Rotary International District 5650
Youth Exchange Inbound Program
Information Book For Inbound Students (Rev. August 12, 2015)
Department of State Toll Free Number 1 (866) 283-9090 Table of Contents Objectives Of The Program...... 3 The Rotary Support System...... 4 The Sponsoring Rotary Club’s Role...... 5 Sponsoring District’s Role...... 5 The Host Rotary Club’s Role...... 5 District 5650’s Role...... 6 Your Role...... 7 Your Host Family’s Role...... 9 Appendix A – What is Rotary?...... 10 The History of Rotary...... 10 Rotary Motto and Themes...... 10 Rotary in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa...... 10 The Rotary Foundation...... 11 Rotary at the Local Level -- The Rotary Club...... 11 Appendix B - Program Rules and Conditions of Exchange...... 12 Additional Program Rules and Conditions for Inbound Students to District 5650:...... 13 Appendix C District Disciplinary System: Yellow Card & Red Card...... 14 Appendix D - Travel...... 15 Frequently Asked Questions About District 5650 Inbound Travel...... 15 Natural Parent Travel Permission Form...... 18 Host Family & Club & District Travel Permission Form for Travel Outside District...... 19 Permission For Family Members To Visit Exchange Student...... 21 Rotary Bus Tours...... 24 Appendix E - Questions for “First Week” with Host Family...... 25 Appendix F - How to Cope with Culture Shock...... 27 The Exchange Cycle...... 30 Appendix G –Youth Protection...... 31 Statement from United States Department of State...... 31 Rotary International Statement of Conduct For Working with Youth...... 31 Rotary International Youth Protection Policy...... 31 Rotary International District 5650 Abuse and Harassment Prevention Policy...... 33 District 5650 Youth Exchange Sexual Abuse and Harassment Allegation Reporting Guidelines37 Appendix H Rotary International District 5650, Inc. Policy on Use and Disclosure of Confidential Information Obtained in Connection with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program...... 46 Objectives Of The Program o To further international goodwill and understanding by enabling students to study first hand some of the problems and accomplishments of people in lands other than their own. o To enable students to advance their education by studying for a year in an environment entirely different from their own, and undertaking the study of courses and subjects not normally available to them in their own country. o To give students opportunities to broaden their outlook by learning to live with and meet people of different cultures, creeds, and colors and by having to cope with day-to-day problems in an environment completely different from the one they have experienced at home. o To have students act as ambassadors for their own country by addressing Rotary Clubs, community organizations and youth groups in their host country; by imparting as much knowledge as they can of their own country, its attributes and its problems to the people they meet during their year abroad. o To provide sufficient time to study and observe another country's culture so that upon returning home students can pass on the knowledge they have gained by addressing Rotary clubs and other organizations and assimilate the positive aspects into their everyday living.
3 The Rotary Support System
What is Youth Exchange?
Rotary Youth Exchange is a country-to-country exchange of high-school age young people, between the ages of 15 to 18½ years old at the time of arrival in the hosting country, for a cultural and educational experience for both the student and those serving as hosts. The duration of the exchange is 10-12 months, and generally follows the school year as defined by the Exchange student’s home country.
What is Rotary?
Rotary International, as the sponsoring organization of this program, is an international volunteer organization comprised of Rotarians around the world dedicated to improving their community, both locally and world-wide, through service to others. A more comprehensive description of Rotary and its structure can be found in Appendix A of this Information Book. However, one term used throughout this Book warrants explanation here: District is the geographic organization of a number of local Rotary clubs for purposes of governance and support. We are Rotary International District 5650, consisting of 46 Rotary clubs representing eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
Role of the Rotary District and Youth Exchange Committee
Rotary Youth Exchange is, more specifically, an exchange of students between two Rotary Districts in different countries. Conduct and administration of the Exchange program is the responsibility of each participating Rotary district under the authority of the respective District Governor, a Rotarian elected for a one-year term to provide leadership to the clubs and Rotarians in that District. All Rotary districts participating in the Youth Exchange Program agree to comply with Rotary International guidelines, but retain autonomy in conduct of the program. This responsibility is delegated in District 5650 to the District Youth Exchange Committee.
To assure a complete understanding of your exchange, the District 5650 Committee provides a comprehensive orientation for you shortly after you arrive in the United States. Even before your departure, the Youth Exchange Committee established and maintains communications with its counterparts in your sponsoring district. We expect to keep in regular contact with the District 5650 Committee and its Co- Chairpersons and District Counselor in particular. We also expect you to keep in regular contact with the District Chairperson or Youth Exchange Officer and District Counselor in your sponsoring District.
The District 5650 Youth Exchange Committee is a valuable resource for both you and your host parents. Its members are familiar with the conduct of the Exchange Program both here and in the country where you are headed. Feel welcome to contact any member of the District 5650 Youth Exchange Committee anytime you have a question or need help with a problem.
4 The Sponsoring Rotary Club’s Role
Your local Rotary club has been involved from the start of your exchange. Members of the club interviewed you and your parents in order to get to know you and to make an independent determination of whether you had the maturity and background necessary to succeed as an exchange student and to be a good representative of your community, your local Rotary club, and your country.
Your local Rotary club has a Youth Exchange Officer and Club Counselor. You should communicate regularly with these people throughout your exchange. If you encounter difficulties during your exchange, it is important that you promptly tell these people what is going on so that they can help you.
Upon your return to the your country, you are expected to visit the Rotary Club that sponsored you. You probably will be asked to give a short presentation about your exchange. Sponsoring District’s Role
Your sponsoring District became involved in your exchange after your Sponsoring Rotary Club agreed to sponsor you and recommend that the District select you as one of its exchange students.
After you were notified of your selection, you should have participated in a day of orientation about the Rotary Youth Exchange Program that was put on by your sponsoring Rotary District. People you met at the orientation will continue to play a vital part in making your exchange successful. The Youth Exchange Committee members and in particular its co-chairpersons are resources who are available to help you if you encounter problems in the United States.
Keep in touch with the sponsoring District Co-Chairpersons and District Counselor by email. It is important that you let these people know about any problems or difficulties that you are having on your exchange. They are very willing to help but can do so only if they are told very early about emerging problems. We strongly urge you to seek their involvement before problems become too large for simple solutions.
The Host Rotary Club’s Role
Your Host Rotary club provides another level of support to you and the Exchange Program. Your local Rotary Club has identified an individual Rotarian who serves as the Youth Exchange Officer (or YEO) to administer the club’s Exchange program, including recruiting Host families. Another member of the Rotary Club has been designated as your Club Counselor for the duration of your exchange. The Club Counselor serves primarily as an advisor and advocate for you, but should certainly also be in contact with your host family on a regular basis, and be available to answer questions or direct host parents to the appropriate resource when needed.
The Host Rotary club has made arrangements for you to enroll in your community’s high school or a private school shortly after you arrive. The YEO or Club Counselor may assist you in selecting a course of study that should be neither overly-challenging nor boring for you.
Your Host Rotary Club provides another form of support to you in the form of a spending allowance. Each month the Rotary club will provide $100 directly to you to be used for incidental personal expenses, entertainment, school supplies, etc. Through the Rotary-provided allowance and parental resources, you are expected to be financially self-supporting in terms of personal expenses, clothing, entertainment, and travel when not part of a host family event. In addition, District 5650 requires you to deposit with your Host Rotary Club an emergency fund of $400. This fund is used by the club to pay for unexpected expenses when you are not able to do so. Please discuss any financial concerns with the Rotary club representatives. 5 The hosting club will regularly invite the exchange student to attend Rotary meetings and other Rotary events. Students are required to attend the following Rotary events:
1) One local Rotary meeting per month; 2) Get Acquainted Weekend in September; 3) Outbound Student Interviews in November; 4) Outbound Orientation in February; 5) District 5650 Conference in April or May. Exchange students are encouraged to attend other Rotary meetings and events as often as possible 6) The weekly meeting for the ______Rotary Club is on______at ______Location: ______.
Interference with host family activities from Rotary events should not impose a burden on the host family and the YEO/Club Counselor should be advised before this can occur. Rotary Club members will be responsible for providing transportation for the student to these events and activities.
Rotary Support -- District + Club
This Team of the District Youth Exchange Committee, the local Rotary club Youth Exchange Officer and Club Counselor are here to help you and host family have a successful exchange experience. They are available to you, 24 hours a day, to provide you with assistance on any matters of concern. We strongly urge you to seek our involvement before problems become too large for simple solutions.
District 5650’s Role
District 5650 has Rotary Youth Exchange District Co-Chairpersons or Youth Exchange Officers (YEO). The District Chairpersons are responsible for the overall organization of the Youth Exchange Program in District 5650 including making arrangements for your orientation in the United States and for the Rotary Youth Exchange students in District 5650 to get together for group activities.
The specific job of the District Counselor is to help you if you have problems with your exchange including problems with your Rotary Host Club, your host family, or your host school.
The District Co-Chairpersons and the District Counselor are there to help you. You should not hesitate to contact them when you need help. They can only help you, if you ask for help. If they are not able to help you, there is yet another person you can contact--the District Governor. Sometimes it takes the political influence of the District Governor to resolve a problem. Do not hesitate to contact the District Governor if other Rotary officials don’t get the job done.
6 Your Role
Above all else, we expect you to be involved: involved in your family; involved in school; involved in the community in which you live; and involved in Rotary. To do this successfully, most Exchange students must do two things: learn to communicate in a new language; and learn to adapt.
Learning English
All students arrive with some understanding of the English language, and most can speak and understand our language well, having studied English for several years in school. But for most, considerable effort will be needed on their part to understand the English we speak, which is often different than the English they were taught in school. Practice by engaging in real conversation, reading, and writing our language. These steps are necessary to develop true proficiency. You can help by asking questions that require more than “yes” or “no” answers, having patience when communications are not clear, and consciously speaking slowly and clearly, with frequent checks for understanding.
Learning to Adapt
Learning to adapt means, for most students, being willing to try new things, do things differently, recognize the cultural basis for the environment they are used to, and accepting that our cultural differences are neither “better or worse”, simply “different”.
Comply with Our Rules
All outbound exchange students, and their parents, agreed to comply with the rules, regulations, and guidelines that are part of the Rotary Youth Exchange application. These are common sense conditions that are intended to insure their safety, comply with the standards of the international organizations monitoring exchange programs, and assure that their conduct does not impose a burden on the families who open their homes to these students -- you Host Parents. The Program Rules & Conditions of Exchange are located in Appendix B of this handbook for your information. A summary of the more important rules are listed below:
1. Driving: Exchange students are not permitted to operate motor vehicles, including motorcycles, boats, or any other powered device requiring an operators license as a condition of the medical and accident insurance.
2. Drinking and Drugs: Exchange students must comply with the laws of their host country, including those applying to possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances. If allowed by the laws of your new country and the rules of your Host District, you may, with the approval of your host parents, accept an alcoholic beverage offered by them in their home.
3. Smoking: Applicants are asked to indicate if they smoke on the application, and this information is often the basis for the decision by the host family to host the student. Students who do smoke must comply with the conditions and restrictions imposed by the host family in all cases. Smoking is never permitted in your bedroom. If you stated on your application that you did not smoke, you may not smoke anytime or anyplace on your exchange.
7 4. School Attendance: This is an educational exchange, and you are required to attend school regularly, and maintain satisfactory class work. On the other hand, the program’s objective is not to provide a high school diploma, and each school agreeing to enroll exchange students will determine what, if any, certification will be provided for classes taken.
5. Travel: Travel for the exchange student as part of your host family, or with school or church groups, is highly encouraged and will provide you with opportunities to learn about the host country. However, independent travel, or travel without adult supervision will be given at least the same level of parental control you would expect your parents to impose on you in this country. Additionally, Rotarians at both the host club and district committee need to know where Exchange students are in the event of an emergency. Please know that we will support your host parents when they say NO to travel by you.
6. Visits by the your parents, family, and friends: Most District’s rules prohibit any visitors from your home country during the first eight to nine months of your exchange year, and specifically at any time that will interfere with school, or that will cause an inconvenience to your host family. Visits by family or friends during the traditional Christmas, New Year, and Easter holiday periods are generally forbidden. On the other hand, parental visits near the conclusion of the exchange year are great opportunities for you to share your mastery of your new language and knowledge of a new culture, and introduce your parents to all of the host families with whom you have lived. Any visits planned by your family members or friends must be fully acceptable to your then current host parents, and should be discussed with the appropriate Rotarians before being finalized.
