
is not required. It is strongly recommended,
however, that all adults involved in Scouting
take Youth Protection training. All registered
adults are
required
to take Youth Protection training.
Q10: I am an Explorer post Advisor. Does this
new policy apply to me?
A10: Yes. All registered adults are
required
to take Youth Protection training.
Q11: The new policy indicates that a Youth
Protection certificate of completion must be
submitted "at the time of application." What
does that mean?
A11: A BSA application should be collected from
a prospective leader only with the fully
completed form, with a copy of the individual's
Youth Protection certificate of completion. Both
documents should be submitted together to the
council service center.
Q12: Do leaders need to wait until they have
final clearance on the background check to meet
with youth?
A12:
No. As long as their application is fully
completed, submitted to the council service
center, and approved, their fee is paid, and
their Youth Protection training has been
received by and acknowledged by the council,
they will be able to interact with youth members
while the criminal background check (CBC) is
still pending.
Q13: Do merit badge counselors need to take
Youth Protection training?
A13: Yes. A merit badge counselor is a
registered volunteer position.
Q14: Can units that have some adult leaders who
have not completed Youth Protection training be
rechartered?
A14:
In order for a unit to be rechartered, it must
have all the required positions filled with
Youth Protection-trained adults. Adults who do
not have current (within the past two years)
Youth Protection training will not be
reregistered.
Q15: Will the new adult applications have this
information?
A15:
Yes. All new applications will reflect these
changes.
Q16: Can a council or district organize Youth
Protection group training for its adults?
A16: Yes. It is encouraged that adults take
the training via the online module, but the
instructor-led model is still acceptable as long
as the most current version of the Youth
Protection DVD (item No. 610327 or 36121) is
used and the end-of-course quiz is proctored by
the trainer at the end of the training session.
Reminder:
It is critical that
training completion certificates be issued after
successful completion and that a formal training
record roster be submitted to the council
registrar so proper credit can be recorded in
the profiles of each participant.
Q17: Will both the regular and Venturing leader
versions of Youth Protection training meet the
requirement?
A17:
Yes, as long as the most current versions of the
DVDs are used for group training. The online
version is the preferred method, as it allows
for those taking the training to get one-on-one
training and take all the time they need for
review. The individual is issued an immediate
certificate of completion, which allows for the
updating of the volunteer's ScoutNet record.
Q18: If a person is not a registered leader, how
can he or she log in and take the Youth
Protection training?
A18: A person does not have to be a registered
volunteer to take Youth Protection training. To
take the training, log in to
myscouting.org
and click on create an account. After you have
confirmed your new myscouting account user name
and password, log in to
myscouting.org
and click on e-training to begin the Youth
Protection training. Upon completion, print a
certificate to submit with a completed adult
leader application to the unit leader or your
local council representative for processing.
Remember to keep a copy for your records.
Once the
application is approved, the new leader will
receive his or her membership card with their
member ID. It is important that new members log
back in to
myscouting.org
and update their profile with this member ID to
receive credit for completing this and any other
training.
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