Why Safeguarding in Youth Organizations Matters More Now

"If you were involved in a youth group, sports team, summer camp, or after-school program as a child, chances are you can still recall the smell of the campfire, the sound of kids playing in the courtyard, or the friendships that helped shape those memories. Maybe it was the excitement of trying something new, like being away from home for the first time, the quiet pride of belonging when you joined a team, or the trusted adult who saw your potential and encouraged you"

"In the 1970s and '80s, a wave of revelations about child sexual abuse in major youth organizations in the U.S. rocked public trust. What had once been revered as safe, wholesome institutions where memories were made were exposed as vulnerable to systemic failures of child protection. The consequences were fiscal, reputational, and, most importantly, traumatic. Generations of children suffered, often without healin"

Youth-serving organizations shape formative experiences, build resilience, and nurture identity for millions of young people. These programs include scouting troops, art programs, religious groups, and mentoring initiatives embedded in communities. When safety is not prioritized, those settings can cause deep and lasting harm. Historical revelations in the 1970s and 1980s exposed systemic failures of child protection in major youth organizations and produced fiscal, reputational, and traumatic consequences. Recent prevention efforts by major organizations achieved over 20 percent reductions in sexual harm. Prevention must expand to address peer-to-peer harm and requires sustained investment, informed leadership, and a strong organizational safety culture.

Read at Psychology Today