7. Use of telephone and Internet: Students who frequently communicate with family and friends “back home” by telephone or e-mail often delay their own adjustments and adaptation to the exchange, and extend, rather than reduce, feelings of homesickness. In addition, you may not recognize the cost of lengthy, international telephone calls until the phone bill arrives. Occasional (perhaps every 3-4 weeks) telephone calls to or from home, plus calls on special occasions, should be sufficient voice contact when combined with “newsy” letters the student mails home that will likely be cherished and reread by his or her parents long after they arrive. Constant e-mail or instant messaging also prevents you from becoming part of your host family and community. You should limit this kind of electronic communication with home to about twice per week. You are also prohibited from visiting inappropriate web sites, such as pornography or hate sites. You are responsible for any costs incurred for telephone or Internet charges. You and your host parents should decide, in advance, how you pay for such usage when it is permitted. Additionally, we advise against having your own cell phone in your new country, as those bills can get very high very quickly. If you and your host family agree that it is advisable or necessary for you to have a cell phone, only prepaid plans should be accepted.
8 Your Host Family’s Role
The operative word here is Family. Your host family is asked to help you become a part of its family during the period when you live with it. Your host family should treat you as it would its own son or daughter, not as a guest. Your host family is expected to exercise all of the parental responsibilities and authorities that it would for its own child. Here are some guidelines for getting along well with your host family:
Get a clear understanding of the expectations of your host family. Appendix D is a listing of First Night Questions that we provide to you and your host parents that cover most of the topics that will help define those expectations. Cultural differences as well as personality differences often lead to misunderstandings unless these topics are discussed and clarified. Many students will use the questions as a “check-off list” to make sure nothing has been overlooked during the first few days; we suggest that host parents also review this list for any topics that are important to them.
Be prepared for homesickness. This can take many forms, from simply general sadness to wishing to stay in your room alone. It is perfectly normal for you to have bad days and experience homesickness. Keep busy and involved. These feelings will pass. If you have poured out your frustration in a letter or email home (eg., saying you want to return home immediately), delay sending the letter or message for a couple days, re-read it, and then mail it only if it still applies. Most students end up not sending the letter.
Get involved. School extracurricular activities, sports, community activities, church groups, and family activities may be new and unfamiliar to you, and will likely be very “different” from those activities you were involved in back home. If you sense that you are bored or reluctant to participate in available activities, go ahead and try a new activity even if no one has yet asked you to join in.
Understand “culture shock” and ask your family’s help in learning its culture. Appendix E in this booklet provides the article How To Cope With Culture Shock, which may help you understand some of the feelings you may experience as a result of the differences between your culture and the your new culture.
9 Appendix A – What is Rotary?
The History of Rotary
Rotary was born on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, the world's first and most international service club. The founder of Rotary was attorney Paul P. Harris (1868-1947), who gathered with three others to discuss his idea of a group of businessmen from different professions getting together periodically to become better acquainted. They decided to limit membership to one representative of each profession and to rotate the meeting site among each member's place of business, to acquaint each other with their various vocations and to promote business. The rotation of meeting places is the source of the name "Rotary".
Club membership grew rapidly. The second Rotary Club was founded in San Francisco in 1908. When clubs were formed in Canada and Great Britain, in 1912, Rotary became an international organization.
Since 1905, the ideas of Paul Harris and his friends have become ideals which have been accepted by people of practically all nationalities, and of many political and religious beliefs. Today there are Rotary Clubs in Austria and American Samoa, in Brazil and Brunei, in Italy and India, in Scotland and South Africa - in some 170 countries. The universal acceptance of Rotary principles has been so great that there are now more than 28,000 Rotary clubs, with a membership of over 1.2 million men and women.
Rotary Motto and Themes
Rotary International has adopted as its motto, "Service Above Self". A second theme of Rotary is "He profits most who serves best". Additionally, each year, the Rotary International President coins a theme for that Rotary year.
Rotarians throughout the world quote the Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotary in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa
Each of the more than 30,000 Rotary clubs in the world is a member of Rotary International. Rotary is divided into 521 Districts, each of which is headed by a District Governor. We are District 5650, which consists of 45 clubs in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. Our District includes Rotary Clubs in the communities of: Ashland, Auburn, Aurora, Avoca, Beatrice, Bellevue, Blair, Clarinda, Columbus (2), Council Bluffs (2), Crete, David City, Fairbury, Falls City, Fremont, Friend, Geneva, Glenwood, Hebron, Humboldt, Lincoln (4), Nebraska City, Norfolk, Omaha (7), Pawnee City, Plattsmouth, Red Oak, Schuyler, Seward, Shenandoah, Wayne, Western Douglas County, Wilber, and York.
The District Governor, along with all officers of Rotary on the international, district or club level, serve for a Rotary fiscal year that runs from July 1 to June 30.
A number of district-level committees are organized to provide sponsorship or support for Rotary functions and initiatives that involve Rotarians from across our District. The Youth Exchange Committee is an example of a District Committee.
10 The Rotary Foundation
In 1917, the Rotary Foundation was born. The Rotary Foundation is a philanthropic trust promoting further understanding and friendly relations between peoples of different nations. The Foundation sponsors the largest scholarship program in the world and is supported purely by voluntary contributions from Rotary Clubs and Rotarians.
The Rotary Foundation has eight working programs and a budget of approximately $45-$50 million (US) each year. These programs include Ambassadorial Scholarships, Rotary Volunteers, The 3H program (for Health, Hunger and Humanity), Rotary Peace Conferences, World Community Service, Special Grants, and two others that you may encounter during your exchange: Group Study Exchange, and Polio-Plus.
Group Study Exchange involves paired districts in different countries sending teams of 4 or 5 business or professional men and women for a 4 week period of study and discussion with their counterparts in the other country. Polio-Plus is Rotary’s plan to eliminate polio from the world by the year 2005, Rotary's 100th birthday.
Rotary at the Local Level -- The Rotary Club
The "personality" of each Rotary club is a reflection of the community it serves and the membership of that club. Even within our own District, club size ranges from less than two dozen members to well over two hundred members. Rotary clubs meet weekly throughout the year; some for a breakfast meeting, others during lunch. Some Rotary club meetings are quiet and serious”, staying to a tight schedule so the members can return to work on time, while other club meetings are less formal and structured.
Exchange students often find that the Rotary club hosting them will be very different from the Rotary club sponsoring them, and both will be very different from other Rotary clubs they may have the opportunity to visit during their exchange year. But Rotarians around the world all share the common philosophy for Service to Others, and as an exchange student, they are there to help provide a successful exchange experience.
As with most organizations, Rotary clubs are led by officers who are elected by the membership for one year terms, beginning on July 1, the beginning of the Rotary Year. The officers include the Club President, Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and/or President-Elect, and Directors. Rotary clubs participating in the Youth Exchange Program generally appoint a Youth Exchange Officer, or YEO, to oversee that program, and that Rotarian, or another member of the host Rotary club, will be designated as the exchange student’s Club Counselor. This Rotarian serves as the primary liaison between the Rotary club, the exchange student, and the host families.
11 Appendix B - Program Rules and Conditions of Exchange
The following two pages contain the Program Rules and Conditions, which all exchange students and their parents agreed to follow as part of the Application to the Exchange Program. These are the “universal” set of common sense rules that all Rotary District Youth Exchange Programs expect the student to comply with as a condition of the Exchange. A Rotary Youth Exchange Student must agree to the following rules and conditions of exchange.
Strict Rules and Condition of Exchange—Violation will result in student’s immediate return home.
1) You must obey the laws of the host country. If found guilty of 8) You should have sufficient financial support to assure your well-being violating any law, you can expect no assistance from your sponsors or during your exchange. Your host district may require a contingency native country. You must return home at your own expense as soon as fund for emergency situations. Unused funds will be returned to your released by authorities. parents or legal guardians at the end of your exchange. 2) You are not allowed to possess or use illegal drugs. Medicine 9) You must follow the travel rules of your host district. Travel is prescribed to you by a physician is allowed. permitted with host parents or for Rotary club or district functions 3) The illegal drinking of alcoholic beverages is expressly forbidden. authorized by the host Rotary club or district with proper adult Students who are of legal age should refrain. If your host family chaperones. The host district and club, host family, and your parents or offers you an alcoholic drink, it is permissible to accept it under their legal guardians must approve any other travel in writing, thus supervision in the home. exempting Rotary of responsibility and liability. 4) You may not operate a motorized vehicle or participate in driver 10) You must return home directly by a route mutually agreeable to your education programs. host district and your parents or legal guardians. 5) You will be under the host district’s authority while you are an 11) Any costs related to an early return home or any other unusual costs exchange student and must abide by the rules and conditions of (language tutoring, tours, etc.) are the responsibility of you and your exchange provided by the host district. Parents or legal guardians parents or legal guardians. must not authorize any extra activities directly to you. Any relatives 12) You should communicate with your first host family prior to leaving you may have in the host country will have no authority over you your home country. The family’s information must be provided to you while you are in the program. by your host club or district prior to your departure. 6) You must attend school regularly and make an honest attempt to 13) Visits by your parents or legal guardians, siblings, or friends while you succeed. are on exchange are strongly discouraged. Such visits may only take 7) You must have travel insurance that provides medical and dental place with the host club’s and district’s consent and within their coverage for accidental injury and illness, death benefits (including guidelines. Typically, visits may be arranged only in the last quarter of repatriation of remains), disability / dismemberment benefits, the exchange or during school breaks and are not allowed during major emergency medical evacuation, emergency visitation expenses, 24- holidays. hour emergency assistance services, and legal services, in amounts 14) Talk with your host club counselor, host parents, or other trusted adult satisfactory to the host Rotary club or district in consultation with the if you encounter any form of abuse or harassment. sponsor Rotary club or district, with coverage from the time of your departure from your home country until your return.
Common Sense Rules and Condition of Exchange—Violations will result in District review and restrictions. Severe or constant disregard of these rules will result in being returned home.
15) Smoking is discouraged. If you state in your application that you do 20) Avoid serious romantic activity. Abstain from sexual activity. not smoke, you will be held to that position throughout your 21) Get involved in your school and community activities. Plan your exchange. Your acceptance and host family placement is based on recreation and spare-time activities around your school and community your signed statement. Under no circumstances are you to smoke in friends. Don’t spend all your time with other exchange students. If your host family’s bedrooms. there is a local Interact club, you are encouraged to join it. 16) Body piercing or obtaining a tattoo while on your exchange is not 22) Choose friends in the community carefully. Ask for and heed the allowed, for health reasons. advice of host families, counselors, and school personnel in choosing 17) Respect your host’s wishes. Become an integral part of the host friends. family, assuming duties and responsibilities normal for a student of 23) Do not borrow money. Pay any bills promptly. Ask permission to use your age or for children in the family. the family phone or computer, keep track of all calls and time on the 18) Learn the language of your host country. Teachers, host parents, Internet, and reimburse your host family each month for the costs you Rotary club members, and others you meet in the community will incur. appreciate the effort. It will go a long way in your gaining acceptance 24) Limit your use of the Internet and mobile phones. Excessive or in the community and with those who will become lifelong friends. inappropriate use is not acceptable. 19) Attend Rotary-sponsored events and host family events, and show an 25) If you are offered an opportunity to go on a trip or attend an event, interest in these activities. Volunteer to be involved; do not wait to be make sure you understand any costs you must pay and your asked. Lack of interest on your part is detrimental to your exchange responsibilities before you go. and can have a negative impact on future exchanges.
