The board of the Rotary Club of Patong Beach has implemented a Youth Protection Policy.
 
These Guidelines are designed to assist all our members and associates in their commitment with Rotary activities to protect children from abuse or exploitation, promote the rights of children and work with children to ensure their best interests are promoted. They also aim to protect members and associates by setting clear boundaries for their work with children and communities.
 
ROTARY CLUB OF PATONG BEACH YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY
 
1. Statement of Conduct for Working With Youth
 
Rotary Club of Patong Beach strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses, and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come into contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
 
2. Definitions
 
Volunteer — Any adult involved with Rotary youth activities who interacts directly with youth, whether supervised or unsupervised
 
Youth program participant — Anyone who participates in a Rotary youth program, whether child or adult
 
3. Club Compliance
 
The Board of the Club is responsible for supervision and control of all youth activities in the club, including those associated with Rotary Youth Exchange. The Board will monitor all projects and ensure that they comply with youth protection and Rotary Youth Exchange certification requirements.
 
4. Volunteer Selection and Screening
 
All Rotarian and non-Rotarian volunteers interested in working with youth program participants must meet RI, district and RCoPB eligibility requirements. RI prohibits the membership and participation of any volunteer who has admitted to, been convicted of, or otherwise been found to have engaged in sexual abuse or harassment.
 
If a person is accused of sexual abuse or harassment and the law enforcement investigation is inconclusive, or if law enforcement declines to investigate, additional safeguards are necessary to protect any youth program participants with whom the accused may have future contact, as well as the accused. A person later cleared of charges may apply to be reinstated as a youth program volunteer. Reinstatement is not a right, and reinstatement to his or her former position is not guaranteed.
 
5. Training
 
Rotary Club of Patong Beach may provide youth-protection training and information on youth programs on an as-needed basis.
 
6. Allegation Handling and Follow-Through
 
Rotary Club of Patong Beach takes all allegations of abuse or harassment seriously and will handle them in accordance with the Abuse and Harassment Allegation Reporting Guidelines.
 
The Rotary Club of Patong Beach will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, child protective services, and legal investigations and will not interfere with official investigations when conducting its own independent review.
 
Rotary Club of Patong Beach may appoint a youth protection officer committee to evaluate and review files, policies, and allegations regularly.
 
7. Travel by Youth
 
Youth travel outside of the local community must comply with youth protection policies.
 
For all youth travel sponsored by Rotary Club of Patong Beach, the following will be done before departure:
 
  • Obtain written permission from the parents or legal guardians of program participants
  • Give parents and legal guardians details about the travel, including locations, accommodations, itineraries, and the organizer’s contact information
  • When traveling more than 150 miles, or 240 kilometers, from the residence, verify that program participants have adequate insurance, including benefits for medical services, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation of remains, and legal liability
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ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’S STATEMENT OF CONDUCT FOR WORKING WITH YOUTH

Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses, and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people they come into contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.
 
Adopted by the RI Board of Directors, November 2006