The Boy Scouts of America is seeking to boost sex-abuse prevention efforts with a new awareness program featuring animated videos. The videos will be provided to more than 1.2 million Cub Scouts across the nation.
This image from video made available by the Boy Scouts of America in June 2019 shows a frame from an animated video which is part of a sex-abuse prevention program adopted by the Scouts. Targeted at children from kindergarten to sixth grade, the series of six videos aims to teach children how to recognize potentially abusive behavior and what to do if confronted by it.
The bulk of the newly surfacing abuse cases date to the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s; the BSA says there were only five known abuse victims in 2018 out of 2.2 million youth members. The BSA credits the change to an array of preventionadopted since the mid-1980s, including mandatory criminal background checks and abuse-prevention training for all staff and volunteers, and a rule that two or more adult leaders be present with youth at all times during scouting activities.
The videos and related learning materials were developed in 2015-16 by psychologists and other experts recruited by the, a nonprofit in Rancho Mirage, California, that specializes in helping children affected by abuse. One of the rules, in case of abuse: “Shout, run, tell.” Another rule is “Safe touch, unsafe touch” — being wary of anyone touching the child on a part of the body that their bathing suit would cover.
The accompanying lesson materials will be required for all Cub Scout units. For example, second-graders at the rank of Wolf would be asked to identify five trusted adults to whom they could report an abuse incident. They’d also be asked to demonstrate how they would say “No” to someone making them uncomfortable.
Within the next year, the Sinatra Center plans to complete animated anti-abuse videos for older youths. Johnson said the Boy Scouts might be interested in using them for its program serving boys and girls aged 11-17.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sophie Turner's First Oscar Role Just Fell Into Her LapSophie Turner is Boy George's favorite to play him in a new movie, and she's onboard.
Read more »
CineEurope: STX International Teases Jennifer Lopez's 'Hustlers,' 'My Spy' and 'Brahms: The Boy II'CineEurope: STX International teases Jennifer Lopez's (JLo) 'Hustlers,' 'My Spy' and 'Brahms: The Boy II'
Read more »
Piers Morgan Slams Idea of Sophie Turner Playing Boy GeorgePiers Morgan Slams Idea of Sophie Turner Playing Boy George (via JustJared)
Read more »
https://people.com/Get the latest news about celebrities, royals, music, TV, and real people. Find exclusive content, including photos and videos, on PEOPLE.com.
Read more »