THE SAFETY ZONE Risk Management in Action January March 2016 Youth Protection Let s suppose you are a Scout leader and you come across information which leads you to suspect one of the Scouts under your leadership is the victim of abuse. You have no real, positive proof: just a suspicion. What would you do? We, as leaders, have to take Youth Protection training at least every two years; and my troop, as a matter of troop policy, says every year. In Youth Protection training, we talk about such things as mandatory reporting and the three Rs. The three Rs are Recognize, Resist, and Report. How do we, as leaders, bring these three into our actions and leadership in our units? North Carolina is a mandatory reporting state. North Carolina law requires any person or institution who has cause to suspect that any juvenile is abused, neglected or dependent...or has died as result of maltreatment to make a report to the county Department of Social Services (DSS) where the child resides or is found. This is GS 7B-301(a) of the North Carolina General Statutes. Now, don t get all concerned, thinking we are now government eyes and ears and think this is not what I signed up for. In addition to North Carolina, seventeen other states and Puerto Rico have universal mandated reporting for child abuse and neglect. Let s look at our original issue and discuss it within the three Rs parameters. We, as leaders, report it to DSS and our Scout executive or designee and they will also make the appropriate agency reporting. If you think the child is in danger, contact law enforcement, otherwise contact your Scout executive and DSS. In our original issue, we find we suspect a Scout is a victim of abuse. In legal circles, I find that suspect is less than actual knowledge. A person (leader/you) is not required to confirm that your Scout is actually being or has been abused. Our first real step is to try and determine WHO created or caused the abuse. North Carolina law covers Abused, Neglected or Dependent. I am focusing on just abuse because to do all three, it will take far too long to discuss or explain. For the purposes of child protective reports and services, abuse (and the other two) are limited to when the Scout s parent, guardian, custodian or caretaker caused, contributed to or allowed the conditions or actions to occur. If the suspected source of abuse is not among these, then the report should be made to law enforcement. To make this determination we need to ask more questions but be very careful to make sure the Scout knows you are trying to help him/ In This Issue Are you Child Safety Seat Savvy Camping for Scouts with Disabilities Camp Physicals Clinic Health & Safety Training Dates Increasing Unit disability Awareness Tickborne Diseases-There s an App for That (Continued on page 2)
(Continued from page 1) her and not just prying out details. In law enforcement we are taught to ask Who, What, When, Where, How and Why, and these answers will usually cover all we need. As Scout leaders we should not go this deep into learning what occurred, but we do need enough information to make a determination about our suspicions. We must remember we may be the Scout s last hope in this situation and he/she TRUSTS us enough to make us aware of the situation and we must honor that trust, balanced with our responsibility as a leader. Some things to consider in this matter when dealing with the child are A) Keep calm and seek to reassure the Scout you are seeking to help; B) Don t criticize the Scout and let him/her know you want to help. Show the Scout you will honor their confidence in you and also tell them these things must be looked into by the proper authorities. Assure them you will only tell the proper authorities and KEEP THIS PROMISE. This, as we said when we started, is a mandatory report but don t worry BSA has reporting forms which are simple to fill out. You can get them from the Scout office, online at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/680-676_web.pdf, or your local district executive will be glad to make them available to you. Remember, we must protect those who are entrusted to us by their parents and this is a solemn responsibility. OK, now we know what we need to do; and so how do we do it and when? Well, when you suspect abuse, you have to take action immediately to protect the Scout. Contact the Scout executive or district executive, if the Scout executive is not available. Don t take the Scout away from everybody to get more information as we must remember the two deep safety feature of Youth Protection. Get another adult and get the information you can quietly, so you can know more. You will need to also report this information to the parent, unless the parent is the source of the abuse. Remember! If the Scout were your child, wouldn t you want to know? This is just a brief overview about a possible situation you could encounter. I purposely did not say what kind of abuse. Did you visualize physical, mental, or sexual abuse, or a combination? We, as adult leaders in the greatest youth organization in the world have a tremendous responsibility which we voluntarily take on. You as a leader deserve a huge pat on the back for what you do to help our youth in the Old North State Council. Please keep on doing it well!!!! My last thought is the motto of Youth Protection Youth Protection begins with YOU. John Daniel, Youth Protection Champion Old North State Council Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and this is just a compilation of information and not legal advice. Page 2 January March 2016
Camping for Scouts with disabilities Coming to Cherokee Scout Reservation The Old North State Council disability Awareness Committee has begun a major undertaking towards providing a summer camp experience at Cherokee Scout Reserve for Scouts that would not normally attend summer camp due to having a special need or type of disability. This camping experience will be designed for Scouts that require one on one supervision due to their type of disability. Each Scout will need to have a parent/caregiver with the Scout for the full duration of camp. We are in the planning stages of this program and there are many aspects that are being considered for this program. Some of them are: the criteria to attend, the program itself, legal aspects, meals, advancement, training of staff, and many other issues. With this being something new for our council, there is a great deal of planning to be done. The disability Awareness Committee would like to extend the opportunity to the units of the council to become part of the development of this program. We are hoping to have this program designed and be ready to implement for the 2016 summer resident camp at Cherokee. We are looking for unit/parent input to make this a reality. Though we are in the planning stages, this opportunity is not set in stone. We need your assistance to make this happen! Please pay attention to the council weekly e-blast for special planning meetings. If you would be interested in helping out, please contact me at kmbias@triad.rr.com. Thank you for your support of Special Needs Scouting in our council. Yours in Special Needs Scouting (YISNS), Mark Bias, ONSC dac Chairman Tickborne Diseases There s an App for That The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has an app that can be used on your Apple or Android devices or computer that provides access to information on prevention, identification, and treatment of tickborne diseases. It also has photos or different kinds of ticks, signs and symptoms to look for and other information on tickborne diseases. For additional information see http://www.cdc.gov/mobile/applications/ MobileFramework/tickborne-diseases.html. Page 3 January March 2016
