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STUDENT PROTECTION POLICY
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Rotary International is committed to creating
and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants
in Rotary Activities. It is
the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses, partners, and other
volunteers to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of
and to prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children
and young people with whom they come into contact.
-- Rotary Code of Policies, 2.110 Youth
Protection, November 2005 |
Rotary International and District
5190 are committed to the safety and security of
each of the young people who is in our care through the Rotary Youth
Exchange Program. The United States Department of State, Bureau of
Educational and Cultural Affairs, Youth Programs
Division; and The Council on Standards
for International Educational Travel (CSIET) have implemented rules and
regulations designed to provide a safe exchange experience for exchange
students. District 5190’s policies relating to the safety of youth is
based on the requirements of these agencies along with Rotary’s
requirements and policies.
In order to provide a safe environment for our
inbound students, the District 5190 Rotary Youth Exchange Program has
implemented the following procedures:
- In-home interviews for host families
- Personal references for host families and
volunteers
- Criminal background checks for host families and
other program volunteers
- Orientation and training for host families and
other program volunteers
- Monthly visits with students and host families
IN-HOME INTERVIEWS
All potential host families will
have an in-home interview before they are accepted as host families. The
interview will be conducted by one or more Rotarians and will follow a
format set by the RYE District Committee. All members of the household
will be interviewed. Along with evaluating the members of the family, the
interviewer(s) will also evaluate the family’s home to insure that it
meets the minimum standards for hosting an exchange student.
PERSONAL REFERENCES
A prospective host family will be required to
fill out a host family application, and a personal reference form.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Criminal background checks will be
conducted on 1) host family members age 18 or over and 2) any one
(Rotarian or non-Rotarian) who has direct one-on-one unsupervised contact
with students. Adults who are to have criminal background checks will be
required to fill out a criminal background authorization form. A member
of the District Rotary Youth Exchange Committee will conduct the criminal
background checks.
Ineligible to Participate
- A host parent or volunteer will be
ineligible to participate in the RYE program if:
- They do not provide personal references
- They do not authorize a criminal background check
- A host family is not visited (by appointment or
un-announced) at home before and during an exchange
- If information on the application form, on the
personal reference form, or on the criminal background authorization
form; or given during the in-home interview is false
Background Check
Disqualification - an applicant will be automatically
disqualified if they have committed:
- Crimes against children
- Felony offenses against persons
- Felony domestic violence
- Crimes of public indecency
- Crimes of using weapons
- Felony drug crimes
- Other crimes as determined by the RYE District
Chairperson
And
- If they are a registered
sex offender
- If they are residing
with a registered sex offender
If an individual has
committed the following crimes, they may be disqualified:
- First time DUI, DWI, or possession of a controlled
substance under two ounces
- Crimes involving theft, fraud, embezzlement, and
forgery
- Other crimes as determined by the RYE District
Chairperson
APPEALING DISQUALIFICATION
DECISION - Any host family member
or volunteer has the right to appeal participation denial by:
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Providing written notice of an appeal to the District
Chair or District Governor with in ten calendar days of being advised
that participation has been denied
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If the appellant feels that the information that lead
to the denial is not accurate, it is the responsibility of the family
member/volunteer to provide the corrected information from the source
that provided the challenged information
| Rotary District 5190 reserves the right to
exclude altogether or limit a prospective host family member or
volunteer’s participation in District youth programs including, but
not limited to Rotary Youth Exchange.
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