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The Incident. Paul Bricker District 6060 Youth Exchange Chair/YEO. Who Am I?. Yeoggie Parent not Friend Q. “You’re a hard !@# aren’t you?” A. “Yes I am!”. The Club. Almost 100 members Long history of hosting exchange students
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The Incident Paul Bricker District 6060 Youth Exchange Chair/YEO
Who Am I? • Yeoggie • Parent not Friend • Q. “You’re a hard !@# aren’t you?” • A. “Yes I am!”
The Club • Almost 100 members • Long history of hosting exchange students • Always able to come up with enough help to make the program work
The Student • 15 Years Old • Outgoing • Intelligent
The Rotarian • Member since 2003 • Hosted since 2003 • VERY active in the community • VERY nice guy • Insisted on Female Student • Students had more problems in his home than the other two homes.
The ALLEGED Incident • Allegedly occurred within a few weeks of being placed in the home • Allegedly involved inappropriate contact • Touching • Kissing • Fondling
How it was reported • First to another exchange student • Then to the counselor's spouse • Counselor contacted • Inbound coordinator • Then to the Division of Family Service • From there a life of it’s own • Police • State Department • Home Gov’t
What about the Student? • Immediately removed from the home • Order of protection • Received counseling from a specialist • Interviewed by Family Services • Interviewed by the Police • Interviewed by a Forensic Sexual Abuse Specialist
Where is the student now? • Returned home 3 days after reporting incident • Has had many difficulties since returning home • Regrets telling anyone
The rest of the story… • After the initial allegations another incident was discovered • Then another • 3 students, 3 years, 5 alleged inappropriate actions • None of the students had met
How was it handled? • Initially nothing was done to the Rotarian other than the investigation by the Police and Prosecutor • Upon discovery of the RI policies the Rotarian was suspended • Subsequently he requested a ‘leave of absence’ from the club
What could we have done better? • Applications • Statement of Conduct – signed!! • Background checks???? • Immediate Suspension • RI says removal from all contact
Recommendations • SUPPORT THE STUDENT • FOLLOW YOUR POLICY
Recommendations (con’t) • Educate the District Committee • Educate the Counselors • Educate the Student • Remember the initial report was to another student – a male student!
Recommendations (con’t) • SUPPORT THE STUDENT • FOLLOW YOUR POLICY
Recommendations (con’t) • Report it to the appropriate state agency • Report it to the proper local agency • Report it to the Youth Exchange Committee • Report it to the District Governor • Report it to RI
Recommendations (con’t) • SUPPORT THE STUDENT • FOLLOW YOUR POLICY
Recommendations (con’t) • Cooperate with the investigation • Leave personal feelings out • Stay out of situations involving your home club
Recommendations (con’t) • SUPPORT THE STUDENT • FOLLOW YOUR POLICY
Recommendations (con’t) • Follow our own rules • Insist the counselors and host families follow the rules • Insist the student follow the rules
Recommendations (con’t) • SUPPORT THE STUDENT • FOLLOW YOUR POLICY