Child Protection - Cub Scout Rules & Regulations

Protecting children is a duty we all share, and one we consider our top priority. Today, the BSA has a multi-layered process of safeguards that serve as barriers to abuse, including:  
  • Ongoing mandatory Youth Protection Training for all volunteers, parents, and Scouts; 
  • A leader selection process that includes criminal background checks and other screening efforts; 
  • A leadership policy which requires that at least two youth-protection trained adults be present with youth at all times; and prohibits one-on-one situations where adults would have any interactions alone with children – either in person, online, on a phone call, or via text; 
  • Prompt mandatory reporting to law enforcement of any allegation or suspicion of abuse;
  • A 24/7 Scouts First Helpline (1-844-SCOUTS1) and email contact address (scouts1st@scouting.org) to access counseling and help needed to report any suspected abuse or inappropriate behavior, 
  • A Volunteer Screening Database – a tool the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for all youth-serving organizations – to bar individuals who should not be working with children from joining our programs.
The BSA’s youth protection policies are in line with – and sometimes even ahead of – society’s knowledge of abuse and best practices for prevention. We actively share and improve these policies through our youth protection training and continuous engagement with top experts in this area. 

Please see some additional resources that share our efforts to keep Scouts safe with friends within and beyond the Scouting family.