Youth Protection
Over many years, the BSA has developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization including mandatory criminal background checks for all leaders, required training in Youth Protection, mandatory reporting, and two-deep leadership.
Every instance of suspected abuse is reported to law enforcement.
We are continually updating and sharing these best-in-class practices throughout our community. The Atlanta Area Council is a leader in youth protection with two full-time Safe Scouting Directors. For the past 5 years, Atlanta has hosted a Youth Protection Seminar to bring together some of the brightest minds in the field to discuss best practices and prevention techniques. The safety of children in Scouting has and remains our top priority.
Youth Protection Links
Training
The Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members.
- Youth Protection Training is required for all registered volunteers.
- New leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training before their application will be submitted. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is submitted for processing to be a registered volunteer leader.
- 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 re-registered.
The Atlanta Area Council is 100% committed to keeping youth safe and we appreciate the commitment of all 9,000 of our volunteer leaders to make this happen.
Youth Protection Training is designed to help you keep our youth safe from abuse. You will learn the Boy Scouts of America’s Youth Protection Guidelines, signs of abuse, and how to report suspected abuse. After each section of material, you will answer questions about that section’s topic. Click here for more information.
To maintain a safe environment, the BSA developed numerous procedural and leadership selection policies and provides parents and leaders with resources for the Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, and Venturing programs.
Get Trained Today
To take Youth Protection Training, go to My.Scouting.org and create an account. From the My.Scouting portal, click on “New to Scouting? Take training here” and Youth Protection icon in the upper right. Select “Youth Protection Training” from the training menu. Upon completion, you may print a certificate of completion to submit with a volunteer application or submit the completion certificate to the unit leader for processing at the Atlanta Area Council.
Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse
The BSA has adopted the Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. Parents and youth using these safeguards outside the Scouting program further increase the safety of their youth. Those who serve in positions of leadership and supervision with youth outside the Scouting program will find these policies help protect youth in situations outside of Scouting as well.
For questions on Youth Protection, please contact our Youth Protection Team.