Welcome
District 5450 Youth & At-Risk Protection
Required Club & Volunteer Compliance
Before any volunteer participates in or a club sponsors a program involving Protected Individuals, specific requirements must be met.
Rotary International (RI) and District 5450 (D5450) are deeply committed to supporting programs for Youth and At-Risk (Protected) Individuals. We stand with all Rotarians in upholding *RI’s Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth, which emphasizes a zero-tolerance policy for any kind of abuse or harassment.
* Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotary members, their partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people with whom they come into contact and protect them from physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
Why Youth Protection is Critical
The safety and well-being of youth are paramount. Consider these statistics that highlight the urgent need for robust protection measures when we just focus on two forms of abuse:
- Approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the U.S. are estimated to experience child sexual abuse by the age of 18. (CDC, YMCA)
- While precise "sexual harassment by volunteers" statistics are not always neatly isolated, the broader data on sexual abuse and misconduct in youth-serving organizations strongly indicates that volunteers contribute to these numbers. The risk is significant due to the nature of trust and access afforded to volunteers. This underscores the absolute necessity for robust youth protection policies, comprehensive background checks, mandatory training, and clear reporting mechanisms for all volunteers who interact with youth or at-risk individuals.
Adhering to a strong Youth Protection Policy is not only crucial to protect our at-risk or youth but also educates our members and keeps them safe from unwanted legal investigation and action.
Essential Resources for All Club Leadership
Presidents and Youth Chairs should be empowered to familiarize themselves with the following resources, regardless of whether your individual club currently works with youth or at-risk individuals and empowered to take the District 5450 Youth Protection Awareness Tutorial/Quiz. By reviewing the resources and taking the tutorial/Quiz you will have a better understanding of the importance of having a strong and proactive policy for your individual clubs and whether or not you are in compliance with the District 5450 and RI policy (updated June 2025)
Visit for additional resources Rotary International Youth Protection Resources which will include the following:
- Rotary Youth Protection Guide
- Protecting Youth: Program Participants (online course)
- Electronic and Online Safety Considerations
- Developing a Crisis Management Plan
- Rotary Code of Policies, section 2.120.
Required Compliance Steps for All Clubs and Volunteers
Before you get started to help you determine the specific steps and requirements for your club's ongoing or new programs that involve youth, please utilize the Club Eligibility Requirement Flowchart. This user-friendly tool will help you determine exactly what is required for your club to be compliant with RI and District 5450 youth policy.
Step 1: Review Essential Policies All volunteers (Rotarian or Non-Rotarian) participating in Club-Sponsored Programs, Young Rotary (Interact), or Rotaract must, at a minimum, review the following:
- D5450 Youth & At-Risk Protection Policy (A Summary Page is available for quick reference.)
- RI Youth Protection Guide
Important Note for Club Presidents: You are required to review the above documents with volunteers at a club meeting before sponsoring any programming. Proof of attendance at such a review meets this requirement.
Step 2: Determine Additional Requirements
Once you've reviewed the essential policies, identify any additional requirements based on the specific program and the type of contact with Protected Individuals.
- Identify the program type on the Club Eligibility Requirement Flow Chart. This document provides examples and clarifies the difference between Infrequent & Recurring Contact and Frequent & Occasional Contact.
- If your club program or interaction falls into a gray area, please contact Michelle Rea-Meredith. Include your question and contact information in your email. When in doubt, always err on the side of caution and check the Club Eligibility Requirement Flow Chart.
- The program type and contact level will indicate if a Background Check or a Youth Protection Awareness Tutorial/Quiz is necessary.
- Once again if you are unsure given the details being in a gray area, please contact Michelle Rea-Meredith. Include your question and contact information in your email.
Step 3: All Club Presidents must complete the Club Compliance Form (Due August 20th of each year or within 45 days of forming a new club)
Step 4: Volunteers involved in Rotary Youth Exchange and RYLA programs have unique requirements. Please refer to the specific program details for more information.
Questions or Need to Report?
If you have any questions, please contact the D5450 Youth & At-Risk Protection Officer: Michelle Rea-Meredith