12 Additional Program Rules and Conditions for Inbound Students to District 5650
1) Open return round trip ticket. Students must arrive 8) Travel. Students generally are prohibited with a complete round-trip airline ticket, including all from independent travel. Travel with a Host Family, domestic and international segments. The ticket must school or church group, or local Rotarian is permitted. have an “OPEN” return or a provision that the return A student who wants to travel outside District 5650 must may be changed at relatively low cost. Students must first obtain written permission from the student’s natural arrive directly in District 5650 from their home parents, the current Host Family, the Host Rotary Club, country and must return directly at the end of the and District 5650. exchange year. The only exception is Rotary approved bus tours shortly after the school year. This is a cultural and educational exchange, not a travel exchange. Exchange students should have no 2) Emergency fund ($400). Students must expectations of being a tourist. The Host Rotary Club maintain an Emergency Fund of $400 US, to be and Host Families are under no obligation to provide or deposited upon arrival with the host Rotary Club permit it. However, some travel through the generosity Counselor or Youth Exchange Officer. This fund is of and with the Host club, local Rotarians and Host ONLY to be used in emergencies and then must be Families is encouraged. replenished immediately by the student or his/her natural parents. Students shall not make their own travel arrangements and then expect the Host club, Host 3) Insurance. All inbound students must purchase Family, and District 5650 to agree. Tickets may be the Rotary District 5650 approved insurance policy purchased only after all necessary written approvals through CISI-Bolduc (either Plan A+ or B). Guarantee have been obtained. Inbound Exchange students must forms and DS-2019 visa documents will not be issued comply with this policy; Host Families are asked to until the insurance premium is paid. Foreign enforce it. Violations may be grounds for terminating insurance policies are not acceptable because of the the Exchange, and returning the student to his or her potential problem with a foreign company processing home country immediately. claims originating in the US. 9) Respecting flags. Writing on or signing the flag 4) Medical conditions & dietary restrictions. Students of any country is not permitted. This is a crime and must identify if they have any dietary or physical could lead to students being attacked by a person who restrictions on the application. If something considers the act to be disrespectful. occurred after submitting the application and the student needs special attention, the D5650 YE 10) Monthly stipend. The student’s host club will pay a Chairperson must receive a complete report at least monthly stipend of $100 for each month a student is here 2 weeks before departure. If an applicant suffers up to a maximum of ten months. from a newly disclosed mental or medical condition, 11) High school athletic participation. High school the District 5650 Youth Exchange Chairperson athletic participation cannot be guaranteed. reserves the right to cancel or terminate the exchange. 12) Graduation. Most high schools will not graduate exchange students. Some schools will award 5) Communication with home. To help students an honorary diploma or allow the student to walk across adapt, phone calls home should be limited to once per the stage at graduation. American colleges and month after the first phone call on arrival. E-mail, text universities generally do not recognize honorary messaging, and instant messaging to family and friends diplomas. Students who need credit for courses taken in back home should be limited to no more than twice per American high schools should check with their school week. counselors in their home country to make certain that 6) School attendance. Students must attend school they are taking the correct courses. These students may regularly and make good effort in classes. Students also want to consider taking additional courses in their will attend high school, at the school designated by country or taking online or distance learning courses. the Host Rotary Club. Students are not allowed to 13) Computer and cell phone usage. Computers and cell take driver education or operate a motor vehicle. phones should be used at home only in common or 7) Visits from home. Visits by parents and family public areas. Students are expected to follow the members are permitted only after six months. Visits by rules of the host family on when and where friends from home are strongly discouraged and will be computers and phones may be used. Cell phones allowed only in special circumstances. Students are not generally should be on “pay as you go” plans. If you permitted to return home during the exchange year wish to use a different plan or to use a smartphone, except in cases of emergency. you must get permission from the District and your host club.
13 14 Appendix C District Disciplinary System: Yellow Card & Red Card
1. Yellow Card: Significant misconduct that is not so serious that student should be sent home
2. Red Card Misconduct for which a student should be sent home Accumulation of two or more yellow cards
3. Only District YEO & District Vice Chair issue Yellow and Red Cards.
4. Red Card issued only after consultation with District Governor.
5. District Governor may direct that a student be sent home.
6. Chain of Action Club observes incident or is informed of incident by someone such as a host family member or school official Club reports incident to Inbound Coordinator Inbound Coordinator reports to: o District YEO and District Vice Chair o Club Counselor and Club YEO District YEO reports to District Governor when appropriate
7. The YEO or Vice Chair will consult with the host club and the host counselor in particular.
8. If YEO issues a Yellow Card: Student is on probation. Student is informed in writing of the specific behaviors that are unacceptable and a time frame in which change is expected. Student and counselor sign the form and copies are given to the host family, counselor, and District YEO.
9. Rotary Code 41.080.18 The decision to send a student home early requires the agreement of the host and sending districts. If the districts do not agree, an independent mediator may be appointed. Appendix D - Travel Frequently Asked Questions About District 5650 Inbound Travel
Rotary Youth Exchange is a cultural exchange in which the student is expected to attend school regularly. It is not a travel exchange. Nonetheless, most students will have the opportunity to travel with their host families or Rotarians. This kind of travel is encouraged.
A. What type of travel is allowed? The travel must be consistent with the student’s J-1 visa status as an exchange student. Travel on SCRYE Approved Rotary bus tours is consistent with this status. Travel with host families or Rotarians is generally consistent with this status. Travel with close relatives or to visit close relatives may or may not be consistent with this status. For all other travel, there should be an academic or cultural component
B. Who decides whether travel is allowed? Student must have a blanket travel permission form signed by the student’s natural parents. If proposed travel would cause the student to miss school, the school should be consulted. Decision is a joint decision by: o Host family that is hosting at the time of the travel o Host Club o District The club and the host family should not automatically approve the travel. Rather they should listen to the proposal and discuss it with the District. It places the District in a difficult position when the host family and host club have already given their approval.
C. When must the student get permission before traveling? The student should provide the host club and District of notice whenever the student plans to travel out of town. Permission is required, but filling out the written permission form is not required. If the student is traveling outside of the District1, a written permission form must also be completed. (This provision does not apply to District events.)
E. When must a written permission form be completed? For travel outside the District unless the travel is to a District event. Rotary Bus Tour. Permissions for school trips is handled the same as for other trips. If the travel is out of town but within the District then permission from the host club and host family is required. If travel is outside the District, then written permission from the District, host club, and host family is required.
F. When is written permission form not required? Travel within the District. Travel to District events. G. If the student travels outside of the District (other than for District events), what details must be provided and to whom must the details be provided? District 5650 is required to provide the natural parents or guardians and host parents of the following: Details about the program; Location; Travel itineraries; Sleeping accommodations;
1 Rotary International places additional requirements for travel outside the local community, The District defines the local community. District 5650 has defined the local community as District 5650. Contact information including cell phone numbers for the adults and phone numbers for hotels.
H. When is travel by the student prohibited? During times that conflict with scheduled district events. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter Generally during the last two to three weeks of school and during the week after school gets out except that a student may travel on Rotary approved bus tours at the end of the exchange. Travel when school is in session is generally not approved unless it is for a day or two only and does not create a problem for the school. If travel to visit a relative near the end of an exchange is allowed, the student must return to the District at least one day (and preferably at least two days) before the student leaves for his or her host country. Rotary and Department of State regulations require a student to depart directly for home at the end of the student’s program. The Department of State gives the student 30 days after the program completion date to return home.
I. With whom may the student travel? Adults in the Host Family (Family Trips) Local Rotarians School Trips Church Trips
J. When is unaccompanied travel allowed? Unaccompanied travel has been allowed to visit: o A relative. o A relative of the host family. o The family of a student who had been hosted by the exchange student’s family. Tours other than Rotary bus tours are considered unaccompanied travel and will not be approved. When available, non-stop air travel is generally required even if there is a less expensive option available. This principle is particularly important during the winter. When non-stop travel is not available, the connections must be reasonable and the airports where the connections take place also must make sense. Generally connections to the last flight of the day will not be approved.
K. Who may the student visit? Relatives and friends of the host family if the student is traveling with the host family. Relatives and friends of a Rotarian if the student is traveling with the Rotarian A relative. (Relative means relative in the American sense and not in the expanded sense common in Asian and some other countries.)
L. Who pays for the travel? The student is expected to pay for all travel. Nonetheless, some host families and some Rotarians who take the student on a trip pay for the transportation.
M. What Youth Protection considerations are there? Transportation arrangements must be reasonably safe. Sleeping accommodations must be appropriate. Visits to a relative—natural parents must confirm in writing that the person is a relative and that they support the visit. Visits to non-relatives--a host family application and criminal background check is required.
N. When are visits from family members prohibited? During the first six months of the exchange. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Easter. During times that conflict with scheduled district events. During the last two to three weeks of school and during the week after school gets out except that parents are allowed to visit if their child will be graduating from high school. (Honorary diplomas are not included in this exception.) If the student wants to travel with his or her parents, the school schedule must be considered.
O. Are visits from friends at home allowed? No. But if a friend is in town for other reasons, then allowing the student to go out to dinner with the friend is allowed.
P. When may the student purchase tickets? Generally tickets should not be purchased until after the student has: Submitted the proposed itinerary to the host family, host club, and District. Received written permission from the host family, host club, and District for the specific travel plans. Rotary International Youth Exchange Program District 5650 Nebraska - Iowa
Natural Parent Travel Permission Form An Exchange Student is allowed to travel within District 5650 when the student has obtained prior permission from the student’s Host Family and Host Rotary Club. All trips must be properly chaperoned by adults. If the trip requires that the student travel outside District 5650, the student must obtain prior written permission from the student’s: Natural Parents Host Parents Rotary District Youth Exchange Chairman2 Travel will be approved only if it is consistent with the J-1 visa status of the exchange students. Reasonable requests will not be denied. However, if any one of the above concludes that such a trip would put the student or the student’s health at unnecessary risk, or that for any other reason the student should not go, the student will not be allowed to go.
We are the natural parents of Rotary Youth Exchange student, . We give permission for our child to travel within District 5650 provided that the Host Parents and Host Rotary Club give their permission. We give permission for our child to travel outside District 5650, provided that the Host Parents, Host Rotary Club, and the Rotary District 5650 Youth Exchange Chairperson give their permission. This permission statement covers all arranged and approved travel opportunities during the current Exchange year.
Natural Father / Date - ______
Natural Mother / Date - ______
2 Faxed and email signatures are valid. Rotary International Youth Exchange Program District 5650 Eastern Nebraska – Western Iowa
Host Family & Club & District Travel Permission Form for Travel Outside District
You are allowed to travel within District 5650 when you have obtained prior permission from your Host Family and your Host Rotary Club. Travel to and from your destination generally must be properly chaperoned by adults. If the trip requires that you travel outside District 5650, you must obtain prior written permission from the following: Your Natural Parents Your Host Club Your Host Parents Rotary District Youth Exchange Chairman Reasonable requests will not be denied. However, if any one of the above persons concludes that should not go or that the trip would put you or your health at unnecessary risk, you will not be allowed to go.
I , hereby request permission to travel outside District 5650.
1. My itinerary
Air transportation. Electronic Confirmation Number: Departing Flights: Airline & Flight No. Depart City & Time Arrive City & Time Airline & Flight No. Depart City & Time Arrive City & Time Airline & Flight No. Depart City & Time Arrive City & Time Return Flights: Airline & Flight No. Depart City & Time Arrive City & Time Airline & Flight No. Depart City & Time Arrive City & Time Airline & Flight No. Depart City & Time Arrive City & Time
Transportation by car. Name and Age of all drivers: What is the driving schedule?
2. My Cell Phone Number is
3. Travel companions.3 The names, ages, and familial relationship (if any) of the persons with whom I will be traveling and their cell numbers are: Name Age Relationship to me Cell Number Name Age Relationship to me Cell Number Name Age Relationship to me Cell Number Name Age Relationship to me Cell Number Name Age Relationship to me Cell Number 3a. Hotel Accommodations. Dates Hotel Name and Address Phone Dates Hotel Name and Address Phone Dates Hotel Name and Address Phone Dates Hotel Name and Address Phone Dates Hotel Name and Address Phone
3 If you are meeting up with others on the trip, you also must provide their names. In some cases it may be necessary to perform criminal background checks and obtain a host family application. Who will be staying in your hotel room with you?
3b. Private home arrangements. The names, addressess, and phone numbers of the homes where I will be staying are: Dates Name and Address Phone Dates Name and Address Phone Dates Name and Address Phone Dates Name and Address Phone Describe sleeping arrangements:
Student’s Agreement that Rotary Rules Apply During Travel I understand that the Rotary Rules continue to apply during my trip and that I am subject to discipline (including being sent home) if I violate any Rotary Rule during my trip.
