Dear Participant, Thank you for completing the Youth Protection training course. This training meets the registration requirements for adult leaders and describes the policies to help keep our members safer while participating in activities. It is important to stress that while we believe these policies are effective in protecting youth, participants in your program may still be at risk of child abuse. Protection of our members requires vigilance in observing activities and immediate intervention when a policy violation occurs. All persons involved in Scouting must report to local authorities—without undue delay—any good-faith suspicion or belief that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect. You should not delegate this responsibility to anyone else, and no one should interfere with this reporting responsibility or attempt to delay or dissuade you from making a report to the authorities. Please contact my office as soon as possible to inform us of any report to authorities that relates to suspected abuse in the Scouting program. In addition, you are responsible for informing us of any violation of BSA’s Youth Protection policies so we may take appropriate action. The Voyageurs Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America are deeply indebted to you and the millions of other volunteers who work hard to deliver the Scouting program to America’s youth. The vast majority of these dedicated individuals have only the welfare of our members at heart. Unfortunately, a very small percentage of people have misused their Scouting position to harm children. As an adult leader of the BSA or a parent, you are the “early warning system” to protect our members. Thank you for your dedicated service. Yours in Scouting,

David A. Nolle Scout Executive Voyageurs Area Council, BSA

Voyageurs Area Council, Boy Scouts of America Youth Protection Reporting Procedures

BSA Youth Protection Policies There are two types of Youth Protection–related reporting:  When you witness or suspect any child has been abused or neglected—See “Mandatory Report of Child Abuse” below.  When you witness a violation of the BSA’s Youth Protection policies—See “Reporting Violations of BSA Youth Protection Policies” below.

Mandatory Report of Child Abuse All persons involved in Scouting shall report to local authorities any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. No person may abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.

Steps to Reporting Child Abuse 1. Ensure the child is in a safe environment. 2. In cases of child abuse or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately. In addition, if the suspected abuse is in the Scout’s home or family, you are required to contact the one of the child abuse hotlines listed on the attached page. 3. Notify the Scout executive or his designee during his absence. (See contact names/numbers below.)

Reporting Violations of BSA Youth Protection Policies If you have reason to belive any of the BSA’s Youth Protection policies, including those described within Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse have been violated, you must notify your local council Scout executive so he may take appropriate action for the safety of our Scouts.

VOYAGEURS AREA COUNCIL EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSONNEL In the event of an emergency, dial 911.

Local hotline information on the attached page.

Scout Executive David A. Nolle Office: 218-740-4520 Home: 218-461-9496 Cell: 218-348-1115 Email: [email protected]

Youth Protection can be achieved only through the shared involvement of everyone in Scouting.

Remember—Youth Protection Begins With YOU.®

For more information about the BSA’s Youth Protection policies, visit http://www.scouting.org/YouthProtection.aspx. DISTRICT OFFICES FOR REPORTING CHILD ABUSE

Minnesota: To report suspected child abuse or neglect, contact your county social service agency or the police. To report suspected child abuse or neglect for American Indian children living on the Leech Reservation, contact your tribal child welfare agency (Leech Lake child protection: 218-335-8270) or the police. If it is an emergency, call the police at 911. For general questions regarding child protection, email DHS at [email protected].

Aitikin County Family Services 218-927-7200 Beltrami County Human Services 218-333-4140 Carlton County Human Services 952-361-1600 Cass County Human Services 218-547-1340 Clearwater County Human Services 651-213-0324 Cook County Social Services 218-387-3620 Hubbard County Social Services 218-732-1451 Itasca County Human Services 218-327-2941 Koochiching Community Services 218-283-7000 Lake County Human Services 218-834-8400 Lake of the Woods Social Services 218-634-2642 Pine County Human Services 800-450-7463 St. Louis County Social Services 218-726-2015

Wisconsin: Reports of alleged child abuse or neglect should be made to the county where the child or the child’s family resides. Reports can also be made to local law enforcement offices. If you are not aware which county a Wisconsin municipality is in, please refer to the Wisconsin Demographic Services Municipality List. For more information, visit http://dcf.wi.gov/Children/CPS/cpswimap.htm?ref=hp.

Ashland County Health and 715-682-7004; after hours 715-682-7023 Human Services Department

Bayfield County Department 715-373-6144; after hours 715-373-6120 of Human Services

Douglas County Department 715-395-1304; after hours 715-395-1375 of Health and Human Services

Iron County Human Services Department 715-561-3636; 715-561-3637; 715-561-4168; after hours 715-561-3800

Michigan: Children’s Protective Services (CPS) is a program within the Department of Human Services (DHS) responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect. The Michigan Child Protection Law provides the framework for what CPS must do.

Mandated reporters are required to make an immediate verbal report to CPS and a written report within 72 hours when the mandated reporter suspects child abuse or neglect. Mandated reporters must also notify the head of their organization of the report. Reporting the suspected allegations of child abuse and/or neglect to the head of the organization does not fulfill the requirement to report directly to DHS.

The verbal report can be completed by calling toll free 800-942-4357 or calling the local county DHS children’s protective services unit.

Gogebic County DHS 906-663-6200; after hours 606-667-0444