American Legion youth programs are designed to encourage safe interaction between staff, volunteers, and children/youth. Parents and families trust American Legion programs to provide a safe and healthy environment for all participants.
Youth Protection Policy. The American Legion does not tolerate abuse in any form, whether it is physical, emotional, sexual, verbal or economic exploitation.
Youth Protection Safeguards. The following safeguards are intended to place the welfare and well being of children and youth in the highest priority and to assist in employing and monitoring behaviors and interactions with children and youth so as to avoid, recognize or stop those that are harmful. These safeguards do not and cannot address every situation that could be encountered. Just because a certain action is not prohibited in this section does not mean it is acceptable behavior. Staff may be required to act with a certain degree of personal discretion.
Conduct. The following guidelines have been established for persons serving in volunteer and staff roles for youth programs of The American Legion.
General conduct:
• Demonstrate behavior appropriate for a role model for youth: be courteous, fair and unbiased in your treatment of all children and youth.
• Put the welfare and well-being of children and youth first.
• Treat all children and youth with dignity and respect.
Drugs, tobacco, e-cigarettes, alcohol and sexually explicit materials:
• Do not possess, distribute, use or allow others to use alcohol or drugs during the operation of national youth programs.
• The use of tobacco/e-cigarettes at national youth programs is prohibited in the presence of children or youth.
• Do not be in the possession of any sexually orientated materials when conducting business as staff or a volunteer of a national youth program.
Use of Language:
• Do not use harsh, inappropriate, offensive, profane or degrading language in the presence of children or youth.
• Do not discuss sexual history, preferences or fantasies with or in the presence of children or youth.
Physical contact:
• Do not use restraint or any type of restraining device as punishment or behavior management.
• Do not use physical punishment in any form (e.g., slap, push, hit, kick). Use of the most minimal physical force necessary is only acceptable to save one from serious harm or death when the actions of a child or youth is placing themselves or others at immediate risk.
• Do not participate in, or allow others to engage in, hazing or any activities involving harassment, humiliation, teasing, ridicule or abuse.
• Do not have sexual contact with children or youth.
• Do not engage in any sexual activity in the presence of children or youth.
• Remain alert to the appropriateness (see below), context and location of any physical contact with children and youth; any physical contact only takes place in public.
• Do not dress, undress, shower or bathe with or in the presence of children or youth.
• Do not have sleeping locations with children or youth.
» Sleeping room assignments involving youth program participants should be so that no participant of an adult age (18 years of age or older) is rooming with a participant who is a child/minor/youth (17 years of age and below). Up to four (4) participants may occupy the same room.
• Have contingency plans in place for separating those program participants who may become involved in youth-on-youth/child-on-child harassment.
• Do not be alone with a child or youth when transporting them in a vehicle.
Appropriate forms of contact:
• Brief hug (e.g., a “shoulder-to-shoulder” hug of celebration or appreciation).
• Pats on shoulder or back.
• Handshakes.
• “High-fives.”
• Holding hands during prayer.
Inappropriate forms of contact:
• Lengthy, fully engaged embraces or “bear hug.”
• Kisses on the mouth.
• Touching of buttocks, breasts or genital area.
• Occupying same bed as a child or youth.
• Any type of massage.
• Snapping of bras or giving wedgies or similar touching of underwear, whether covered by other clothing or not.
• Private meals with a child or youth.
• Giving gifts to or receiving gifts or money from children or youth.
• Any form of unwanted affection.
Communication:
• Do not be alone with a child or youth when one-on-one discussion or counseling is necessary; one-on-one interaction with a child or youth will only take place in a publicly visible and open area that allows for private conversation and while still remaining in the presence of another staff member.
Electronic Media:
• As part of the American Legion Baseball’s emphasis on minor athlete safety, all electronic communications between minor athletes and staff members, or other adults who have regular contact with minor athletes, must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about team activities. This policy applies to all staff members and other adults who have regular contact with minor athletes.
American Legion Baseball electronic communication policy:
• Content of any electronic communication should be readily available to share with the minor athlete’s family, American Legion Baseball or local organization upon request. Any request under the electronic communication policy must include copies of any email, electronic text, social media post, or similar communication, and to be sent to either the minor athlete’s parent/ legal guardian, American Legion Baseball or local organization.
• Social Media. Staff members, or other adults who have regular contact with minor athletes, are not permitted to maintain social media connections with minor athletes. Staff members, or other adults who have regular contact with minor athletes, are not permitted to accept any new personal requests on social media platforms from minors. Existing social media connections with amateur athletes who are minors shall be discontinued. The American Legion and local organizations will monitor its organizational social media pages and remove any posts that violate policies and practices for appropriate behavior. Minor athletes or parent/legal guardian of minor athletes will be informed of any inappropriate posts.
• Email. Minor athletes and staff members, and other adults who have regular contact with minors, may use email to communicate. All email content between staff members, or other adults who have regular contact with minors, and minor athletes must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about team or individual sport events. Emails must come from an account that can be monitored by the American Legion Baseball and local organizations. American Legion Baseball or local organization staff member, volunteer member, and/or a parent/legal guardian must be copied when communicating with a minor athlete through email.
• Texting. All text messages between staff members, or other adults who have regular contact with minors, and minor athletes must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about team or individual sport events. Text messages cannot be sent to one individual minor athlete; a text message must go to entire team or must have additional staff member included.
• Request to Discontinue All Electronic Communications. The parent/legal guardian of a minor athlete may request in writing that their child not be contacted through any form of electronic communication by the American Legion Baseball or local organization staff members.
• Electronic communications must only be sent between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Safety:
• Plan for adequate staff-to-participant ratios that are appropriate to the nature of the youth program, the activities involved and the age of program participants.
• Always keep medical and emergency contact details for all youth program participants readily available in the event of an emergency.
• Immediately obtain, or provide appropriate medical assistance, in the event of an injury.