Abuse, Neglect & Harassment Abuse, Neglect & Harassment ProtocolProtocol

District 7090District 7090

Why are we doing this?Why are we doing this?

Rotarians help vulnerable people:Rotarians help vulnerable people:• YouthYouth• ChildrenChildren• ElderlyElderly• DisabledDisabled

Rotarians have credibility (and want to Rotarians have credibility (and want to keep it!)keep it!)

Our duty includes protection of those we Our duty includes protection of those we serveserve

RI requires itRI requires it

Why – simplified:Why – simplified:

PreventionPrevention

Liability reductionLiability reduction

Why Now?Why Now?

Volunteers are doing moreVolunteers are doing more Increased front-line interaction with Increased front-line interaction with

vulnerable peoplevulnerable people Increased litigation/claimsIncreased litigation/claims Rising insurance costsRising insurance costs Expanded liability decisions by courtsExpanded liability decisions by courts

5 Myths:5 Myths:

1.1. No one in our club would do No one in our club would do anything to hurt someoneanything to hurt someone

2.2. If I don’t know about it, I’m not If I don’t know about it, I’m not responsibleresponsible

3.3. We can’t control the volunteers, We can’t control the volunteers, so we can’t be responsible for so we can’t be responsible for

themthem

4.4. We do so much in the We do so much in the community, community, no one would no one would ever sue usever sue us

5.5. Insurance will cover usInsurance will cover us

Policy:Policy:

Safeguard the welfare of those we Safeguard the welfare of those we serve during their contacts with us.serve during their contacts with us.

Prevent physical, sexual, or Prevent physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, harassment & emotional abuse, harassment & neglectneglect

Be consistent with the lawBe consistent with the law

The Protocol is about:The Protocol is about:

Identifying risksIdentifying risks

Evaluating risksEvaluating risks

Controlling risksControlling risks

Ask:Ask: What is the level of risk? What is the level of risk?

(low/high/medium)(low/high/medium)

Is the risk worth taking?Is the risk worth taking?

Can the risk be minimized?Can the risk be minimized?

(precautions taken etc.)(precautions taken etc.)

Look at the “Risk Assessment Chart” Look at the “Risk Assessment Chart”

District Mandate:District Mandate:

Ensure participants in Ensure participants in District District ProgrammesProgrammes (including Rotarians, (including Rotarians, but especially vulnerable groups) are but especially vulnerable groups) are protected by:protected by:

• Screening all volunteers etc.Screening all volunteers etc.

• Reporting/investigating allegationsReporting/investigating allegations

District Programs:District Programs:

Youth ExchangeYouth Exchange RYLARYLA SlapshotSlapshot InteractInteract RotaractRotaract EarlyactEarlyact Group Study ExchangeGroup Study Exchange Foundation ScholarshipsFoundation Scholarships

Club ProgramsClub Programs::

Youth activities: Rotary Medals, Youth activities: Rotary Medals, essay contests, Junior Achievement, essay contests, Junior Achievement, Camp Enterprise, etc.Camp Enterprise, etc.

Seniors activities & eventsSeniors activities & events Disabled children/adults activitiesDisabled children/adults activities Feed the Hungry programsFeed the Hungry programs Reading to children (literacy) projectsReading to children (literacy) projects Etc, etc.Etc, etc.

Screening: Who? Screening: Who?

All volunteers in District Programs All volunteers in District Programs involving vulnerable peopleinvolving vulnerable people

Adults over 18 in home of host familyAdults over 18 in home of host family

Screening: How?Screening: How?

Volunteer Assessment Form must be Volunteer Assessment Form must be completed and retainedcompleted and retained

Criminal record checks where Criminal record checks where required (e.g. youth exchange) or required (e.g. youth exchange) or recommendedrecommended

Club-based PolicyClub-based Policy

District District recommendsrecommends adoption of adoption of consistent policyconsistent policy

Local recognition of potential Local recognition of potential negative consequencesnegative consequences

Ensure safety/well-being of Ensure safety/well-being of participantsparticipants

Establish Club Counsellor positionEstablish Club Counsellor position

• Complete & maintain screening formsComplete & maintain screening forms• Check referencesCheck references• Review criminal record checksReview criminal record checks• Be point person for complaintsBe point person for complaints

District Harassment & Abuse District Harassment & Abuse Prevention CommitteePrevention Committee

First point of contact* for Clubs if First point of contact* for Clubs if complaint occurscomplaint occurs

Source of information, advice, Source of information, advice, training if neededtraining if needed

*subject to local police reporting*subject to local police reporting

We need to:We need to:

Understand “why” have a ProtocolUnderstand “why” have a Protocol Adopt and implementAdopt and implement Follow-up and maintainFollow-up and maintain

= make it part of what we do and who = make it part of what we do and who we arewe are