Rotary International 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.
 
The District 7040 Youth Protection Policy
There are still many questions about the District Youth Protection Policy.  This is a policy approved by the District Council and posted on the District website | Avenues of Service | Youth Services | Youth Protection Policies.  It is a requirement if you or your club will participate in any youth related activity.  It is not optional. Our Canadian insurance company has stated that the $1,000,000 abuse liability coverage was added to the policy with the understanding that all clubs follow the Rotary International protocol.  The American insurance is similar.
 
 
The Abuse and Harassment Prevention Training Manual and Leaders’ Guide is designed to help Rotarians provide a safe and secure environment for participants in Rotary International youth programs. District governors, district youth protection officers and all district leaders involved with Interact, RYLA, and Youth Exchange should review these materials. Districts also may use these guidelines when working with other youth-related projects, such as scouting or mentoring, and any at-risk or vulnerable population, such as the elderly or disabled.
 
The training manual provides information and guidelines for developing and implementing an effective district abuse and harassment prevention program for youth protection. Topics include proper screening of adult volunteers working with youth (including privacy issues and recordkeeping), selection of youth participants, and effective training programs for Rotarians, non-Rotarian volunteers, and students.
 
The leaders’ guide consists of abuse and harassment prevention training sessions for all Rotarians involved in youth programs as well as specialized Youth Exchange training sessions for district Youth Exchange committee members, club counselors, host families, and students and their parents.