Youth Protection

1. Youth Protection The Responsibility of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

2. Youth Protection • Definition of Child/Youth Abuse “any act toward a young person under 18 years of age that impairs physical and/or mental health immediately or over time”

3. Youth Protection • Categories • Neglect (basic needs for physical/emotional well-being go unmet) • Emotional (given the message that he or she is no good and never will be)

4. Youth Protection • Categories • Physical (involves the injury of a youth) • Sexual (any sexual act between a youth and an adult or older youth)

5. Youth Protection • Why is there concern? • Society • Media • Is this really something new?

6. Youth Protection • Why is it our responsibility? • We are a youth organization • We want to be successful through membership • We want to be a positive influence on our girls • We want to protect our girls • We want to live and teach the morals and lessons that our organization is based on

7. Youth Protection • Incident • Any time an act occurs that could be perceived as violent or abusive • Each time something occurs or happens it is a separate incident • Each incident must be reported separately if disclosed at different times

8. Youth Protection • Dating Violence/Abuse • Psychological and Emotional • Sexual • Physical

9. Youth Protection • Psychological and Emotional Abuse • Humiliation • Insults • Controlling • Destroy self confidence or self esteem • Isolating someone from friends/family • Threats of violence

10. Youth Protection Physical Abuse • Hitting • Slapping • Punching • Shoving • Kicking • Biting • Hair pulling • Use of a weapon

11. Youth Protection • Sexual Abuse • Forced or unwanted sexual activity • Coerce or pressure someone • Trying to engage in an activity with someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol

12. Youth Protection • Dating Violence/Abuse • How frequently does it occur? • Studies show 1 in 11 middle school and high school students report having been hurt physically by a boyfriend/girlfriend • Up to 96% report emotional and psychological abuse in their dating relationships

13. Youth Protection • Dating Violence • What can you do? • Know the early warning signs • You are in a relationship with pressure, yelling, threats, refusing to take you seriously, causing you to lose self-confidence or self-esteem • Get help • Make a safety plan • Talk to someone you trust • Know that it is not your fault!

14. Youth Protection • Dating Violence • What can you do? • Be on the lookout for friends who need help • Listen without judging or giving unwanted advice • Look for changes in personality or physical appearance • Take action if you know someone is being abusive • Talk to the person if you feel comfortable • Help them get help if they are willing • Talk to a trusted adult

15. Youth Protection • Internet Abuse • Websites • Chat Rooms • My Space • Email

16. Youth Protection • Internet Abuse • Parents have to monitor • We (IORG) have responsibility as well • Ensure our websites are appropriate and protecting our girls • Ensure information of girls (names, age etc) are protected • Ensure the girls are educated as to what is “really” out there

17. Youth Protection • Websites • Limit Internet access for youth • Review what sites youth have visited • Talk to children and have conversations about what is appropriate and not appropriate • Continue conversations to help them feel comfortable in sharing where they have been • Look at the Internet with your children

18. Youth Protection • Chat Rooms • Encourage youth to not participate in chat rooms other than those you have visited with them • Find chat rooms with security measures • Review where youth have been and ask who they are talking to • NEVER share any private information in a chat room even if you know the person

19. Youth Protection • My Space • Look at all my space accounts that you are aware of (kids, friends etc.) • Educate yourself so that you can properly help your children know how to safely utilize • Let them in certain areas (if you don’t let them at all, could cause rebellion) • Put useful information out there to keep kids on track

20. Youth Protection • Email • It is a form of communication today that we can not avoid • Know who your kids are sending emails to and receiving from • Set parameters with your service provider • Talk to your kids about appropriate content

21. Youth Protection • Example of a Cyber Smart Contract • A way to communicate with the girls that they understand what you are saying to them

22. Youth Protection • Domestic Abuse • Potential Abusers • Potential Abuse that can be witnessed by a young person

23. Youth Protection • Domestic Abuse • Parents • Siblings • Extended Family

24. Youth Protection • Recognizing Abuse • Signs & Symptoms • Physical – bruises, wearing long sleeve shirts and pants in the summer, not wanting to go swimming • Emotional – withdrawn, not a part of the group, change from outgoing to withdrawn, acting out

