As an adult volunteer in Scouting how would you react if you were made aware of suspected abuse?
As the Penn State investigations proceed they reveal more about how the administration of the school handled reports of abuse for which the perpetrator now stands convicted.
Administrators chose not go to the authorities with reports of abuse – they decided to handle the situation internally. Recently revealed email conversations indicate their rationalizations. They thought a more ‘humane’ way to handle the situation was to talk to the suspected abuser and ‘find him help’.
As a result they lost their jobs, they are defendants in criminal prosecutions, and they brought shame on their school but most tragically their actions allegedly enabled the abuse of more children.
Over the past few years it has come to light that other hallowed institutions also systematically covered up reports of abuse for decades. Perhaps we have reached a time in history where no institution will ever again be able to practice this sort of injustice and criminal disregard for the safety of children. Perhaps we will finally understand that covering up abuse is more shameful and damaging to an institution than dealing with it openly. Perhaps we will finally put the safety of children above saving face or enduring embarrassment.
As an adult volunteer in Scouting how would you react if you were made aware of suspected abuse?
Suspected incidents of abuse must be reported directly to the local authorities – not simply because of legal obligations but because we have a moral duty to protect children. The standard for reporting is stated clearly in the Boy Scouts of America youth protection training (my underlining):
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. You may not abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.Steps to Reporting Child Abuse
- Ensure the child is in a safe environment.
- In cases of child abuse or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately. In addition, if the suspected abuse is in the Scout’s home or family, you are required to contact the local child abuse hotline.
- Notify the Scout executive or his/her designee.
The language is unmistakable, specific and direct; shall, must, required. We do not ‘handle things internally’. We do not judge whether reporting is ‘humane’ to the suspected perpetrator. We do all with in our power, based on good faith, to protect children.
We are not trained investigators, legal experts or social workers. We have a clear, simple, mandate – 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.
I have seen our youth protection policies at work. I have seen Scouts courageously come forward and report abuse. I have seen dedicated volunteers and professionals respond to these reports by immediately informing the authorities. I have seen the perpetrators subsequently brought to justice.
No one wanted to be involved in dealing with these distasteful, depressing, horrific incidents. They were repulsed and shaken by them, they wanted them not to be true. Perhaps they even experienced the natural reaction of wanting to deny the possibility of abuse in their organization – of covering it up in hopes it would go away – of wanting to protect their organization from the shame associated with such things. But thankfully they knew that their responsibility was to protect children. They overcame their own fears and misgivings and bravely, courageously, even heroically, shouldered the moral obligation to protect children and they did what they had to do.
As an adult volunteer you are obligated to protect children. What do you do to protect Scouts if there’s an electrical storm on your hike? What do you do to keep Scouts safe while swimming or boating? What do you do if you come upon a poisonous snake or a bear while camping? What do you do if you are made aware of an incident of abuse?
Most of us will spend our years in Scouting without major incident because we are trained, we are vigilant and we are prepared. We don’t live in fear, we don’t shrink from duty, we protect children.