Safe Scouting is The Priority A Scout is Trustworthy. People can depend on him. That is the first point of the Scout Law, and one we take very seriously in Atlanta. When you bring your child into the Scouting program you are trusting our leaders and professionals to protect him, and to provide a safe environment where he can learn and grow. We know what it means to entrust the safety of your child to the Scouting program because many of us are Scout parents too. That is why our first priority is always safety of your child, backed by a multi-tiered youth protection approach focused on volunteer screening, education & training for everyone in the program, and clear policies to protect youth. Our safeguards include the following: -
Criminal Background Checks
All adults who have been selected as potential leaders must pass a rigorous application and screening process that includes reference checks, third-party background checks, and verification that no prior allegations of misconduct were added to the BSA’s Ineligible Volunteer File. -
Open Program
All aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders. Parents are encouraged to attend all Scouting activities. -
Mandatory Reporting
Boy Scout policy requires any person involved in Scouting shall report to local authorities any good-faith suspicion or belief that a child is or has been physically or sexually abused within 24 hours. Recently the state of Georgia expanded their mandated Reported law to be in line with Boy Scout policy. You can find the contact information for agencies to report any suspicion to here. Experts in youth safety and the Centers for Disease Control consistently rank the Boy Scouts of America’s youth protection policies among the best in the nation. We are committed to consistently strengthening and enhancing our Youth Protection measures and to keeping your child safe. We are honored by the faith you put in this organization, and will continue to keep youth safety our top priority. If you have any questions about how Scouting works to keep your child safe, please contact your District Executive. You can find his or her information here. If you need to report a Youth Protection issue, please contact Tom Wilson, Director of Suport Services, at 770-989-2886. | What They're Saying "The Boy Scouts have the most advanced policies and training." - Victor Vieth, head of the National Child Protection Training Center Read the full story here. "The Boy Scouts of America is one group advocates say has gone farthest to institute such measures to safeguard kids." MSNBC, November 2011 Read the full story here. Take Youth Protection Training The BSA's Youth ProtectionTraining is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click here to take the training. |
