([ Portland], [Or], [03/31/05])—April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Child abuse is a matter of great concern for parents and youth mentors throughout the country, and many are shocked by the magnitude of this disturbing problem. The Boy Scouts of America shares this concern and, since 1988, has provided adult and youth training year-round.
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Cascade Pacific Council of the Boy Scouts of America will make youth protection training available for 48,800 youth and adults. The council has also set up an on-line youth protection training course which community members and members of other youth-serving organizations are invited to utilize. This on-line offering, found at www.cpcbsa.org/training, shares basic guidelines for protecting youth from abuse.
“The Boy Scouts of America advocates parents becoming actively involved with their children,” said Ron Garland, Scout Executive for the Cascade Pacific Council. “Scouting stresses the importance of parents having ongoing communication with their children. It is critical for parents to talk to their kids every day and take time to listen and observe. It may be the most important contribution parents can make in the life of a child.”
The BSA uses a variety of tools, including videotapes, to communicate with young people about protecting themselves against all forms of abuse. The BSA’s award-winning videos of child abuse prevention help youth recognize dangerous situations and avoid becoming victims.
The video “It Happened to Me” is designed for Cub Scouts, boys ages 6 to 10, to view with their parents or guardians. The video presents five scenarios of high-risk situations that boys may encounter. It establishes safety rules that help the boys counteract the fear and shame that can result from potentially abusive situations.
“A Time to Tell” is designed for Boy Scouts, boys ages 11 to 14. This video depicts the risks of sexual abuse through dramatizations of adolescent experiences.
A third video, “Youth Protection: Personal Safety Awareness,” is designed for any young adult (boy or girl) ages 14 to 20. It is made up of vignettes dealing with the issues of acquaintance rape, Internet safety, stalking, and fraternization. Each scenario is followed by instructions for local group discussions and a teen panel discussion, with pertinent advice regarding each situation.
If you would like more information regarding BSA youth protection training, contact Jim Hill at 503-225-5767.
About the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America
The Cascade Pacific Council ranks among the nation’s largest Scout councils (more than 300) in terms of membership. The Cascade Pacific Council serves more than 48,000 youth in 18 counties in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, and is supported by more than 15,500 adult volunteer mentors.
Local Boy Scouts of America Accomplishments
This last year (2004), Scouts of the Cascade Pacific Council reached out to the community and achieved the following outstanding accomplishments:
Goodwill/Good Turn – Scouts collected 368,507 pounds of usable clothing and household goods for Goodwill Industries in 2004. Over the past ten years, 4.6 million pounds have been collected.
Camping Program – TheCascade Pacific Council has one of the strongest outdoor camping programs in the country, camping 11,714 boys at seven summer resident camps and ten day camps last year.
Scouting for Food – Scouts collected 450,000 pounds of food for local hunger relief agencies through the Scouting for Food drive in December 2004.
Guy Miller Tree Plant – Over 2,500 youth and family members planted nearly 37,500 tree seedlings in our forests and neighborhoods in support of the Guy Miller Tree Plant program. Since 1977, this program has accounted for the planting of more than 2 million trees.
Violence Free Spring Break – In partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, the Police Activities League, Multnomah County, Boys and Girls Club, and other organizations, the Cascade Pacific Council has planned, coordinated and staffed special events like “Violence Free Spring Break.” Over 375 youth were served for this event alone. These events use Scouting facilities and curriculums to deliver positive, values-based programs.
Outreach – Over $21,305 in scholarships was awarded to 486 youth members for summer camp.
Harris Interactive Study– Men who were Scouts for five or more years as boys are more likely than men with no Scouting experience:
- Graduate from high school (98% versus 83%)
- Graduate from college (40% versus 16%)
- Earn annual household incomes of $50,000+ (33% versus 17%).
Visit www.cpcbsa.org or call 503-226-3423 to learn more about the Boy Scouts of America.
Boy Scouts of America - Connecting youth with communities and families.
This page last modified
April 28, 2005
