Child Safety
OUR COMMITMENT TO
child safety & protection
Camp Fire is devoted to the well-being of children and youth through safe, positive programming experiences.
Safety is our number one priority.
Statement on Zero
Tolerance for Abuse
Camp Fire National Headquarters (CFNH) affiliated councils are separate 501©3 organizations. While CFNH does require implementation of nationwide youth protection standards based on industry best practices, councils have the primary responsibility for risk management and youth protection in their organizations. This includes the establishment of local policies and procedures that best protect youth, effective screening and selection of staff and volunteers, and professional monitoring and supervision.
Consistent among all Camp Fire councils is a zero-tolerance for abusive behaviors; we do not tolerate any adult who sexual abuses or willfully harms a child (or attempts to do either).
How and where to report concerns
Our child abuse response protocols were developed in consultation with third party experts and require that affiliate councils train professional staff to recognize, respond, and immediately report any suspicions or allegations of child abuse or exploitation to child protection or law enforcement professionals. Councils are also required by national standards to report any allegation or suspicion of child abuse or exploitation involving an adult associated with Camp Fire, past or present, to the national leadership team and to law enforcement within 24 hours.
Parents, guardians, staff, volunteers, youth participants, and other community members are encouraged to report any unsafe behaviors, policy violations, or safety concerns to their local Camp Fire affiliate. Concerns and complaints can also be made to the national office by submitting a form here.
Safeguards In Place
At Camp Fire safety is our number one priority. Camp Fire understands that child abuse, child sexual exploitation, and child sexual misconduct are pervasive problems that must be managed in a pro-active manner if we are to protect those in our care.
The following are a few examples of the national safeguards we have in place:
Background Checks:
Background screening of all staff and volunteers is an obligation contained in the Camp Fire Charter Agreement.
Mandatory reporting:
Affiliate Camp Fire Councils are required to immediately report any allegations and/or criminal charges of abuse, child sexual exploitation, or child sexual misconduct to the appropriate authorities and then to Camp Fire National Headquarters.
Third Party Experts:
CFNH and affiliate councils engage third party safety experts for training, policy recommendations, and resources. CFNH works with Praesidium, a premier risk management firm, to conduct audits at the local and national levels on Camp Fire’s existing abuse prevention framework to identify potential gaps in the framework and provide recommendations to strengthen our approach to managing abuse risk.
Resources for Staff and Volunteers:
Camp Fire provides standardized, impactful training and resources for Camp Fire staff and volunteers on recognizing and responding to suspected or disclosed child abuse as well as offender behaviors and peer-to-peer sexual activity.
National Youth Protection Standards:
CFNH provides affiliate councils with a set of policies, procedures, and practices that must be implemented by local designated council staff and enforced by the Board and CEO/ED to remain in good standing with the national network.
Incident Reporting:
Camp Fire’s incident reporting protocol is streamlined to enhance reporting and response and improve CFNH’s ability to increase resources needed locally in the event of an incident. Camp Fire is a proud member of the Alliance of National Youth Serving Organizations for Children Protection. We partner with other youth serving organizations and group to collectively protect children from abuse within our organizations and shared communities.
Resources for parents, guardians, and other community members
The following videos are designed to provide parent, guardians, and caregivers general information you need to support abuse prevention. We provide this information because we know that prevention requires a multi-layered approach and that every adult involved has a responsibility in protecting youth participants in Camp Fire programs. It’s our hope you will partner with us in this attempt. We also encourage you to check out https://www.preventabuse.com/#parents for age-appropriate materials to start the conversation about sexual abuse and self-protection with the children in your life.
Introduction Video
Talking to Your Child Video
How to Respond Video
Abuse and Warning Signs Video
FOR MINORS
National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) | childhelp.org
CyberTipline:
1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) | CyberTipline.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway:
1-800-394-3366 | childwelfare.gov
FOR PARENTS
SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
National Sexual Assault Hotline:
1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | www.rainn.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline:
1-888-373-7888 | Text 233733 | humantraffickinghotline.org
National Center on Sexual Exploitation:
1-202-393-7245 | endsexualexploitation.org
National Child Advocacy Centers
CHILDREN’S ADVOCACY CENTERS (CACs):
Local, community-based services that support children and families affected by sexual abuse by working with other professionals, like law enforcement officials, child protective services investigators, healthcare workers, mental health professionals, and lawyers. CAC’s are most likely mandated reporters and may be required to report suspected child abuse to law enforcement.
Website: nationalcac.org/find-a-cac
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN (NCMEC):
Non-profit organization with the mission of finding missing children, and preventing child sexual exploitation and victimization. They take reports of child pornography, or sexual images and videos of children, and provide resources and information through their CyberTipline. There is also information on their website about what someone can do if there are sexual pictures or videos of their children online.
CyberTipLine: 800.THE.LOST (843.5678) | missingkids.org
NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE and live chat:
This hotline is run by RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. It’s available 24/7/365 for those affected by sexual abuse and their loved ones to receive free, anonymous and confidential support. Hotline: 800.656.HOPE (4673) | online.rainn.org
Darkness to Light
Praesidium
CDC RESOURCES
CHILDHELP NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE:
Confidential hotline with professional crisis counselors that give out crisis intervention, information, and referrals 24/7/265 and in over 170 languages, focused on preventing child abuse in the U.S. and Canada. Hotline: 800.4.A.CHILD (22.4453) | childhelp.org