______Date: Student Signature
Permission Section We have determined that this travel is consistent with the student’s visas status as a high school youth exchange student. Participation in this travel is part of the student’s participation in exchange activities of the district. Permission to travel as outlined above is hereby granted.
Host Club Permission/Date______
Host Family Permission/Date______
District 5650 YE Chair/Date______
You may not purchase tickets for travel until after you have obtained all signatures required by this Travel Permission Form.
Permission For Family Members To Visit Exchange Student
Student Name Host Club Page 1 of 2 IB-6
*Inbound Student Request for Visit by Family (Approvals re qu i re d for visit during exchange year) (See attached copy of Rules concerning visits with Students inbound to this district) Rotary Youth Exchange, District ______
(*Revised February 9, 2012 See SCRYE Website to verify latest version) General Information (at Time of Proposed Visit) Name of Student to be Visited Name of Host Family Host Club
Host Home Street Address City State Zip Code
Host Family Telephone Host Family E-mail Address School Student Attends
Host Father’s Profession/Occupation/Business Host Mother’s Profession/Occupation/Business
Names of host family children living at home with age (John 8, Mary 12, etc.)
In addition to parents and children, list others (if any) living in the family home
Proposed Visit Schedule Proposed Date of Visitor Arrival (mm/dd/yyyy) Proposed Date of Visitor Departure (mm/dd/yyyy)
Names of Visitors and Relation to Student (For example, Father, mother, brother, uncle…) Name Relation to Student
Name Relation to Student
Name Relation to Student
Name Relation to Student
Description of Proposed Visit (If more space is needed, add additional pages)
Proposed living accommodations during visit. (For example, have hotel accommodations for proposed visitor(s) been arranged, or do proposed visitors expect to stay with the host family or another Rotary family? De s cribe f u l l y . Describe proposed activities with student during the visit. (For example, do visitors expect to travel with the student during the visit? If s o , provide a complete proposed travel itinerary – giving proposed dates and destinations of travel as well as proposed activities during travel.) Remember, missing school for visits with family and/or friends requires approval in advance. Student Name Host Club Page 2 of 2 IB-6 District Rules Regarding Visits by Family and Friends 1. Visits from home generally will not be approved during the: • First six months of your exchange; • Traditional holiday times such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter; and • The last two to three weeks of school and the week after school gets out. Visits from home during these periods are particularly disruptive. One exception to this policy is that family members will generally be allowed to attend the graduation of their child. This exception applies to actual graduations but not to those situations in which a student is allowed to walk across the stage without receiving a regular diploma.
2. Before making plans for family members to visit, you must obtain prior written permission from the following: • Your Host Club; • The Host Parents who will be your host at the time of the visit; and • Rotary District Youth Exchange Chairman.
3. You and your visitors should not purchase tickets for any travel until after you have obtained all signatures required by this Form.
Required Approval Signatures (All approvals required) N Signatures Date Student a
Rotary Counselor
Host Father or Host Mother
Student Parent’s Name (Father or Mother)
Host District YEO Rotary Bus Tours
For information about Rotary tours around the United States go to:
http://www.ryetours.org/
You must obtain permission from your Host Rotary Family, Host Rotary Club, and District 5650 before you sign up for a Rotary bus tour. You may travel only on tours that have been approved by SCRYE. So far SCRYE has approved USA Tours and South Central Ambassadorial Tours. Appendix E - Questions for “First Week” with Host Family
1. What do I call you? “Mom”, “Dad”, or given (first) name?
2. What am I expected to do daily other than: a. Make my bed b. Keep my room tidy c. Clean the bathroom up after I use it?
3. What is the procedure about dirty clothes? Where do I keep them until wash day?
4. Should I wash my own underclothes?
5. What is the procedure if I need to iron my clothes?
6. May I use the iron, washing machine, sewing machine, etc.?
7. Where can I keep my bathroom accessories?
8. When is the most convenient time for me to use the bathroom on weekday mornings?
9. When is the best time for me to shower or bathe?
10. When are mealtimes?
11. Do I have a regular job at meal times? Set, clear, wash, dry the dishes; the garbage?
12. May I help myself to food and drinks (non-alcoholic) at any time or must I ask first?
13. What areas are strictly private e.g. your study, bedroom, pantry, etc.?
14. May I put posters and pictures in my room? On the wall? How do you want things hung?
15. What are your feelings about my drinking alcohol if offered by you?
16. Do you object to my having wine at the table with you or an occasional beer?
17. What time must I get up weekday mornings?
18. What time should I get up weekends and holidays?
19. What time must I go to bed weekdays? Weekends?
20. What time must I be in on school nights if I go out? (Exceptions by special arrangement).
21. What time must I be in on weekends if I go out?
22. What dates are the birthdays of family members?
23. May I have friends stay overnight? 24. What is your rule on entertaining friends in my room with the door closed?
25. Can I invite friends over during the day? After school? When no one else is home?
26. What are the rules about phone calls? Local?, Long Distance?, Overseas? How and when may I pay for calls I make? How do you want me to keep track of my pay telephone calls?
27. What are the rules about access to the Internet and e-mail if there is a computer in the house? Are there time limits or time periods that use is permitted or prohibited?
28. May my friends call me? What times are not good?
29. What is the procedure about posting mail?
30. Do any of you have any pet dislikes? e.g.. chewing gum, music types, being late, wearing curlers or a hat at the table, being interrupted while reading, etc.
31. How do I get around? bus, bicycle, be driven, riding with friends, etc.
32. What about transportation to the mall or movies?
33. May I play the stereo or TV?
34. May I use kitchen appliances? Microwave? Dishwasher? Stove?
35. What are the rules about going to church?
36. May I smoke? Where? (Rotary discourages smoking in general and forbids smoking in bedrooms)
37. If I have something bugging me, how do you want me to handle it? a. Write a note explaining it b. Ask for a heart to heart discussion c. Tell my counselor d. Keep it to myself and live with it
38. How often can I go out each week?
39. Who pays for “event” expenses? me? you? Rotary? (movies, sports events, concerts/shows )
40. Can I use the shampoo and tooth paste or buy my own?
41. What do I do about school lunch? Buy- who pays- me, you, Rotary? Bring from home?
42. Are there any eating habits or foods I need to discuss? I don't like _____.
In general, ask about those things you feel are most important the first night, and then other over the next couple nights. Host Families, Students and Rotary should always maintain open and honest communications. Appendix F - How to Cope with Culture Shock by Arthur Gordon As the world grows smaller, as ever-increasing numbers of people travel, work or study abroad, more attention is More insidious is what might be termed delayed being focused on a kind of silent sickness that often afflicts culture shock. Often when a person takes up the inexperienced traveler or the unwary expatriate. It's residence in a foreign country there's a period of the loss of emotional equilibrium that a person suffers excitement and exhilaration when everything seems when he moves from a familiar environment where he has new and challenging and fascinating. If one has learned to function easily and successfully to one where he friends of business connections one may be asked to has not. The term used to describe this malady is “culture dinner, taken sight-seeing, made much of -- at first. shock”. Also, in the beginning similarities between cultures are more apparent than differences. Almost The effects of culture shock may range from mild everywhere people live in houses, go to work, relax on uneasiness or temporary homesickness to acute week-ends, do the shopping, eat three meals a day and unhappiness or even, in extreme cases, psychological so on. All this seems reassuring. panic, irritability, hyper-sensitivity and loss of perspective are common symptoms. Often the victim doesn't know It's not until this honeymoon period ends that the what's the matter with him. He just knows that newcomer begins to realize that there are endless something's wrong -- and he feels miserable. subtle differences that leave him facing a host of perplexing problems. Many of these problems never Most experts in inter-cultural communication agree that bothered him at home, because they solved themselves the basic cause of culture shock is the abrupt loss of the almost automatically. Now, to his increased dismay, familiar, which in turn causes a sense of isolation and he finds that he has language troubles, housing diminished self-importance. “Culture shock”, says troubles, money troubles, transportation troubles, food anthropologist Kalvero Oberg, “is brought on by the troubles, recreation troubles, perhaps even health anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and troubles. All of these things drain away his reservoir symbols of social intercourse. these signs or cues include of good-humor and equanimity. Having his laundry the thousand and one ways in which we orient ourselves to done may become a major struggle. Making a the situations of daily life: when to shake hands and what telephone call may be a small crisis. It may seem to to say when we meet people, when and how to give tips, him that people say yes when they mean no and how to give orders to servants, how to make purchases, promise to do things which they never do. Time may when to accept and when to refuse invitations, when to be regarded quite differently by the people among take statements seriously and when not.” whom he finds himself. So may space, in some countries people like to stand very close together According to Dr. Oberg, these cues, which may be words, when they converse, in others this violates a deep- gestures, facial expressions or customs, are acquired by all rooted sense of privacy. of us in the course of growing up and are as much a part of our culture as the language we speak or the beliefs we Underlying all these difficulties is the uncomfortable accept. All of us depend for our peace of mind on feeling of not really belonging, of being an outsider. hundreds of these cues, even though we may not be In changing cultures, the newcomer has inevitably consciously aware of them. “When an individual enters a changed his own status. At home he was strange culture,” Dr. Oberg says, “all or most of these “somebody”, or at least his place in society was familiar cues are removed. he or she is like a fish out of established and recognized, here he is relatively water. No matter how broad-minded or full of goodwill he “nobody”. As a foreigner, he is a member of a may be, a series of props has been knocked out from under minority whose voice counts for little or nothing. He him.” may find that his homeland, so important to him, is regarded with suspicion or dismissed as unimportant. Sometimes the transition to an alien culture has an In short, as one observer put it, he finds himself in immediate impact. A short term American visitor to “circumstances of beleaguered self-esteem”. certain Eastern European countries may find himself dismayed or depressed by living conditions that seem A mature, confident person may be able to shrug off perfectly normal and acceptable to the people of that these circumstances. But if the newcomer is insecure country - toilets with no seats, for example, or even more or sensitive or shy, they may seem over-whelming. primitive bathroom facilities. It may come as a real shock Furthermore, as troubles pile up and he begins to look to a teenager from Texas to find that hamburgers are non- around for help, he may conclude that the natives of existent, or, that local hairdressers never heard of plastic the country in which he finds himself are either curlers. incapable of understanding his plight or are indifferent to it. This in turn triggers the emotion that is one of the emphasize the fact that language and voice are by no surest signs of culture shock: hostility to the new means our only form of communication, they are environment. The victim says to himself, “These people supported by hundreds of gestures and facial don't seem to know or care what I’m going though. expressions that are easily misinterpreted. Therefore they must be selfish, insensitive people. Therefore I don't like them.” Yet another stumbling block that compounds the problems of culture shock is the tendency of many Inevitably this reaction tends to increase the isolation of people to think of members of other cultures in terms the unhappy visitor because people sense his antagonism of stereotypes. The excitable Arabs. The amorous and begin to avoid him. When this happens, he may seek French. The touchy Italians. The lazy Latinos. The out other disgruntled souls, usually expatriates like volatile Hungarians. The materialistic Americans. himself, and find melancholy relief in criticizing all Some psychologists think that anxiety-prone people aspects of the host country. These discussions almost cling to stereotypes because it lessens the threat of the never lead to any honest evaluation of the situation or unknown by making the world predictable … and awareness that the difficulty may lie in the attitude of the what the victim of culture shock needs desperately is a critics themselves. They are simply gripe-sessions in familiar, predictable world. which the virtues of the home country are exaggerated almost as much as the alleged failing of the country being Almost always, fortunately, symptoms of culture visited. As Dr. Oberg says, “When Americans or other shock subside with the passage of time. The first sign foreigners get together to grouse about the host country of recovery may well be the reappearance of the and its people, you can be sure they are suffering from victim's sense of humor; he begins to smile or even culture shock.” laugh at some of the things that irritated him as much at first. As familiarity with local language and Sometimes the victim of culture shock may go to the other customs increases, his self-confidence and self-esteem extreme, surrendering his own identity and trying to begin to return. He comes out of his shell and makes imitate all the customs and attitudes of the alien culture. tentative overtures to the people around him -- and as Or he may try to solve the problem by withdrawing into soon as he starts being friendly, they stop seeming himself, refusing to learn the native language, making no hostile. Slowly he progresses from a grudging effort to find friends among the local people, taking no acceptance of his surroundings to a genuine fondness interest in their history, art, architecture, or any other for them and becomes proud of his growing ability to aspect of their culture. While in this state of mind he may function in them. In the end, he wonders what he was display a variety of unattractive symptoms. One is a so unhappy about in the beginning. tendency to over-react to minor frustrations or delays or inconveniences with irritation or anger out of all Is it possible to shorten the duration of culture shock proportion to the cause. Another is to be unduly or minimize its impact? The experts think so. Here suspicious, to think that people are out to cheat or swindle are three suggestions they offer to anyone planning a him because he is a foreigner. Yet another is over-concern stay in a foreign land. about cleanliness, an unwarranted conviction that water, food or dishes are