25. Youth Protection • Recognizing Abuse • Characteristics of parents who abuse • Very protective of child • Not wanting child to be around other adults • Temperament • Talking about violence • Denial or avoiding education/training as well as not allowing child to attend education/training

26. Youth Protection • Protecting Yourself • Follow the guidelines given in training/education • Use common sense • Do not place yourself in situations that could be misinterpreted or questioned • Think about how you would like your children to be treated

27. Youth Protection • Use of Adult Profile • Basically, this is an application to be an Advisor to a Rainbow Assembly • Should include information about the individual to tell the Supreme Deputy/Inspector who they are • Should be available to all adults working with the girls – not just Advisory Board Members

28. Youth Protection • Specifics to Include: • Driving Record • Automobile Insurance • Criminal Background Information • Masonic Affiliation • References • Previous Youth Group Involvement

29. Youth Protection • Expectations: • Should complete form (adult worker profile – including background check information) annually • Submitted to Supreme Deputy/Inspector

30. Youth Protection • Background Checks • Who does them? • Almost all employers • Most Church youth groups do for all adult leaders • Boy Scouts for all adult leaders • Girl Scouts for adult leaders • DeMolay (adult worker profile) • Other youth organizations

31. Youth Protection • Background Checks • Doing this provides a sense of security for the girls, parents and other adult advisors • If an adult has nothing to hide, they should be willing to comply with this process for the safety and protection of the girls

32. Youth Protection • Boundaries • Simple Rules • Remember that adults are adults and girls are girls • Always protect yourself and the girls • Put yourself in the position of the parent and the girl • Explain everything

33. Youth Protection • Jurisdictional Policy • Protection • Protect the Girls • Protect the Adults • Protect the Organization • Encourage and Support • Girls • Adults • Educate

34. Youth Protection • Adult Leadership • Safety begins with leadership • BEING A LEADER IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT • Recruit high quality leaders • Background checks are mandatory • Learn all we can • Mandatory training for leaders

35. Youth Protection • Written Policies • Provide security for adults • Two deep leadership • No one on one contact • Respect of privacy • Separate accommodations • No secret ceremonies • Appropriate attire • Constructive discipline • Training and Supervision

36. Youth Protection • Open lines of communication • Between leader and member • Between parent and child • Between leader and parent • Involve parents in activities

37. Youth Protection • Educational Materials • Provide community resources • For adults • For girls • Provide IORG specific materials • Provide a reporting structure for your Jurisdiction • Packet of background check forms and any other handouts

38. Youth Protection • References/Resources • Local Police Departments • Local Fire Departments • Child Protective Services • Community Groups (Advocacy Centers) • School Districts • Some local churches • Adoption Agencies • Foster Care Centers

39. Youth Protection • Who to Train/Educate? • Girls • Parents • Board Members • Advisors • Any adult associated with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

40. Youth Protection • How/when to train/educate • Adults • Before or after a Board Meeting • Gather together with other adults from other Assemblies • Have a special dinner

41. Youth Protection • How/when to train/educate • Girls • At a social gathering • Before or after a meeting • The girls should be comfortable and ready to ask questions • Not during a formal meeting as they may not be as comfortable as you want them to be

42. Youth Protection • Have girls separate from adults or together depending on the specific topic • Split the girls into age groups depending on the specific topic • Make it work best for your girls and adults needs

43. Youth Protection • Three “R’s” of youth protection • Recognize (situations that place you at risk) • Resist (unwanted & inappropriate attention) • Report (attempted or actual abuse to a parent or other trusted adult) • For girls and adults!

44. Youth Protection • An example • An Assembly had a lock in for the girls • Arranged for 2 officers from the DPS Department to come out and speak to the girls about driving, alcohol, seat belts, dating violence and other youth protection issues • The girls ate snacks, enjoyed the presentation and felt comfortable asking some serious questions • The Officers knew the age range of 12 – 20 before coming and were therefore prepared

45. Youth Protection We are climbing a mountain together. We have to work together to make it to the top. The girls and the life of the organization are our incentives. Let’s make a commitment to support each other and educate ourselves to be the best that we can be!