Safeguarding Youth Training

Scouting America has unveiled a new comprehensive Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT) program, reinforcing its unwavering commitment to creating the safest possible environment for young people. This updated training represents a significant step forward in Scouting America's multi-layered approach to youth protection.

The new Safeguarding Youth training is now live and mandatory for all registered adult volunteers. It is also a joining requirement for new adult members. The new training has been developed with insights from leading experts in child safety, law enforcement, and child psychology. It incorporates the latest strategies for recognizing, responding to, and preventing various forms of abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.

Key Features of the Updated Training:

Comprehensive Focus: Our new Safeguarding Youth Training (formerly Youth Protection Training) program reflects the more comprehensive nature of the training and its focus on safeguarding youth from all threats.
Inclusive Content: The training covers a wide range of topics, ensuring volunteers are well-informed about potential risks and best practices for youth protection.
Annual Refresher Courses: Recognizing the ongoing need for education and awareness, Scouting America will now require annual refresher courses, estimated to take 15-20 minutes, to keep youth protection knowledge current.
Alignment with Best Practices: Scouting America regularly consults with experts to ensure its policies and training reflect the most up-to-date knowledge and prevention techniques in the field of youth safety.
Focus on Prevention: The training emphasizes proactive measures to prevent abuse and create a culture of safety within Scouting.

Your existing Youth Protection Training remains valid until its expiration date, at which point the new Safeguarding Youth Training will be required.

Course Details:

Duration: ~90 minutes
Available in English and Spanish
Access it through My.Scouting
Requirements: Complete all lessons + score 80% or higher on the final test

Steps to Access the training

In order to access and complete the Safeguarding Youth training, you will do the following steps:

Log into your My.Scouting account.
- If you do not have an account, you will need to create a My.Scouting account (its free). You’ll receive an email notification with your account information, including a member ID/reference number.
On the homepage, click on the My Training tab.
On the next page, Safeguarding Youth training will be listed at the top, click on Complete Course.
Upon completion, you may print a training certificate to submit with a volunteer application. Your training will automatically be updated in our system and associated with the member ID/reference number issued when you created the account.

Scouting America's proactive approach to youth safety underscores its dedication to providing a secure and enriching environment where young people can learn, grow, and thrive. The launch of this enhanced Safeguarding Youth Training demonstrates a continuous effort to adapt and improve safety measures, ensuring the well-being of all Scouts remains the top priority.

If you need assistance with your My.Scouting account, please contact Michael Smith, Registrar/District Assistant at michael.smith6@scouting.org.

Thank you for your work in sharing the message of safety in Scouting. You make a difference every day, in ways you may never know. Truly, Youth Protection begins with You.