Youth Protection Training

A Continued Commitment to Youth Protection:

New Youth Protection FAQ's

National Website Youth Protection explanations

Over the past two years, the Boy Scouts of America has worked with experts in the field of child abuse, child sexual abuse and maltreatment to develop new training and resources that will further strengthen our ability to protect youth. These changes include:

• Fully updated and revised Youth Protection Training developed with leaders in the field of child abuse prevention and includes insights from experts, survivors and the latest strategies for recognizing and preventing major forms of abuse. This is the designated Youth Protection training for all adults. There is no longer separate Youth Protection training for Venturing and Exploring Leaders and Adults.
• Expanded youth protection content across all our communications channels will inform and engage our volunteers and parents.
• An expanded ScoutsFirst Helpline to aid volunteers and families in addressing potentially dangerous situations.
• The BSA also provides unlimited counseling and support for healing to anyone who has ever been abused in Scouting.
• Youth protection training for youth members will be available in 2019.
• Under Barriers to Abuse there must be two registered adults present for all Scouting activities and meetings. SEE FAQ
• There must be a registered female adult leader over 21 in every unit serving females. A registered female adult leader over 21 must be present for any activity involving female youth.
• All adults accompanying a Scouting unit who are present at the activity for 72 total hours or more must be registered as leaders. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
• One-on-one contact between adult leaders and youth members is prohibited both inside and outside of Scouting.

Who must complete Youth Protection Training:

In addition to updated training and resources, new policies were recently announced to ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements:

• As of January 1, 2018, no new leader can be registered without first completing youth protection training.
• As of January 1, 2018, no council, regional or national leader will be allowed to renew their registration if they are not current on their youth protection training.
• No unit may re-charter without all leaders being current on their youth protection training. Registrars no longer have the ability to approve charters without full compliance.
• All current direct-contact leaders MUST take the new Youth Protection Training by October 1, 2018, to remain registered with the Boy Scouts of America.
• Adults accompanying units on activities who are present at the activity for 72 hours or more, must also take Youth Protection Training. The 72 hours need not be consecutive.
• Adult Youth Protection Training is required for adult program participants 18 years or older. Adult program participants (Venturing, Order of the Arrow, Exploring) must complete adult Youth Protection Training before submitting their adult application
• Youth Protection Training in the Cascade Pacific Council is required annually.