Pack 279 and the BSA are committed to providing the safest possible environment for our youth.  We strictly adhere to the BSA Youth Protection guidelines, which includes:

· No fewer than two adults should accompany any group of Scouts.

· No adult should ever be alone with one youth (except his/her own child)

· Corporal punishment and hazing rituals are strictly prohibited.

· Protect your own privacy and respect the privacy of every child.

An informative Youth Protection Parent’s Guide can be found in any of the Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting handbooks.

At all functions, youth protection is the responsibility of EVERYONE.  New leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training within 30 days of registering and before volunteer service with youth begins. 

Parents, guardians, and any adults working with youth (whether in Scouting or not) are also encouraged to take the training.

To take the online training, go to my.scouting.org and establish an account. If you do not yet have your membership number, be sure to return to MyScouting later and enter your number for training record credit.  The training must be taken every two years to remain current.

Below is a link to “Training How-To’s” to establish your My.Scouting.org account and to take your youth protection training.

· http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection /howto.aspx

A trained leader is knowledgeable and more confident in the role being performed. Trained leaders exhibit a knowledge and confidence that is picked up by the people around them.  Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, safety, and a whole lot more.  A trained leader is better prepared to make the scouting program – serving our youth – all that it can be!

Adult leaders in Pack 279 are considered trained and eligible to wear the official Trained emblem when they have completed Youth Protection Training and the position-specific training for their position. 

At the start of each scouting year, it is the goal of Cub Scout Pack 279 that each returning leader is fully trained by September 30.  For the Tiger Den leader and new committee members, our goal is to have these leaders fully trained within 30 days of submitting their BSA Adult Leader Application. 

Below are some "How-To's" for our leaders to help them complete their training requirements:

• How to check Scoutbook for your current training status

• How to start my training

• How to link my BSA # to My.Scouting.org

• How to add training to My Learning

• How to view and search course catalog

• How to navigate My Learning Plan

 [download this page]

All BSA-registered volunteers, and all other persons over the age of 18 who are volunteering to assist a BSA unit or at a BSA function and who, while volunteering 1) provide care, supervision, training guidance or control of a youth member in lieu of parental control; and/or 2) have regular and repeated contact (referred to in the law as “routine interaction”) with youth members, are now mandated reporters of child abuse.

The law requires direct reporting from the individual suspecting or witnessing child abuse immediately. After reporting the suspected abuse to the state the individual shall contact the Scout executive. The Commonwealth has created a portal for reporting purposes: www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis or 800-932-0313. 

For additional information regarding the BSA guidelines concerning the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, please visit http://newbirthoffreedom.org/palaw/.

Clearance Requirements:

• All new volunteers who begin their volunteer service on or after August 25, 2015 must comply prior to the volunteer participating in any activity where he or she will provide care, supervision, guidance or control of children, or routine interaction with children.
• All current Scouting volunteers (those who began their volunteer service prior to August 25, 2015) must comply by July 1, 2016.
• All adults attending any New Birth of Freedom Council summer camp program must comply with the child abuse clearance requirements
• Clearances obtained for other volunteer or employment organizations may be submitted if they are current and meet the guidelines.
• The PSP Criminal History and DHS Child Abuse clearances are valid for 60 months. PA volunteer clearances may be applied for, at no cost to the volunteer every 57 months.

Clearance Checklist:

  PSP Criminal History (epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp), cost – free, time to complete – 10-15 minutes (received immediately).  Click the “New Record Check” button (Volunteers only). After accepting the terms and conditions, submit your information for a criminal history check. You can save and print the certificate.

  DHS Child Abuse History Clearance (www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home), cost – free, time to complete – 20-30 minutes (7-10 days to receive). Create a new account.  After you set up your password (which requires logging in several times), submit your information for a Child Abuse Clearance.

  FBI Criminal History & Fingerprint Clearance submitted through the Department of Human Services (www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpwNew.htm), cost – $25.75, 5-10 minutes online and 10-15 minutes at the fingerprinting location.  This clearance is only required for those volunteers who have not resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for ten (10) or more years.  FBI Fingerprinting is accomplished by going to the UPS Store on the Carlisle Pike.  Before you go, you need to fill out the online form and pay for the fingerprinting.

  Residency Disclosure - Volunteers who have resided in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the past 10 years can submit a Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers in lieu of the Fingerprint FBI Clearance.

  Upload All Documents (Optional) (http://tinyurl.com/qc6fhfm) Volunteers can upload copies of their required documents to the New Birth of Freedom’s Background Clearances System (NBOF-CS). In order to ensure that your files are properly received and recorded, please secure all your documentation before visiting this link and upload all of your files at the same time.

After successfully completing all the required clearances, please hand-in a copy of all your clearance forms to the Cub Scout Pack 279 Cubmaster, including the confirmation email you received from the NBOF-CS if you uploaded your forms.  The New Birth of Freedom Council will not accept any adult leader applications without the proper clearance documentation, either attached paper copies or electronically uploaded to the NBOF-CS.