unsanitary when in fact they are not. First, be aware that such a thing as culture Often the person is unaware of the extent to which he is shock exists, that it will probably affect you displaying these symptoms. one way or another, but that it doesn't last forever. He does know, however, that he is miserable and that the casual remedies recommended to him --- patience, hard Next, try to remember, if and when you work, mastery of the language and so on -- don't seem to become thoroughly disenchanted with your do much good. Sometimes he will develop a marked surroundings, that the problem probably isn't degree of over-dependence on people from his own so much in them as it is in you. country who have passed through their own period of culture shock and are residing successfully and happily in Third, accept the idea that while it may be the host country. If they in turn can display wisdom, somewhat painful, culture shock can be a patience and understanding of his symptoms, they often very valuable experience, a mind-stretching are able to shorten the span of his misery. process that will leave you with broader perspectives, deeper insight into yourself and One reason the unhappy expatriate gravitates toward his wider tolerance for other people. own countrymen is that in their company he can at least feel sure of being understood. Underlying much of his If it happens to you, don't think that you're strange or confusion is the fact that even if he speaks the language of abnormal. If you had a happy life back home, why the country there remain endless opportunities for shouldn't you miss some aspects of it or feel a sense of misunderstanding. All experts in communication loss? You'd be abnormal if you didn't. delightful custom, regarded it as a novel and If it happens to you, don't sit around being negative and refreshing experience and even bragged about it to his critical, this just prolong and deepens your gloom. Try to fellow tourists. The first American, it seems keep busy. Arrange something pleasant to look forward to. reasonable to say, was far more a prisoner of his own Set goals for yourself -- learning ten new foreign phrases culture, than the second. each day, for example-- and stick to them. In sum, before he leaves home the visitor to a foreign If it happens to you, try not to be judgmental. everyone land should make up his mind neither to resist the has an ethnocentric tendency to think that his own culture culture in which he finds himself nor surrender to it. is superior to all others. Actually, any culture is a good What he needs to do is fight or grope or inch his way culture if it provides an environment that meets basic toward a new and flexible personality, a personality human needs. that retains its own cultural identity but recognizes the right of members of other cultures to retain theirs. If it happens to you, force yourself to look for the best, not the worst, in your situation. People who go around If that new personality can help him toward a better looking for trouble usually manage to find it. Train understanding of himself and of others, if it can enable yourself to enjoy the diversity of people and cultures, not him to communicate easily and convey warmth and fear it or shy away from it. understanding and goodwill across the culture barricades, then the pain of culture shock will have Recently in Russia two members of an American tour- served its purpose, and the recovered victim will truly group at different times during the day bought a candy bar have the best of two worlds. from a booth in a railroad station. Each was given his change in the form of chocolate wafers. One American, Abridged version reprinted by kind permission of Youth for disturbed by this departure from the familiar, felt that he Understanding was being victimized and protested vehemently. The other, charmed by what seemed to him a quaint and The Exchange Cycle
8 2 4 6
1 3 5 7
1. Application Anxiety 5. Mental Isolation Frustration increases 2. Selection/Arrival Fascination New sense of isolation Elation Boredom Expectation Lack of motivation Unresolved problems 3. Initial Culture Shock: 1-6 Months Language problems Novelty wears off Characteristics: 6. Integration/Acceptance Sleeping Habits Begin to examine society Disorientation Accept surroundings/self Language difficulties Fatigue (Mental/Physical) 7. Return Anxiety Eating Preparation for departure Realize changes 4. Surface Adjustments Desire to stay After initial “down” Results: Settle in: Confusion/Pain Language improves Breaking of bonds Navigate culture No promise of renewal in future Friends Social Life 8. Shock/Reintegration Contrast of old and new Family/friends Difficulty to accept change Not the center of attention Others not interested in experience details Reorientation
All exchange students experience phases of elation, anxiety, and depression. One or more of these phases will be experienced near the time of application processing. Various phases will then continue even after the student returns home. It is important that this be anticipated, and calmly accepted and dealt with.
The best method to resolve each occurrence is to keep busy and remember that all the exchange students before you, with you, and who follow you, will experience similar circumstances.
Parents and host families need to know that exchange students will experience these phases and should not be alarmed. They should be ready to help the student work their way out of the down cycles.
The time necessary to work through each phase is not predictable and will depend on the student and the circumstances.
Ref. Helmut Muscheid, Rotary Youth Exchange Officer, Germany
31 Appendix G –Youth Protection
Statement from United States Department of State
It is extremely important that you notify Rotary District 5650 with any concerns or problems that you might have, especially if you find yourself in a circumstance that threatens your personal health, safety, or well-being or a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable. If Rotary District 5650 is not responsive to your concerns, you should not hesitate to contact the Department of State directly at 1 (866) 283-9090 or [email protected]. A Department staff person will be available to her your concerns and assist you. The phone number is answered 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Rotary International Statement of Conduct For Working with Youth
Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouse, and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come into contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. (November 2006 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 72) Source: November 2002 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 98; Amended by November 2006 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 72
Rotary International Youth Protection Policy
2.110. Youth Protection 2.110.1. Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouse, and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come into contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. (November 2006 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 72) Source: November 2002 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 98; Amended by November 2006 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 72
2.110.2. Sexual Abuse and Harassment Prevention All Rotarians, clubs and districts should follow the statement of conduct for working with youth and RI guidelines for abuse and harassment prevention established by the general secretary. The guidelines include the following requirements 1. RI has a zero-tolerance policy against abuse and harassment. 2. An independent and thorough investigation must be made into any claims of sexual abuse or harassment. 3. Any adult involved in a Rotary youth program against whom an allegation of sexual abuse or harassment is made must be removed from all contact with youth until the matter is resolved. 4. Any allegation of abuse must be immediately reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency, in accordance with RI’s zero-tolerance policy. 5. A club must terminate the membership of any Rotarian who admits to, is convicted of or is otherwise found to have engaged in sexual abuse or harassment. A non-Rotarian who admits to, is convicted of, or is otherwise found to have engaged in sexual abuse or harassment must be prohibited from working with youth in a Rotary context. A club may not grant membership to a person who is known to have engaged in sexual abuse or harassment. (Upon obtaining information that a club has knowingly failed to terminate the membership of such a Rotarian, the RI Board will takes steps to have the Rotarian’s membership terminated, including action to terminate the club’s charter for failure to comply). 6. If an investigation into a claim of sexual abuse or harassment is inconclusive, then, for the safety of youth participants and the protection of the accused, additional safeguards must be put in place to assure the protection of any youth with whom the individual may have future conduct. If there are subsequent claims of sexual abuse or harassment, the adult shall be permanently prohibited from working with youth in a Rotary context. Regardless of criminal or civil guilt, the continued presence of the adult could be detrimental to the reputation of the organization and could be harmful to youth. It can also benefit the adult in preventing additional accusations from other youth. A person who is accused but later cleared of charges, may apply to be reinstated to participate in youth programs. Reinstatement is not a right, and no guarantee is made that he or she will be instated to his or her former position. (November 2006 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 72) Source: November 2004 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 108; Amended by November 2006 Mtg., Bd. Dec. 72 Rotary International District 5650 Abuse and Harassment Prevention Policy
1. Statement of Conduct for Working With Youth
District 5650 strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come into contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
2. Definitions
Criminal Background Checks: A background check that examines government sources and provides information on a volunteer’s criminal record and sexual offenses sufficient to determine the appropriateness of the volunteer having contact with youth. Since the check must be based on government sources, an Internet sex offender registry is not sufficient.
Volunteer: Any adult involved with Rotary Youth Exchange activities who has direct interactions with students, either supervised or unsupervised. This includes, but is not limited to, club and district Youth Exchange officers and committee members, Rotarian counselors, Rotarians and non-Rotarians, their spouses and partners that host students for activities or outings or who might drive students to events or functions, host parents, and other adult residents of the host home (including siblings and other family members).
Student: Youth involved with Rotary Youth Exchange, regardless of whether they are of the age of majority.
Sexual abuse: Sexual abuse refers to engaging in implicit or explicit sexual acts with a student, or forcing or encouraging a student to engage in implicit or explicit sexual acts, alone or with another person of any age of the same sex or the opposite sex.
Additional examples of sexual abuse could include, but are not limited to:
Non-touching offenses Indecent exposure Exposing a student to sexual or pornographic material
Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment refers to sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. In some cases, sexual harassment precedes sexual abuse and is a technique used by sexual predators to desensitize or “groom” their victims.
Examples of sexual harassment could include, but are not limited to:
Sexual advances Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life, and comments about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess Verbal abuse of a sexual nature Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures or drawings Sexual leering or whistling, any inappropriate physical contact such as brushing or touching, obscene language or gestures and suggestive or insulting comments
3. Volunteer Selection and Screening
The following screening shall be completed before participation in Youth Exchange activities.
District 5650 will maintain all records of criminal background checks, waivers, and screening for adults working with minors in perpetuity.
All volunteers interested in participating in the District 5650 Youth Exchange program must:
34 Complete the Youth Volunteer Application and authorize the district to conduct a criminal background check. Undergo personal interviews. Provide a list of references for the district to check. Meet RI and district eligibility requirements for working with students. RI requires that any volunteer who has admitted to, been convicted of, or otherwise found to have engaged in sexual abuse or harassment be prohibited from working with youth in a Rotary context. If an individual is accused of sexual abuse or harassment, and the investigation into the claim is inconclusive, then, for the safety of youth participants and the protection of the accused, additional safeguards must be put in place to assure the protection of any youth with whom the individual may have future contact. A person later cleared of charges may apply to be reinstated to participate in youth programs. Reinstatement is not a right, and no guarantee is made that he or she will be reinstated to his or her former position. Understand and comply with RI and district guidelines for the Youth Exchange program.
Host families must meet the following selection and screening requirements, in addition to those listed above.
Each host family must undergo a comprehensive interview to determine each family member’s suitability for hosting exchange students. This should include: Demonstrated commitment to the safety and security of students Motivation for hosting a student is consistent with Rotary ideals of international understanding and cultural exchange Financial ability to provide adequate accommodations (room and board) for the student Aptitude for providing appropriate supervision and parental responsibility that ensures the student’s well-being Host families must complete a written application. The Host Family must allow its home to be inspected to determine whether it meets Department of State guidelines. It also must provide or allow photographs to be taken of the home and grounds, kitchen, family or living area, student’s bedroom, and student’s bathroom. All adult members of the family must complete the Youth Volunteer Application, undergo a criminal background check, and provide at least two references. This includes family residents who are: o Part-time residents; o Students who are away at college; o Extended family members; o Nannies or housekeepers; and o Anyone who will turn 18 during the period of the exchange. All adult residents of the host home must meet the selection and screening guidelines. A single parent without a fulltime child in the home must undergo a secondary review by a Rotarian other than the Rotarian who recruited the parent to ensure that the parent has friends and family who can provide an additional support network for the student and ties to the community. Host families and their students are monitored during the exchange: Home visits must be conducted for each family and should include both announced and unannounced visits, both prior to and during the placement. Home visits must be conducted annually, even for repeat host families. A Rotarian other than the Rotarian who recruited the family must visit the home during the first two months of the student’s stay in the home. A Rotarian who is a local coordinator must meet with the family in person at least once each semester. A Rotarian who is a local coordinator must meet with the student in person during the first month that the student is in the family. A Rotarian who is a local coordinator must have contact with the student at least once each month.
Rotarian counselors must meet the criteria for All Volunteers, as well as the following:
Counselors must not be a member of the student’s host family.
