POLICY REVISED January, 2007

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.  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.  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 Assistant Scout Executive (ASE) or the Director of Field Service (DFS).
5. If you are unable to reach any of the above, contact of the council Field Directors (FD).

   If you are at a Scout function where Professional Scouters are present, such as a camporee or summer camp, the Professional Scouter will assist you in carrying out your obligations.

   If you are unable to immediately contact the a member of management, you must keep trying.  Make your immediate report to the local child protective service or law enforcement agency first.

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 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.  If you have reason to believe that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect, you must make an immediate oral report.  When in doubt, 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 of neglect, you may wish to discuss the matter with the Scout Executive (or  Assistant Scout Executive or Field Director) 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	Work After Hours (Cell)	Home Number
Scott Clabaugh, SE	(317) 925-1900	(317) 946-7001	(317) 876-7847
Kevin McPherson, ASE	(317) 925-1900	(317) 370-7405	(317) 370-7405 cell
Jeff Hotchkiss, FD	(317) 925-1900	(317) 946-7003	(317) 255-7687
Laura Thompson-Pickard, DFS	(765) 644-6687	(317) 946-7004	(317) 570-0185
John Feick, FD	(812) 232-9496	(317) 946-7005	(317) 946-7005 cell

Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America, Indianapolis, IN – Revised  1/2007