Increasing Unit disability Awareness The disability Awareness Committee would like to announce that it has put together a kit of different activities that can be used to increase your unit's leaders and Scout s knowledge about physical disabilities. The kit has 10 activities with instructions provided to enable participants the opportunity to experience how persons with disabilities make adaptations for their physical disabilities. There are activities for dressing, food preparation, visual impairments, walking, and sensory impairments. These activities are designed for the participant to experience, amputations, stroke, diabetes and visual abnormalities. The kit is available for use by your unit and is stored at the Scout office. All you have to do is come to the office, sign the kit out, and then return it to the office after use. There will be a sign out sheet at the main desk. Please contact me at kmbias@triad.rr.com to reserve the kit and let me know what unit has signed it out. Yours in Special Needs Scouting (YISNS), Mark Bias, ONSC dac Chairman Are You Child Safety Seat Savvy? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, any child under five feet in height still needs to be secured in an ageappropriate car seat. Children transition from a rear-facing infant car seat, to a forward facing seat with harness and tether, to a booster seat, and finally to a seat belt. For more information on car seats and proper installation of each type, check out www.safercar.gov. Do you have health and safety or risk management questions related to Scouting or your Scouting activities you could use a qualified answer for? Submit your questions to Nita Grubbs at nita.grubbs@scouting.org. Your questions will get an answer and your question and a response will be published in an upcoming Safety Zone Newsletter to benefit your fellow Scouters. Page 4 January March 2016
Thursday, February 11, 2016 6:30 9:00 Merritt Medical Plaza 1511 Westover Terrace Greensboro, NC 27408 Merritt Medical Plaza is just up Westover Terrace, on the left, about 1/2 block past Hardee s, from the Scout Office. Old North State Council Camp Physicals Clinic Cost: $25.00 Cash, check or credit card only (we cannot accept insurance) To make an appointment: 1. Come to the Scout office to pay for and set up your appointment, or 2. Pay online at www.bsaonsc.org and someone will contact you to set up your appointment. Please complete the non-medical portions (Parts A & B) of your forms BEFORE coming to the clinic to facilitate processing. APPOINTMENT TIMES ARE LIMITES, so schedule early. Deadline is Thursday, February 4th for online Registration; By phone, as available, until Tuesday, February 9th. For additional information, contact Nita Grubbs at the Scout office at nita.grubbs@scouting.org, or 336-378-9166. PLEASE DO NOT contact Merritt Medical Plaza concerning registration or appointments. What you need to know: Physicals are available for anyone planning to attend resident camp for the 2016 summer season or for high adventure trips, such as Philmont, Northern Tier, or others. Current Annual BSA Health and Medical Records only, unless your BSA high adventure activity has a special BSA Health and Medical Record. The most current printing of the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record is the 2014 Printing. Pre-paid, first come-first served, by appointment only. Cash, check, or credit card only we cannot accept insurance for this clinic. Bring any medications your camper is currently taking prescription medications, over the counter medications, herbal medications, or supplements whether oral medications, sprays, lotions, or injectables, etc. For their own safety and well-being, youth with significant or complicated medical conditions should see their own healthcare provider. Contact Nita Grubbs at the Scout office if questions as to whether or not you should utilize our clinic. Physicals are available for adults attending camp, but NOT for adults with chronic health conditions which may include, but are not limited to: high blood pressure, any form of heart disease or renal (kidney) disease, diabetes, or any medical condition for which you must periodically have lab work or other medical testing. Contact Nita Grubbs at the Scout office if questions as to whether or not you should utilize our clinic. This is a well patient check-up in preparation for summer camps. Please do not bring sick children or come sick to the clinic. Please complete Parts A and B of your forms BEFORE coming to the clinic to facilitate processing. Page 5 January March 2016
It s About Being Prepared Health & Safety Training Opportunities January 16 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED February 13 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED 27 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED March 5 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED 19 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED April 2 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED 8-10 Wilderness First Aid May 14 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED 21 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED 28 Professional Rescuer CPR and First Aid Every Scout deserves a trained leader!! June 4 Standard First Aid; Adult and Child CPR; AED Courses may have registration deadlines that are strictly adhered to. Check brochures or the council website for deadlines and additional information. Youth Protection guidelines are adhered to and are the responsibility of the Scout s parents or unit leadership. All Scouts must attend with a buddy or appropriate adult partner. Old North State Council 1405 Westover Terrace Greensboro, NC 27408 council70@bsamail.org Phone: 336.378.9166 800.367.9169 Fax: 336.378.9169 www.bsaonsc.org The Safety Zone is a quarterly publication of the Old North State Council. Leaders are encouraged to comment on articles, make suggestions for articles or submit articles for publication. Content of submissions is subject to editing. Comments, suggestions, submissions, or questions should be directed to Nita Grubbs at nita.grubbs@scouting.org.