POLICY REVISED July 2010

If you are a staff member or a volunteer Scout leader who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect, what should you do?  (Items 1 and 2 apply to all situations, not just Scout activities.)

1. Assure that the child is now in a safe environment.  Call 911 for police intervention in an emergency.
2. You must make an immediate oral report to the local child protection service or law enforcement agency.  Most law enforcement agencies now respond to 911.  The local child protection service is listed in the telephone book (800-800-5556).  The call can be made anonymously.  Be prepared with as many details as possible.  Be sure to ask about the kind of response to expect and what further action you should take if you think there is an emergency.
3. You must also make an immediate oral report to the Scout Executive or his designee during his absence (see Item #4 and #5 below).  He will confirm that you have already made an oral report to the local child protection service or law enforcement agency.  The Scout Executive then also becomes responsible for making a report.
4. If you are unable to reach the Scout Executive, you must then contact either the Director of Support Services(DSS) or the Director of Field Service (DFS) (see contact names and numbers below).

5. If you are unable to reach any of the above, contact one of the council Field Directors (FD) (see contact names and numbers below).

6. You must also prepare a written report with as many details as possible and submit this report to the Scout Executive as soon as possible.  The information in this report will be made available to the agency responding to your oral report of child abuse or neglect.  Do not conduct an investigation; just write down what you know about the situation.  The Scout Executive (or his designee) will assist you with the preparation of this report, if needed.  This information will also be used by the Scout Executive to make a proper report to the national registration services of the Boy Scouts of America.

7. “Reason to Believe” means evidence which if presented to individuals of similar background and training would cause those individuals to believe that a child was abused or neglected.  Under no circumstances are you to conduct an investigation or ask others to look into it.  Confidentiality is a must as well as immediate reporting.  When in doubt, report.
   
   If the child reports to you that he has been a victim of child abuse or neglect, you must make an immediate oral report.  Conversely, if you have reason to believe that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect, even if the child hasn’t reported anything to you, you must make an immediate oral report
   
   If you think a child “may” be a victim of child abuse or neglect, but you are not sure if you have “reason to believe” that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect, you may wish to discuss the matter with the Scout Executive (Assistant Scout Executive or Director of Field Service) before making a report.  When in doubt, report.
   
   A child is anyone under age 18.  The perpetrator (abuser) may be a child or an adult of any age.

8. A person, other than a person accused of child abuse or neglect, which makes a report of a child who may be a victim of child abuse or neglect is immune from any civil actions.  However, immunity does not attach for any person who has acted maliciously or in bad faith.  A person making a report that a child may be a victim of child abuse or neglect or assisting in any requirement of this chapter (of the law) is presumed to have acted in good faith.

9. Following is a list of telephone numbers you will need: 

   Name	Work Number	Cell Phone Number	Home Number
   Scott Clabaugh, SE	(317) 813-7057	(317) 946-7001	(317) 876-7847
   Kevin McPherson, DSS	(317) 813-7099	(317) 370-7405	(317) 370-7405
   Robert Hemmelgarn, DFS	(317) 813-7058	(317) 946-7004	(317) 647-8020
   Jeff Hotchkiss, FD	(317) 925-1900	(317) 946-7003	(317) 255-7687
   Chuck Walker, FD	(765) 644-6687	(317) 946-7002	(765) 641-2585
   John Feick, FD	(812) 232-9496	(317) 946-7005	(317) 946-7005

10.  Do not make a statement of any kind to the media about the investigation. Should you be called by a reporter, tell him or her that you are unauthorized to speak on this issue and refer him/her to the following council staff members who will follow the council crisis communications plan:
    
    Scott Clabaugh, Scout Executive – Chairs team
             Office: (317) 813-7067
             Cell:  (317) 946-7001
             Home: (317) 876-7847
    
    Debbie Davis, Communications Consultant
             Office: (317) 595-0820
             Cell: (317) 508-2179
             Home: (317) 598-1938
       
    Kevin McPherson, Director of Support Services
             Office: (317) 813-7099
             Cell: (317) 370-7405
         
    Scott Clabaugh serves as the lead spokesperson to the media in all issues other than routine inquires. Kevin McPherson and Debbie Davis are both authorized to speak on issues, but should be contacted only if Scott is unavailable. Staff in all Scout offices understand that they should not speak on behalf of the council, but rather, refer media inquires to Scott, or in his absence, Debbie or Kevin.  Routine media inquires should be forwarded to Carla Truex at (317) 813-7066 or cell (317) 946-6999.

Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America, Indianapolis, IN – Revised  11/2008