35 Counselors must be trained in responding to any problems or concerns which may arise during the exchange, which may include instances of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or harassment. Counselors should not be close friends or relatives to other volunteers involved with a particular student (i.e. school principal, host family, etc.)
4. Student Selection and Screening
All students interested in participating in the District 5650 Youth Exchange program must:
Complete a written application and be interviewed for their suitability for participation in the Youth Exchange program. Attend and participate in all district orientation and training sessions.
All parents or legal guardians of students interested in participating in the District 5650 Youth Exchange program must be interviewed to determine the student’s suitability for participation in the Youth Exchange program.
5. Training
District 5650 will provide abuse and harassment prevention training to all Youth Exchange program participants. The District Youth Exchange Compliance Officer shall be responsible for conducting the training sessions. District 5650 will:
Adapt an Abuse and Harassment Prevention Training Manual that will include relevant information on specific district guidelines, local customs, cultural issues, and legal requirements. Develop a calendar for training and define the frequency of training required for each volunteer position, including descriptions of who is to participate, when training should occur, and how training will be conducted. Conduct specialized training sessions for the following Youth Exchange program participants: District governor District Youth Exchange committee members Club Youth Exchange committee members Rotarian counselors Other Rotarian and non-Rotarians who participate in Youth Exchange activities, such as local tours or district events Host families Students (outbound and inbound) Parents and legal guardians of students Establish guidelines to ensure that all those required to be trained have participated. Maintain records of participation to ensure compliance
Host Family: Host families will undergo training and orientation that includes information on program administration and rules and abuse and harassment prevention. The training will be conducted before the student is placed in the home.
Outbound Student: Outbound students in both the long-term and short-term programs will attend and participate in district orientation nad training sessions before departure. Content of the orientation will include information on program rules, procedure, expectations abuse, and harassment procedures, and awareness training.
Outbound students must be provide information on the following contacts before departure: Sponsor district YEO chair and governor Sponsor club president Sponsor club’s Rotarian counselor One male and one female non-Rotarian resource.
Inbound Student: 36 Inbound students in both the long-term and short-term programs will attend and participate in district orientation and training sessions shortly after arrival. Content of the orientation will include information on: Program rules and procedures Expectations Abuse and harassment prevention including awareness training Contact information on a counselor so that students may report problems, including reports of abuse and harassment Local laws and customs that may apply to young people.
Inbound students must be provided information on the following contacts before arrival: Hosting club’s Rotarian counselor Hosting district’s Youth Exchange Chair and District Governor Hosting club’s president One male and one female non-Rotarian resource Local medical, dental, and mental care professionals Local law enforcement agencies Local social services resources, where applicable.
Post exchange evaluations are conducted with students and host families
6. Allegation Reporting Guidelines
District 5650 is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of Youth Exchange students and will not tolerate their abuse or harassment. All allegations of abuse or harassment will be taken seriously and must be handled in accord with the District 5650 Youth Exchange Sexual Abuse and Harassment Allegation Reporting Guidelines,
7. Investigation Guidelines
District 5650 takes all allegations of abuse or harassment seriously and will investigate each allegation thoroughly. The district will cooperate with all law enforcement, child protective services, and legal investigations, and will only conduct its own independent investigations such that it does not interfere with other investigations. When appropriate the District will form a district committee to carry out internal investigations.
8. Other District 5650 Responsibilities
District 5650:
Conducts its Youth Exchange program within the scope of SCRYE’s program guide, including, but not limited to, the policies in the SCRYE Youth Protection Policy Has appointed a Rotarian as the District Youth Protection Officer who is well versed in Rotary International’s, SCRYE’s, and District 5650’s Abuse and Harassment Policies and who is available to consult with clubs and districts and to perform investigations as requested. This person also acts as the Rotary District Compliance Officer and serves on the Rotary District Youth Exchange Committee. Obtains criminal background checks on volunteers and host family members aas requested by its local clubs. Has procedures for reporting, investigating, and proper handling of non-criminal offenses or historic cases that law enforcement will not investigate. Has procedures for reporting and handling incidents that arise during exchanges, including, but not limited to, early returns and reports of abuse, or harassment. Has procedures for the removal from the program of any youth exchange participant who does not comply with the requirements of the program including procedures to report to all parties involved with the exchange and to send the student home. Has procedures and guidelines for completing an independent and thorough investigation of reports of abuse and harassment including involvement of an independent non-Rotarian counselor. 37 Requires that all inbound Youth Exchange students maintain insurance at a level that is set and reviewed annually. Provides each student with a list of local services in the district (rape and suicide crisis hotline, alcohol and drug awareness programs for teenagers, proper law enforcement agencies, community services, etc.) Will complete a student data request form for all participating Youth Exchange students and return it to RI one month before the beginning of the exchange. Will maintain and provide to Youth Exchange students a “district hotline.” Will follow RI guidelines for Youth Exchange Web sites and usage of the Rotary Marks. Will appoint an independent lawyer, therapist or counselor to represent any alleged victim in cases of sexual abuse and harassment. Will report all criminal allegations to RI within 72 hours. Will report all serious incidents (accidents, crimes, early returns, death) involving Youth Exchange students to RI within 72 hours. Evaluates and reviews this policy and accompanying procedures on a regular basis. Submits the youth exchange annual survey to Rotary International. As appropriate District 5650 will appoint a misconduct committee to evaluate and review files, policies, and allegations. Requests a monthly report from each inbound and outbound student in the district that includes information on current hosts, feelings, concerns, ideas and suggestions so that the district Youth Exchange chairperson or his or her designee can review the reports and assist students as needed.
10. Club Compliance
District 5650 will monitor and ensure that all participating clubs within the district comply with RI guidelines for abuse and harassment prevention. All clubs that wish to apply to the district for certification must provide the district with a copy of the following for review and approval:
Copies of all material produced in the club to promote and support the Youth Exchange program, including, but not limited to, promotional materials and brochures, applications, policies, Web site links, etc. List of services in area (rape and suicide crisis hotline, alcohol and drug awareness programs for teenagers, proper law enforcement agencies, community services, private services) Club abuse and harassment prevention training program.
Participating clubs must agree to:
Complete and return a signed compliance statement that the club is operating their program in accordance with District 5650 and RI policy. Conduct criminal background checks and reference checks for all volunteers involved with the program, including, but not limited to, adult full-time residents of host home, counselor, club chair, and all Rotarians and their spouses or partners with direct unsupervised contact. All volunteers must complete and sign the Youth Volunteer Application. Develop a comprehensive system for host family selection and screening that includes announced and unannounced home visits and interviews both prior to and during the placement. Conduct follow-up evaluations of both students and host families. Follow these Youth Exchange Abuse and Harassment Reporting Guidelines. Report all cases of sexual abuse or harassment to the appropriate law enforcement authorities immediately and then to the club and district leadership for investigation. Prohibit direct placement of students outside District 5650 Youth Exchange program structure (e.g., “backdoor exchanges”). Set procedures for removal of a student from the host family (criteria for moving a student and back-up temporary housing available in advance). Develop contingency plans for hosting that include pre-screened and available back-up families. Ensure that all hosting is voluntary. Parents of outbound students and club members must not be required to host students. Ensure that long-term exchange students have multiple host families.
38 Provide each student with a comprehensive local services list. Ensure that the host counselor for each student is not a member of the student’s host family. Ensure that the host counselor is trained in responding to any problems or concerns that may arise during the exchange, including the prevention of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or harassment. Provide mandatory training on sexual abuse and harassment prevention for host families, outbound students, inbound students, and their parents or legal guardians. Provide the names and contact information of at least three people to contact for assistance with any issues or problems to all Youth Exchange students. These people must include both males and females, not related to each other, and individuals independent of the host family and club counselor. Follow RI guidelines for Youth Exchange Web sites and usage of the Rotary Marks. Report all serious incidents (accidents, crimes, early returns, death) involving Youth Exchange students to the district immediately. Conduct interviews of all applicants and applicants’ parents or legal guardians.
39 District 5650 Youth Exchange Sexual Abuse and Harassment Allegation Reporting Guidelines
Rotary International is committed to protecting the safety and well being of all youth program participants and will not tolerate their abuse or harassment. All allegations of abuse or harassment will be taken seriously and must be handled within the following guidelines. The safety and well-being of young people must always be the first priority.
Definitions
Sexual abuse: Engaging in implicit or explicit sexual acts with a young person or forcing or encouraging a young person to engage in implicit or explicit sexual acts alone or with another person of any age, of the same sex or the opposite sex. This includes non-touching offenses, such as indecent exposure or showing a young person sexual or pornographic material. Additional examples of sexual abuse could include, but are not limited to:
Sexual harassment: Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. In some cases, sexual harassment precedes sexual abuse and is used by sexual predators to desensitize or groom their victims.
Some examples of sexual harassment include: Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life in the presence of a young person, and comments about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess Verbal abuse of a sexual nature Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or drawings Sexual leering or whistling, any inappropriate physical contact such as brushing or touching, obscene language or gestures, and suggestive or insulting comments
Who should determine if it is abuse or is it harassment?
Upon hearing allegations, adults should not determine whether the alleged conduct constitutes sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Instead, after ensuring the safety of the student, the adult should immediately report all allegations to appropriate child protection or law enforcement authorities. In some countries, this reporting is required by law.
Allegation Reporting Guidelines
Any adult to whom a youth program participant reports an incident of sexual abuse or harassment is responsible for following these Allegation Reporting Guidelines.
1. Receive the report.
a. Listen attentively and stay calm. Acknowledge that it takes a lot of courage to report abuse. Be encouraging; do not express shock, horror, or disbelief.
b. Assure privacy but not confidentiality. Explain that you will have to tell someone about the abuse/harassment in order to make it stop and to ensure that it doesn’t happen to others.
c. Get the facts, but don’t interrogate. Ask the student questions that establish facts: who, what, when, where, and how. Reassure the young person that he or she did the right thing in telling you. Avoid asking “why” questions, which may be interpreted as questioning the young person’s motives. Remember your responsibility is to present the story to the proper authorities.
d. Be nonjudgmental and reassure. Avoid criticizing anything that has happened or anyone who may be involved. It’s especially important not to blame or criticize the young person. Emphasize that the situation was not his or her fault and that it was brave and mature to come to you. 40 e. Document the allegation. Make a written record of the conversation, including the date and time, as soon after the report as you can. Try to use the young person’s words and record only what he or she told you.
2. Protect the young person Ensure the safety and well-being of the youth program participant by removing him or her from the situation immediately and preventing all contact with the alleged abuser or harasser. Reassure the youth that this is being done for his or her own safety and is not a punishment.
3. Report to Appropriate Law Enforcement Authorities—child protection of law enforcement Immediately report all cases of sexual abuse or harassment--first to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and then to the club and district leadership for follow-through. Cases occurring in Nebraska should be reported to the Nebraska Child Abuse Reporting Hotline. (1-800-652-1999.) Cases occurring in Iowa should be reported to the Iowa Child Abuse Reporting Hotline. (1-800-362-2178.) The appropriate law enforcement office to whom reports should be made is the local police department or the county sheriff. If the situation is an emergency, call 911. If 911 is not available in your area, call your local law enforcement agency. In most situations, the first Rotary contact is the District 5650 Youth Protection Officer, who is responsible for seeking the advice of appropriate agencies and interacting with them. If the allegation involves the conduct of this Rotarian, the District Youth Exchange Chair, Vice Chair, or District Governor should be the first Rotary contact.
District 5650 will cooperate with police or legal investigations.
District 5650 has researched local, state, and national laws related to sexual abuse and harassment prevention and notes the following legal requirements of which all adult volunteers participating in the program must be aware:
NEBRASKA
Nebr. Rev. Stat. § 28-711. Child subjected to abuse or neglect; report; contents; toll-free number. (1) When any physician, medical institution, nurse, school employee, social worker, or other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse or neglect or observes such child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which reasonably would result in child abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident or cause a report of child abuse or neglect to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number established by subsection (2) of this section. Such report may be made orally by telephone with the caller giving his or her name and address, shall be followed by a written report, and to the extent available shall contain the address and age of the abused or neglected child, the address of the person or persons having custody of the abused or neglected child, the nature and extent of the child abuse or neglect or the conditions and circumstances which would reasonably result in such child abuse or neglect, any evidence of previous child abuse or neglect including the nature and extent, and any other information which in the opinion of the person may be helpful in establishing the cause of such child abuse or neglect and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators. Law enforcement agencies receiving any reports of child abuse or neglect under this subsection shall notify the department pursuant to section 28-718 on the next working day by telephone or mail.
