Slides from the Abuse and Harassment Prevention Training Manual and Leaders

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Rotary District 5280 Youth Protection
Information 2011-12
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Statement of Conduct for Working With Youth

• Rotary International is committed to creating
  and maintaining the safest possible environment
  for all participants in Rotary activities. It is
  the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians spouses,
  partners, and other volunteers to safeguard to
  the best of their ability the welfare of and to
  prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
  of children and young people with whom they come
  into contact.

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SAFEGUARD AND SUPPORTROTARY PROGRAMS

• Youth Exchange
• Interact Clubs
• Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly (RYLA)
• District and Club 4-Way Speech, Art Music
  Contests
• Rotaract Clubs
• Ambassadorial Scholars
• Group Study Exchange

4
PREVENTION TOOLS

• Youth Protection Policy
• Training and Awareness
• Support and Communication
• Selection and Screening
• Program Participants

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YOUTH SUPPORT SYSTEM

• District Governor
• Senior Assistant Governor of New Generations
• District Risk Management Youth Protection
  Officers
• District Youth Exchange Officers
• Club President
• Club New Generations Chair
• Rotarian Counselors Advisors
• Host Families
• Parents
• Students

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DISTRICT YOUTH PROTECTION OFFICERS

• For Issues and Concerns Relating to Personal
  Safety
• Dave Harris
  Val Velasco
• harrisassoc_at_earthlink.net
  Vvelasco_at_aol.com
• 310-318-3700 work
  310-821-7890 work
• 310-722-1563 cell
  310-908-8921 cell

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R I GUIDELINES

• Zero-tolerance against abuse and harassment
• Requires investigation into any claims
• Any adult with an allegation must be removed
  from all contact with youth until resolved.
• Any allegation of abuse must be reported
• Termination of membership
• Convicted Non-Rotarian is prohibited from
  working with youth in a Rotary context
• Club sanctions for failure to remove member

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RI CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Adopt a District Youth Protection Policy
• Develop training program for clubs and students
• Develop screening process for adults
• Outline process for student protection
• Establish process for allegation investigation
• Obtain District and Club Certification

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DISTRICT 5280 GUIDELINES

• Adopt zero-tolerance policy
• Implement a District Youth Protection Policy
• Develop a code of behavior
• Provide a screening program
• Complete allegation reports in a timely reports
• Prevent contact with persons prohibited by law
  from working with children

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SCOPE OF PROTECTION POLICY

• Applies to all District 5280 Rotarians and
  Volunteers
• Interact Leaders and Advisors
• Youth Exchange Chairs
• Club Counselors
• Chaperones or Host Families
• Applies to all adults age 18 and older who reside
  in the home of a host family

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TRAINING

• All participating volunteers participate in one
  training session every year.
• Training provided by District Youth Protection
  Officers, District Youth Exchange Chairman or
  District Youth Advisors
• Documents provided annually
• Annual screening

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CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Annual Club Certification
• Youth Volunteer Affidavits annually
• Club youth protection policy training program
• Host family screening and training process
• Procedures of student situation removal
• Follow reporting guidelines
• List of crisis support services in the community

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YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY

• Do
• Treat students with respect - be aware of voice
  tone and manner
• Plan activities to minimize situations where
  abuse may occur
• Attempt to have chaperone of the same gender.
  Avoid situations where one child is supervised by
  one adult
• Communicate with District Youth Protection
  Officer with any allegations or with questions

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YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY

• DO NOT
• Engage in any behaviors, either directly or
  indirectly that are unprofessional, unethical,
  illegal, immoral or exploitative
• Use physical force in any way, especially as a
  form of punishment
• Touch a student in any way that could be
  interpreted as intrusive or sexual
• Spend excessive time alone with a student, this
  may lead to misunderstanding

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ROTARIAN VOLUNTEER

• Understand and comply with Rotary International
  and District 5280 guidelines for
  Youth/New Generations programs.
• Basic Screening RYEd5280.volunteerportal.net
• Complete the Volunteer Affidavit
• Undergo personal interviews
• Undergo a criminal background check

