Camp Question #2

[brehon]

20 minutes ago, bodiesmom said:

But I have no proof.

All I have are the incident reports I filed, none of which I actually witnessed. 

It is NOT your job to get proof. That’s CPS’ job. Gather copies of the incidents plus your updated timeline and call CPS. 

If you’re a mandated reporter by virtue of being on the camp (?) or organization (?) board, you could be held as liable as Mrs. Coordinator in the eyes of the law. 

Call!!!!

[JustEm]

Call CPS, contact the Camp Director's supervisor (I don't know how this organization work.)  I would also contact all of the parents who had children in that cabin and inform them what happened, obviously do not use the childrens' names but they need to be informed that this is happening and the director is not doing anything to protect these girls.

[egao_gakari]

I echo what everyone else is saying--it is a common misconception that a person needs proof before they report. I thought so before I did Virtus training through my church. You don't. Part of CPS' job is investigating every report, even a report made only on suspicion. They are the ones who (hopefully) have the expertise to weed out which ones are specious, not us.

An example in my training: A mom hears from her DD that there's one girl on the soccer team whom nobody talks to anymore because the coach has singled her out for special one-on-one coaching before and after practice, and he keeps boasting about how she could be professional someday. Mom happens to arrive at practice early one day, and sees the "special girl" exiting the locker room crying. Should she call CPS? The training said yes she should, because "concerns" are not the same as "allegations" and CPS has methods of investigation that won't ruin the life of the accused party should it turn out to be innocent.

I have no idea what the problem is with the person who covered everything up and lied to you, whether there's emotional baggage associated with it, friendship with the other mom, or a host of other possibilities. But that person needs to lose her position and learn, hardcore, that this stuff is no joke.

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Bodiesmom, if the prospect of the camp and all the families knowing it was you that called, prevents you from calling, then don't notify them yet. Shelve that for just a minute, while you do the first thing.

If all you can do as Step One is call CPS as the initial reporter, then 

DO IT. Do this Step One because you have to, by any measurement including legal and ethical.

Regroup after that. Decide whether and how you might be the one to tell all the families. That is Step Two, and you might not be the one to do it.

I would not tell the organization that I had called child protective services. I wouldn't feel that I owed them anything. I would owe the families my integrity in reporting this to the authorities.

[Catwoman]

7 minutes ago, Tibbie Dunbar said:

Bodiesmom, if the prospect of the camp and all the families knowing it was you that called, prevents you from calling, then don't notify them yet. Shelve that for just a minute, while you do the first thing.

If all you can do as Step One is call CPS as the initial reporter, then 

DO IT. Do this Step One because you have to, by any measurement including legal and ethical.

Regroup after that. Decide whether and how you might be the one to tell all the families. That is Step Two, and you might not be the one to do it.

I would not tell the organization that I had called child protective services. I wouldn't feel that I owed them anything. I would owe the families my integrity in reporting this to the authorities.

 

I wouldn’t tell the organization I was reporting them, either. Why give them advance notice so they can get together and coordinate their stories? Don’t give them the opportunity to get their ducks in a row and possibly make up a bunch of lies.

[SKL]

I agree that, if you feel the facts justify a call to CPS, you should do that right away regardless of the other fallout.  The main reason is that the leaders other than you are apparently not taking this seriously and are leaving other children in danger.  You tried doing it the way they would like it done, and nothing changed.  So now you know you're the only person concerned enough to stop this.

I have no idea how the higher leadership of AHG feels about this, but I do know that once there's an official report, they are going to care a lot.  As they should.

[Sherry in OH]

As a scout leader you are a mandated reporter.  I cannot access AHG youth protection material, but here is the info from BSA

Mandatory Report of Child Abuse

All persons involved in Scouting shall report to local authorities any good-faith suspicion or belief that any child is or has been physically or sexually abused, physically or emotionally neglected, exposed to any form of violence or threat, exposed to any form of sexual exploitation, including the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child pornography, online solicitation, enticement, or showing of obscene material. You may not abdicate this reporting responsibility to any other person.

Steps to Reporting Child Abuse

1. Ensure the child is in a safe environment.
2. In cases of child abuse or medical emergencies, call 911 immediately. In addition, if the suspected abuse is in the Scout’s home or family, you are required to contact the local child abuse hotline.
3. Notify the Scout executive or his/her designee.

Youth Protection

Quote

 

[TechWife]

Don't be part of a cover up. Report.

[Katy]

Don't just call CPS.  Start by calling the police.  Call 911. The adults dismissing this situation and allowing additional girls to be exposed to a known abuser, even a minor abuser, is at the very least criminal negligence.  The fact that they can let the mother of the abuser talk them out of taking it seriously means the mom is in on the abuse too.

Then call CPS and national.

Then call EVERY SINGLE MOM YOU KNOW with a child at this camp and warn them.  Do not let an abusive child and her bully of a mother make additional victims because you're going along with it.

[catz]

I 100% agree you need to report this.  And you know what?  The parent of the 16 year old is obviously failing her if she's having these struggles and she thought this type of camp set up was ok for her.  This teen needs much more intervention and tomato staking and this mother may have off sense if they've had other issues in her family.  I agree EVERY family involved should have background.  I cannot tell you what level of POed I would be if my child was at this camp and was left unsupervised as a younger child with a much older teen with known boundary issues.  There is just nothing remotely ok about any of this.