The safety of children in our programs is the most important priority of the Jersey Shore Council, Boy Scouts of America.
The BSA’s safeguards highlighted below are key parts of our multilayered approach to help keep kids safe.
These measures were informed by respected experts in the fields of child safety, law enforcement, and child psychology, and are among the strongest safeguards found in any youth-serving organization.
Check out this BSA video on How Scouting is safer than ever before.
Scouting is Safer than Ever Before
The safety of Scouts and leaders is an important part of the Scouting experience, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Youth develop traits of citizenship, character, fitness, and leadership during age-appropriate events when challenged to move beyond their normal comfort level, and discover their abilities. Risks are identified and mitigated to make Scouting a safe, yet challenging, experience.
Keeping Scouts safe from all forms of abuse is another key component of the Scouting program. The BSA has adopted many policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. All parents and caregivers should understand that leaders must abide by these safeguards. Parents and youth are strongly encouraged to use these safeguards outside the Scouting program. Registered leaders must follow all guidelines with every Scouting youth both during and outside of Scouting activities.
The requirements for protecting Scouts include:
mandatory youth protection training for all adult leaders
mandatory background checks for adult leaders
a minimum of two registered leaders at any Scout activity
no one-on-one contact between adult leaders and Scouts, both inside and outside of Scouting
having separate sleeping areas for adults and youth
completing the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record
always using the Buddy System
The BSA has created a 24-hour helpline to handle known or suspected abuse or behavior that may place Scouts at risk. If you believe a youth has been harmed or their safety and well-being is at risk and you cannot immediately reach your Scout executive; or if a Scout is bullied because of race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability, and local help is unable to resolve the problem, don’t hesitate to call.
No person can become a registered leader in Scouting without first completing the BSA’s Youth Protection Training, and all registered adult volunteers are required to complete the training every two years. The training is available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is regularly updated to include the latest strategies for recognizing, responding to and preventing abuse.
The idea that a Scout should treat others as he or she wants to be treated—a Scout is kind—is woven throughout the programs and literature of the Boy Scouts of America. When a Scout follows the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law, bullying and hazing situations should never occur. These fact sheets will help with bullying awareness and direct you to resources provided by the BSA and other entities we work with to protect children.
Please visit BSA bullying awareness information to prevent bullying or hazing situations.
Scouts and their parents expect all Boy Scouts of America activities to be conducted safely. To ensure the safety of participants, the Boy Scouts of America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting program.