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EXCHANGE STUDENT HOST FAMILY REQUIREMENTS

• Commit to the safety and security of students
• Provide adequate accommodations
• Complete a written application
• Home visit must be conducted for each family
• All host family members age 18 and over residing
  in the home must meet the selection and screening
  guidelines

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COUNSELOR SCREENING

• In addition to volunteer requirements
• Counselors must not be a member of the students
  host family
• Counselors shall be trained in responding to
  problems or concerns which may include instances
  of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or
  harassment

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EXCHANGE STUDENT SELECTION

• All participating students shall
• Complete a written application and interview
• Attend all district and club orientation and
• training sessions.
• All parents of participating students must
• Be interviewed to help determine the
• students suitability for participation
• At least one parent or legal guardian shall
• attend outbound orientation

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THE BIG DONTS

• Exchange Students are prohibited from
• Drinking
• Driving
• Drugs
• Exclusive dating and sexual activities
• Delinquency
• Downloading inappropriate materials
• Additional tattoos or piercing

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Major violations can result in the student being
returned home.Sponsoring Club/District must be
informed in advance of sending student home.
Minor infractions or warnings must be reported to
sponsoring Club/District to prevent surprise when
the student is sent home
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SOCIAL MEDIA

• A Facebook conversation between a couple of
  Rotaracts commenting on a group picture
• Rotaract 1 wow I hav a big right hand lol
• Rotaract 2 Thats all you hav big? Hahaha the
  sleeve is long too!!!hahah
• Rotaract 1 hahahaha lets not get into details
• Rotaract 2 Yeah! Lets dont!!! Haha

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SOCIAL MEDIA

• Female Rotarian Why not? I would love to hear
  what U have to say )
• Rotaract 1 Haha, I will whisper your ear
  when I c u next time hah
• Rotaract 3 Whats going on here? This
  innocent photo has been hijacked! Lol
• Rotaract 4 Just saw these comments and
  all I hav to say is omg!

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Conversations Conveyed Through Social Media is
Public and Permanent!
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DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

• Emotional or verbal abuse The use of fear,
  humiliation or derogatory statements about race,
  religion or personal appearance
• Physical abuse Mistreatment by use of physical
  contact to cause pain, injury, suffering or harm
• Neglect Failure to provide adequate food,
  clothing, shelter or medical care
• Sexual abuse Harming by inappropriate sexual
  contact, lewd behavior, implicit sexual acts or
  forcing to engage in sexual acts

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• Sexual Harassment
• Could Include But is Not Limited to
• Sexual advances, verbal or physical conduct of a
  sexual nature
• Sexual jokes, references to sexual conduct, and
  comments about an individuals sexual activity
• Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures,
  or drawings
• Sexual leering or whistling, any inappropriate
  physical contact, such as brushing or touching,
  obscene language or gestures, and suggestive or
  insulting comments

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IF A STUDENT TELLS YOU OF HARASSMENT OR ABUSE

• Listen attentively
• Assure him/her that they are not to blame
• Remain calm and make sure student feels safe
• Encourage student to share what happened
• Make detailed notes
• Assure privacy, inform Youth Protection Officer

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PROCEDURE

• Student shall be offered immediate support
  services health services, therapists, legal
  counsel
• District Governor will be notified of incident
  and kept advised of developments
• Confidentiality of the student and any person
  against whom allegations are made will be
  respected in accordance with the law
• No student will be sent home unless their
  personal safety requires it or the student
  desires to return

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ALLEGATION PROCEDURE

• The Youth Protection Officers will
• Assess the situation
• Notify all necessary parties
• Remove student from situation
• Serve as primary contact
• Advocate for the victim assure safety

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• Action Items To Educate Yourself
• Read, Organize, Do Screening
• Learn About Awareness and Sensitivity
• Always remember
• We are legally and morally responsible
• for the well being of other parents children

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• With each of us working together,
• We can keep the young people in our Rotary
  programs safe,
• Creating meaningful experiences for everyone.