AAU President Convenes Two Task Forces to Recommend, Implement Stronger Protections

December 14, 2011

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Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) today announced that it has appointed two independent task forces of nationally recognized child safety and law enforcement experts to review, assess and make recommendations about the 113-year-old organization's "protocols, policies and procedures." AAU President Louis Stout said that the action steps "all are aimed at our overarching priority: to enhance the safety and protection of youth athletes."

Members of the task force groups are expected to work on separate but related issues and to collaborate before making their respective final recommendations. The Youth Protection Task Force and the Adult/Volunteer Screening Task Force will begin immediately working with the AAU on steps that should be taken to strengthen the AAU's priority of safeguarding children.

"We will never be complacent about doing everything possible to ensure the safety of every young person in our programs," said Stout. "We're reaching out to some of the best and most credible experts in their fields for recommendations to establish a new, best and highest standard for any organization devoted to the well-being of children."

The AAU has named two nationally renowned child protection experts to the Youth Protection Task Force, empowering them to review policies and procedures as well as volunteer, athlete and parent training.

"This is a very difficult time for the AAU because of the recent allegations made against its former president that go back nearly 30 years," noted Chris Newlin, Executive Director of the National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC). "But the steps that AAU has taken thus far demonstrate that the organization is dedicated to doing the right thing - and that's why we're involved."

Newlin and the NCAC have been asked to work with the Florida-based Lauren's Kids Foundation in thoroughly reviewing AAU's current policies and practices with one fundamental goal: to make smart and practical recommendations that will enhance AAU's commitment and ability to protect children who participate in their many events.

Lauren Book, founder of Lauren's Kids, was a victim of childhood sexual abuse for six years at the hands of her nanny. Through her foundation, Lauren has worked to turn her horrific personal experience into a vehicle to prevent childhood sexual abuse and help survivors heal. Her work has led to strong new laws, innovative curriculum tools and a growing, healthy culture to prevent and respond to the epidemic of sexual abuse of children.

"Since 95 percent of child sexual abuse is preventable through education, it is commendable that an organization like AAU - with the ability to reach so many young people - is dedicated to ensuring positive experiences for these kids," said Book. "Every child deserves a safe opportunity to compete in sports and to avoid being prey to sexual predators."

The Adult/Volunteer Screening Task Force will benefit from the expertise of law enforcement experts Tim Moore and Dr. Jim Sewell, who will focus on guiding the AAU toward the use of the most effective and efficient ways to ascertain that all coaches, volunteers and other adults are properly vetted to safely work with children.

Moore previously served as the longest-tenured Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, an agency in which he worked for more than 30 years, with a distinguished track record of protecting children and enhancing child safety programs. FDLE created the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse (MCIC) that was the first of its kind in the nation.

The MCIC, now known as the Missing and Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse, serves as a liaison between citizens, private organizations and law enforcement officials, providing information and assistance in cases involving missing and endangered children. Moore was also instrumental in Florida becoming the second state in the nation to create a statewide AMBER Plan. Under his leadership, Florida was also among the first to publish names and pictures of sexual predators and offenders on the Internet.

Dr. Sewell, who also retired from FDLE, brings more than 30 years of law enforcement experience. While at FDLE, he served as Assistant Commissioner; Deputy Commissioner; Regional Director of FDLE's Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center; Director of the Division of Criminal Justice Information Systems; and Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. He has also served as special advisor to Florida's Department of Children and Families. He has authored two important books that are highly regarded by law enforcement professionals and scholars.

AAU President Stout said that the organization will provide the task force experts with organizational support, but he pledged that their work will be completely independent and their recommendations will become the AAU's agenda for action to better protect children.

About the AAU: The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sport. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grassroots level. The philosophy of "Sports for All, Forever," is shared by more than 500,000 participants and more than 50,000 volunteers. The AAU is divided into 56 distinct Districts. These Districts annually sanction more than 34 sports programs, 250 national championships and over 30,000 age division events.