(2) The department shall establish a statewide toll-free number to be used by any person any hour of the day or night, any day of the week, to make reports of child
41 abuse or neglect. Reports of child abuse or neglect not previously made to or by a law enforcement agency shall be made immediately to such agency by the department.
Nebr. Rev. Stat. § 28-713. Reports of child abuse or neglect; law enforcement agency; department; duties.
Upon the receipt of a call reporting child abuse and neglect as required by section 28-711:
(1) It is the duty of the law enforcement agency to investigate the report, to take immediate steps to protect the child, and to institute legal proceedings if appropriate. In situations of alleged out-of-home child abuse or neglect if the person or persons to be notified have not already been notified and the person to be notified is not the subject of the report of child abuse or neglect, the law enforcement agency shall immediately notify the person or persons having custody of each child who has allegedly been abused or neglected that such report of alleged child abuse or neglect has been made and shall provide such person or persons with information of the nature of the alleged child abuse or neglect. The law enforcement agency may request assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services during the investigation and shall, by the next working day, notify either the hotline or the department of receipt of the report, including whether or not an investigation is being undertaken by the law enforcement agency. A copy of all reports, whether or not an investigation is being undertaken, shall be provided to the department;
(2) In situations of alleged out-of-home child abuse or neglect if the person or persons to be notified have not already been notified and the person to be notified is not the subject of the report of child abuse or neglect, the department shall immediately notify the person or persons having custody of each child who has allegedly been abused or neglected that such report of alleged child abuse or neglect has been made and shall provide such person or persons with information of the nature of the alleged child abuse or neglect and any other information that the department deems necessary. The department shall investigate for the purpose of assessing each report of child abuse or neglect to determine the risk of harm to the child involved. The department shall also provide such social services as are necessary and appropriate under the circumstances to protect and assist the child and to preserve the family;
(3) The department may make a request for further assistance from the appropriate law enforcement agency or take such legal action as may be appropriate under the circumstances;
(4) The department shall, by the next working day after receiving a report of child abuse or neglect under subdivision (1) of this section, make a written report or a summary on forms provided by the department to the proper law enforcement agency in the county and enter in the tracking system of child protection cases maintained pursuant to section 28-715 all reports of child abuse or neglect opened for investigation and any action taken; and
(5) The department shall, upon request, make available to the appropriate investigating law enforcement agency and the county attorney a copy of all reports relative to a case of suspected child abuse or neglect.
Iowa
232.68 Definitions. The definitions in section 235A.13 are applicable to this part 2 of division III. As 42 used in sections 232.67 through 232.77 and 235A.12 through 235A.24 , unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Child" means any person under the age of eighteen years. 2. "Child abuse" or "abuse" means: a. Any nonaccidental physical injury, or injury which is at variance with the history given of it, suffered by a child as the result of the acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care of the child. b. Any mental injury to a child's intellectual or psychological capacity as evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment in the child's ability to function within the child's normal range of performance and behavior as the result of the acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care of the child, if the impairment is diagnosed and confirmed by a licensed physician or qualified mental health professional as defined in section 622.10 . c. The commission of a sexual offense with or to a child pursuant to chapter 709 , section 726.2 , or section 728.12 , subsection 1, as a result of the acts or omissions of the person responsible for the care of the child. Notwithstanding section 702.5 , the commission of a sexual offense under this paragraph includes any sexual offense referred to in this paragraph with or to a person under the age of eighteen years. d. The failure on the part of a person responsible for the care of a child to provide for the adequate food, shelter, clothing or other care necessary for the child's health and welfare when financially able to do so or when offered financial or other reasonable means to do so. A parent or guardian legitimately practicing religious beliefs who does not provide specified medical treatment for a child for that reason alone shall not be considered abusing the child, however this provision shall not preclude a court from ordering that medical service be provided to the child where the child's health requires it. e. The acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care of a child which allow, permit, or encourage the child to engage in acts prohibited pursuant to section 725.1 . Notwithstanding section 702.5 , acts or omissions under this paragraph include an act or omission referred to in this paragraph with or to a person under the age of eighteen years. f. An illegal drug is present in a child's body as a direct and foreseeable consequence of the acts or omissions of the person responsible for the care of the child. g. The person responsible for the care of a child has, in the presence of the child, as defined in section 232.2 , subsection 6, paragraph "p" , manufactured a dangerous substance, as defined in section 232.2 , subsection 6, paragraph "p" , or in the presence of the child possesses a product containing ephedrine, its salts, optical isomers, salts of optical isomers, or pseudoephedrine, its salts, optical isomers, salts of optical isomers, with the intent to use the product as a precursor or an intermediary to a dangerous substance. h. The commission of bestiality in the presence of a minor under section 717C.1 by a person who resides in a home with a child, as a result of the acts or omissions of a person responsible for the care of the child. i. Cohabitation with a person on the sex offender registry under chapter 692A in violation of section 726.6 . 2A. "Child protection worker" means an individual designated by the department to perform an assessment in response to a report of child abuse. 3. "Confidential access to a child" means access to a child, during an assessment of an alleged act of child abuse, who is alleged to be the victim of the child abuse. The access may be accomplished by interview, observation, or examination of the child. As used in this subsection and this part: a. "Interview" means the verbal exchange between the child protection worker and the child for the purpose of developing information necessary to protect the child. A child protection worker is not precluded from recording visible evidence of abuse. b. "Observation" means direct physical viewing of a child under the age of four by the child protection worker where the viewing is limited to the child's body other than the genitalia and pubes. "Observation" also means direct physical viewing of 43 a child aged four or older by the child protection worker without touching the child or removing an article of the child's clothing, and doing so without the consent of the child's parent, custodian, or guardian. A child protection worker is not precluded from recording evidence of abuse obtained as a result of a child's voluntary removal of an article of clothing without inducement by the child protection worker. However, if prior consent of the child's parent or guardian, or an ex parte court order, is obtained, "observation" may include viewing the child's unclothed body other than the genitalia and pubes. c. "Physical examination" means direct physical viewing, touching, and medically necessary manipulation of any area of the child's body by a physician licensed under chapter 148 or 150A . 4. "Department" means the state department of human services and includes the local, county, and service area offices of the department. 5. "Health practitioner" includes a licensed physician and surgeon, osteopath, osteopathic physician and surgeon, dentist, optometrist, podiatric physician, or chiropractor; a resident or intern in any of such professions; a licensed dental hygienist, a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; a physician assistant; and an emergency medical care provider certified under section 147A.6 . 6. "Mental health professional" means a person who meets the following requirements: a. Holds at least a master's degree in a mental health field, including, but not limited to, psychology, counseling, nursing, or social work; or is licensed to practice medicine pursuant to chapter 148 , 150 , or 150A . b. Holds a license to practice in the appropriate profession. c. Has at least two years of post degree experience, supervised by a mental health professional, in assessing mental health problems and needs of individuals used in providing appropriate mental health services for those individuals. 7. "Person responsible for the care of a child" means: a. A parent, guardian, or foster parent. b. A relative or any other person with whom the child resides and who assumes care or supervision of the child, without reference to the length of time or continuity of such residence. c. An employee or agent of any public or private facility providing care for a child, including an institution, hospital, health care facility, group home, mental health center, residential treatment center, shelter care facility, detention center, or child care facility. d. Any person providing care for a child, but with whom the child does not reside, without reference to the duration of the care. 8. "Registry" means the central registry for child abuse information established in section 235A.14 . [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §235A.2; C79, 81, §232.68] 83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 84 Acts, ch 1207, §1, 2; 85 Acts, ch 173, §2; 86 Acts, ch 1177, §1; 87 Acts, ch 153, §1, 2; 89 Acts, ch 24, §1; 89 Acts, ch 89, §16; 89 Acts, ch 230, §3, 4; 93 Acts, ch 76, §1; 93 Acts, ch 93, §2; 94 Acts, ch 1130, §1, 2; 95 Acts, ch 41, §24; 95 Acts, ch 108, §17; 95 Acts, ch 182, §7; 96 Acts, ch 1092, §2; 97 Acts, ch 35, §4, 5, 25; 97 h, ch 176, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 46, §2; 2001 Acts, ch 131, §1; 2003 Acts, ch 44, §49; 2004 Acts, ch 1116, §6 ; 2005 Acts, ch 158, §20 Subsection 2, NEW paragraph i
232.69 Mandatory and permissive reporters - training required. 1. The classes of persons enumerated in this subsection shall make a report within twenty-four hours and as provided in section 232.70 , of cases of child abuse. In addition, the classes of persons enumerated in this subsection shall make a report of abuse of a child who is under twelve years of age and may make a report of abuse of a child who is twelve years of age or older, which would be defined as child abuse under section 232.68 , subsection 2, paragraph "c" or "e" , except that the abuse resulted from the acts or omissions of a person other than a person responsible for the care of the child. a. Every health practitioner who in the scope of professional practice, examines, attends, or treats a child and who reasonably believes the child has been abused. 44 Notwithstanding section 139A.30 , this provision applies to a health practitioner who receives information confirming that a child is infected with a sexually transmitted disease. b. Any of the following persons who, in the scope of professional practice or in their employment responsibilities, examines, attends, counsels, or treats a child and reasonably believes a child has suffered abuse: (1) A social worker. (2) An employee or operator of a public or private health care facility as defined in section 135C.1 . (3) A certified psychologist. (4) A licensed school employee, certified para-educator, holder of a coaching authorization issued under section 272.31 , or an instructor employed by a community college. (5) An employee or operator of a licensed child care center, registered child development home, head start program, family development and self-sufficiency grant program under section 217.12 , or healthy opportunities for parents to experience success - healthy families Iowa program under section 135.106 . (6) An employee or operator of a substance abuse program or facility licensed under chapter 125 . (7) An employee of a department of human services institution listed in section 218.1 . (8) An employee or operator of a juvenile detention or juvenile shelter care facility approved under section 232.142 . (9) An employee or operator of a foster care facility licensed or approved under chapter 237 . (10) An employee or operator of a mental health center. (11) A peace officer. (12) A counselor or mental health professional. (13) An employee or operator of a provider of services to children funded under a federally approved medical assistance home and community-based services waiver. 2. Any other person who believes that a child has been abused may make a report as provided in section 232.70 . 3. a. For the purposes of this subsection, "licensing board" means an examining board designated in section 147.13 , the board of educational examiners created in section 272.2 , or a licensing board as defined in section 272C.1 . b. A person required to make a report under subsection 1, other than a physician whose professional practice does not regularly involve providing primary health care to children, shall complete two hours of training relating to the identification and reporting of child abuse within six months of initial employment or self- employment involving the examination, attending, counseling, or treatment of children on a regular basis. Within one month of initial employment or self- employment, the person shall obtain a statement of the abuse reporting requirements from the person's employer or, if self-employed, from the department. The person shall complete at least two hours of additional child abuse identification and reporting training every five years. c. If the person is an employee of a hospital or similar institution, or of a public or private institution, agency, or facility, the employer shall be responsible for providing the child abuse identification and reporting training. If the person is self- employed, employed in a licensed or certified profession, or employed by a facility or program that is subject to licensure, regulation, or approval by a state agency, the person shall obtain the child abuse identification and reporting training as provided in paragraph "d" . d. The person may complete the initial or additional training requirements as part of any of the following that are applicable to the person: (1) A continuing education program required under chapter 272C and approved by the appropriate licensing or examining board. (2) A training program using a curriculum approved by the abuse education review panel established by the director of public health pursuant to section 135.11 . (3) A training program using such an approved curriculum offered by the 45 department of human services, the department of education, an area education agency, a school district, the Iowa law enforcement academy, or a similar public agency. e. A licensing board with authority over the license of a person required to make a report under subsection 1 shall require as a condition of licensure that the person is in compliance with the requirements for abuse training under this subsection. The licensing board shall require the person upon licensure renewal to accurately document for the licensing board the person's completion of the training requirements. However, the licensing board may adopt rules providing for waiver or suspension of the compliance requirements, if the waiver or suspension is in the public interest, applicable to a person who is engaged in active duty in the military service of this state or of the United States, to a person for whom compliance with the training requirements would impose a significant hardship, or to a person who is practicing a licensed profession outside this state or is otherwise subject to circumstances that would preclude the person from encountering child abuse in this state. f. For persons required to make a report under subsection 1 who are not engaged in a licensed profession that is subject to the authority of a licensing board but are employed by a facility or program subject to licensure, registration, or approval by a state agency, the agency shall require as a condition of renewal of the facility's or program's licensure, registration, or approval, that such persons employed by the facility or program are in compliance with the training requirements of this subsection. g. For peace officers, the elected or appointed official designated as the head of the agency employing the peace officer shall ensure compliance with the training requirements of this subsection. h. For persons required to make a report under subsection 1 who are employees of state departments and political subdivisions of the state, the department director or the chief administrator of the political subdivision shall ensure the persons' compliance with the training requirements of this subsection. [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §235A.3; C79, 81, §232.69] 83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 84 Acts, ch 1279, §4, 6; 85 Acts, ch 173, §3 - 5; 87 Acts, ch 153, §3; 88 Acts, ch 1238, §1; 89 Acts, ch 89, §17; 89 Acts, ch 230, §5; 89 Acts, ch 265, §40; 94 Acts, ch 1130, §3; 97 Acts, ch 85, §1; 99 Acts, ch 192, §27, 33; 2000 Acts, ch 1066, §42; 2001 Acts, ch 122, §2, 3; 2002 Acts, ch 1047, §2, 20; 2002 Acts, ch 1142, §1, 31; 2005 Acts, ch 121, §2 Subsection 1, paragraph b, NEW subparagraph (13)
