Student Protection Policy

1. Student Protection Policy Rotary District 7450 is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all of our exchange students.

2. Our Mission • Recognizing that all young people have the right to freedom against harassment and abuse. • Ensuring that all our volunteers are carefully selected, trained and accept responsibility for helping to prevent abuse of children.

3. Mission…continued • Respond swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of harassment and/or abuse, and by providing adults and young people with the opportunity to voice any concern they may have. • Access to a local Youth Protection Officer and an ESSEX Student Protection Officer to act as the main contact for parents, children, host families and outside agencies.

4. Mission…continued • Ensuring that access to confidential information is restricted.

5. Types of Harassment and Abuse • Sexual Abuse – fondling, masturbation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, viewing pornographic material, taking part in making pornographic material. • Physical Abuse – hitting, shaking, squeezing, biting, burning, excessive sports training.

6. Types of Abuse… continued • Neglect – Failure to meet basic physical needs, constantly leave alone or unsupervised, failure or refusal to give affection and attention and left in an unsafe “at risk” environment.

7. Types of Abuse… continued • Emotional Abuse – Persistent lack of love and affection, frequent shouting, taunting, over-protection, constant criticism, bullying and unrealistic pressure to perform to higher expectations. • Financial Abuse – Misappropriation of student’s funds and overt illegal use of funds by other than student.

8. Volunteer Code of Ethics • Treat students with respect – be aware of your tone of voice & manner and their reactions. • Touch and hug in a way that is not intrusive/disturbing to them or observers. • Control who they hang out with. • Contact the police and the student’s counselor if there are any allegations or suspicions of abuse.

9. Code of Ethics… continued • DO NOT engage in rough physical games or horseplay • DO NOT use physical force in any way, especially as a form of punishment • DO NOT touch a student in any way that could be interpreted as intrusive or sexual

10. Code of Ethics… continued • DO NOT make sexually suggestive comments, even as a joke • DO NOT spend excessive time alone with a student, this may lead to misunderstanding

11. What to do if your student tells you of harassment and/or abuse: • Listen attentively and let him/her know it was right to tell you • Assure him/her that they are not to blame • Remain calm and make sure the student feels safe • Encourage student to share with you what happened and who was involved

12. What to do… continued • Don’t promise to keep secrets. Explain the necessity of informing the police and/or Rotarians (counselor, district chair, ESSEX).

13. What Rotary Will Do • Respond to the needs of the student • Assure proper authorities will be contacted • Offer student non-Rotarian counseling • Assure student’s parents are notified • Offer student option of going home • Remove abuser from all contact with victim • Cooperate with police involved in an investigation

14. Remember: • With all of us working together we can keep our exchange students safe and make this a meaningful and happy exchange experience for all.

15. District 7450 Youth Protection OfficerDonna Henry 24/7 Cell #: 215-292-1254 Email: dmhphilly@aol.com 618 W. Magnolia Avenue Aldan, PA 19018 Home: 610-259-2622 Office: 215-729-7441

16. Essex Student Protection OfficerSteve GoldsteinToll Free Hotline: 866.683.0533 Email: stevebarbg@aol.com P.O. Box 66 Killington, VT 05751 Home: 802.442.9493