Re: [AISdiscuss] Draft Youth Protection Guidelines

[PlankMail@aol.com]

In a message dated 4/26/2006 1:48:11 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
CEMahan@aol.com writes:

I have  read the draft Youth Protection Guidelines. I respect and appreciate  
 
the work that Bob has devoted to this policy document. On the other hand  I  
wonder if a simple statement of policy, say one paragraph, might  not 
suffice.  
Something to the effect that it is every member's  obligation to be alert to 
any 
indication of child abuse and to report any  suspected child abuse to the 
proper authorities.
 

The  rationale for my comment is that the draft document might seriously 
discourage  people from working with youth.


I fully understand and appreciate how you  feel. If yours turns out to be the 
majority opinion I will  respect it and help draft the one paragraph.   
However, I feel it  is my responsibility to inform the Board of its vulnerability 
nowadays to  embarrassing and costly legal actions and to advocate that some 
appropriate  written policy be adopted. I tried to tailor the policy  as 
narrowly as possible to the AIS Youth Program, after submerging myself  in the 
written policies of such organizations as 4H, scouts, various  denomination 
churches, schools, and traveling amateur athletic  organizations.  I also consulted 
with child  protection professionals.  If you compare what I came up with the  
other's policies, you would better appreciate what I softened or left  out.  
Bob.

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