232.70 Reporting procedure. 1. Each report made by a mandatory reporter, as defined in section 232.69 , subsection 1, shall be made both orally and in writing. Each report made by a permissive reporter, as defined in section 232.69 , subsection 2, may be oral, written, or both. 2. The employer or supervisor of a person who is a mandatory or permissive reporter shall not apply a policy, work rule, or other requirement that interferes with the person making a report of child abuse. 3. The oral report shall be made by telephone or otherwise to the department of human services. If the person making the report has reason to believe that immediate protection for the child is advisable, that person shall also make an oral report to an appropriate law enforcement agency. 4. The written report shall be made to the department of human services within forty-eight hours after such oral report. 5. Upon receipt of a report the department shall do all of the following: a. Immediately, upon receipt of an oral report, make a determination as to whether the report constitutes an allegation of child abuse as defined in section 232.68 . b. Notify the appropriate county attorney of the receipt of the report. 6. The oral and written reports shall contain the following information, or as much thereof as the person making the report is able to furnish: a. The names and home address of the child and the child's parents or other persons believed to be responsible for the child's care; 46 b. The child's present whereabouts if not the same as the parent's or other person's home address; c. The child's age; d. The nature and extent of the child's injuries, including any evidence of previous injuries; e. The name, age and condition of other children in the same home; f. Any other information which the person making the report believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of the injury to the child, the identity of the person or persons responsible for the injury, or in providing assistance to the child; and g. The name and address of the person making the report. 7. A report made by a permissive reporter, as defined in section 232.69 , subsection 2, shall be regarded as a report pursuant to this chapter whether or not the report contains all of the information required by this section and may be made to the department of human services, county attorney, or law enforcement agency. If the report is made to any agency other than the department of human services, such agency shall promptly refer the report to the department of human services. 8. If a report would be determined to constitute an allegation of child abuse as defined under section 232.68 , subsection 2, paragraph "c" or "e" , except that the suspected abuse resulted from the acts or omissions of a person other than a person responsible for the care of the child, the department shall refer the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to investigate the allegation. The department shall refer the report orally as soon as practicable and in writing within seventy-two hours of receiving the report. 9. Within twenty-four hours of receiving a report from a mandatory or permissive reporter, the department shall inform the reporter, orally or by other appropriate means, whether or not the department has commenced an assessment of the allegation in the report. [C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §235A.4; C79, 81, §232.70] 83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 87 Acts, ch 153, §4; 97 Acts, ch 176, §2, 17; 2000 Acts, ch 1137, §4, 14; 2001 Acts, ch 122, §4
4. Avoid Gossip and Blame Don’t tell anyone about the report other than those required by the guidelines. Be careful to protect the rights of both the victim and the accused during the investigation.
District 5650 will maintain the privacy (as distinct from confidentiality) of any accused person by limiting discussions only to those persons who need to know. The audience will be limited to the student’s natural parents, club Counselor, club Youth Exchange Officer, District Youth Exchange Officer, District Youth Protection Officer, the District Governor, and appropriate government or law enforcement agents necessary to protect the alleged victim.
5. Do Not Challenge the Alleged Offender Don’t contact the alleged offender. In cases of abuse, interrogation must be left entirely to law enforcement authorities. In cases of non-criminal harassment, the District Governor is responsible for follow-through and will contact the alleged offender after the young person has been moved to a safe environment. The District Governor may designate this task to a District Youth Protection Officer or District Review Committee.
Follow-Through Procedures
Either the district Youth Exchange Chair or District Youth Protection Officer will ensure the following steps are taken immediately following an abuse allegation is reported.
1. Confirm that the youth program participant has been removed from the situation immediately and has no contact with alleged abuser or harasser.
2. If law enforcement agencies will not investigate, the District Youth Protection Officer or District Review Committee should coordinate an independent investigation into the allegations.
3. Ensure the student receives immediate support services. 47 4. Offer the young person an independent, non-Rotarian counselor to represent his or her interests. Ask social services or law enforcement to recommend someone who is not a Rotarian or in any way involved with the youth program.
5. Contact the student’s parents or legal guardian. If the student is away from home, the student and his or her parents should decide whether the student will stay in the country or return home. If the student stays in the country, written authorization from the student’s parents or legal guardian is required. If the student and the student’s parents choose for the student to return home, consult with the police before making travel arrangements. If an investigation is pending, the police may not approve of the student leaving the country.
6. Remove alleged abuser or harasser from all contact with any other youth participants in Rotary programs and activities while investigations are conducted.
7. Cooperate with the police or legal investigation.
8. Inform the District Governor of the allegation. Either the District Governor, District Youth Protection Officer, or District Youth Exchange Chair will inform Rotary International of the allegation within 72 hours, and provide follow-up reports of steps taken and the status of investigations.
9. After the authorities have completed their investigation, the district must follow through to make sure the situation is being addressed. Specifically District 5650 will conduct an independent and thorough review of any allegations of sexual abuse and harassment.
Post Allegation Report Considerations
Responding to the Need of the youth program participant
District 5650 will adopt a cohesive and managed team approach to supporting a young person after an allegation report. The youth program participant is likely to feel embarrassed or confused and may become withdrawn.
After a report of harassment or abuse, students may have mixed feelings about remaining on their exchange. If they do choose to stay, they may or may not want to continue their relationship with their hosting Rotary club. In some cases, a student may wish to remain in the country but change to a different host club.
Although club members and host families may have trouble understanding how the student is feeling, the student would find it helpful to know that the club continues to be reassuring and supportive. Club members and host families may feel ambivalent about their roles and unclear about their boundaries. However, they need to do whatever is necessary to reassure the student of their support at all times. District 5650 will support this need.
Addressing Issues Within the Rotary Club
When addressing an allegation of abuse or harassment, the most important concern is the safety of youth. Club members should not speculate or offer personal opinions that could potentially hinder any police or criminal investigations. Rotarians must not become involved in investigations. Making comments about alleged victims in support of alleged abusers violates both the Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth and Rotary ideals. Comments made against an alleged abuser could lead to a slander or libel claim filed against Rotarians or clubs by the alleged abuser. District 5650 will work to ensure that this requirement is met.
48 Appendix H Rotary International District 5650, Inc. Policy on Use and Disclosure of Confidential Information Obtained in Connection with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program Rotary International District 5650, Inc. (hereinafter “District”) adopts the following policy for handling information that many people would consider confidential. This policy applies to information collected in connection with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. The District has adopted this policy in order to: Provide guidance to its volunteers about how to handle information in a confidential manner; Let the persons who provide information to the District know how the District may use the information; Comply with the requirements for handling of information under the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, 45 C.F.R. part 160 and part 164, as amended from time to time (“Privacy Standards”) under the Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).
1. Definitions. The following terms that are used in this policy shall have the following definitions. a. Confidential Information means: “Protected Health Information,” as defined by HIPAA, that is received by the District; Information that is collected by the District on Rotary Youth Exchange Student Application forms and the District’s Volunteer Affidavit and Host Family Application forms. Examples of this type of information include, but are not limited to: Names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses; Photographs of the exchange student and his or her family and friends; Dates of birth; Social Security Numbers; Medical and dental information; Religious and ethnic background; Community service background; Employment information; Education records; Letters of recommendation; and References. Criminal record history including, but not limited to information obtained from criminal history searches and databases; Information about any history (accusations or convictions) of abuse, harassment, or crimes of violence; Information obtained from sexual offender registries; Information about Court orders involving sexual, physical, or verbal abuse including but not limited to a domestic violence or civil harassment injunction or protective order.
b. “Use” means the sharing, application, utilization, examination, or analysis of Confidential Information within the District’s internal operations.
c. “Disclose” and “Disclosure” mean the release, transfer, provision of access to, or divulging in any other manner, of Confidential Information outside District’s internal operations or to those other than its agents. “Disclose” and “Disclosure” does not mean those Disclosures permitted by HIPAA.
2. HIPAA. Information to be provided under this policy shall comply with all applicable Privacy Standards. The District agrees to ensure consistency in applying Federal and State laws and regulations, including but not limited to, regulations promulgated pursuant to HIPAA.
3. Use and Disclosure of Confidential Information. The District shall use and disclose Confidential Information solely as necessary to facilitate The Rotary Exchange Program. Examples of anticipated use and disclosure of Confidential Information include, but are not limited to: Information from Exchange Students Providing copies of applications to the District Youth Exchange Committee, Host Districts, Host Clubs, Host Schools, and Host Families; Providing copies of the Guarantee Form to Rotary International; Using the student’s name and image on the Rotary District 5650 website and in Rotary 49 newsletters; In the case of Outbound Students, sharing information with the District’s travel agent so that it can help with travel arrangements and securing visas; and In the case of Inbound Students, providing information to the: o Department of Homeland Security about the current address of students and additional information as is necessary to complete forms that the District is required to fill out (such as the DS-2019). o Department of State about the student’s medical history as part of our obligation to report incidents to the Department of State. In the case of Inbound St Information from Host Families Sharing information in the Host Family Applications with the Host Clubs, District Youth Exchange Committee, Sponsor Districts, Host Schools, Sponsor Clubs, and the families of Inbound Students; and Sharing the information necessary to run criminal background checks with an outside agency with which the District has contracted to provide these checks. Information from Rotary Volunteers Sharing information in the Volunteer Affidavit with the Host Clubs, District Youth Exchange Committee, Sponsor Districts, Sponsor Clubs, and the families of Inbound Students; and Sharing the information necessary to run criminal background checks with an outside agency with which the District has contracted to provide these checks. Information to Law Enforcement Agencies. The District will provide Confidential Information to law enforcement agencies when it receives legal or appropriate requests and when required to do so under its Youth Exchange Sexual Abuse and Harassment Reporting Guidelines. Information to the Department of State. The District will provide Confidential Information to the Department of State when required to do so under Department of State regulations. Information to Rotary International. The District will provide Confidential Information to Rotary International when it is required to do so under its Youth Exchange Sexual Abuse and Harassment Reporting Guidelines.
4. Adequate Safeguards for Confidential Information. The District maintains appropriate safeguards to prevent the use or disclosure of Confidential Information in any manner unless permitted by this policy.
5. Availability of Internal Practices, Books, and Records to Government Agencies. The District agrees to make its internal practices, books, and records relating to the use and disclosure of Confidential Information available to the Secretary of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of determining the District’s compliance with the privacy regulations.
6. Disposition of Confidential Information Upon Termination or Expiration. Upon termination of the District, the District shall destroy all Confidential Information in its possession or control and all Confidential Information in the possession or control of persons over whom it exercises control.
7. Survival. The terms of paragraphs 3 through 6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
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