Supporting Refugees & Foreign Nationals in the BSA

The World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM) recognizes 171 countries with Scouting. Every member of the BSA proudly wears the purple WOSM “World Crest” on their uniform. And indeed, the BSA has been instrumental in the establishment and the preservation of Scouting in many countries – especially those facing conflict.

The BSA’s International Committee works extensively with our professional staff, national volunteers, and World Scouting leadership to lend every avenue of support to refugees abroad. The BSA’s International Commissioner remains in contact with his counterparts across the world and the BSA also has a number of leaders – elected and appointed – to positions throughout the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM). Together they work diligently in support of Scouts around the globe. You can always reach the BSA’s international team at International@Scouting.org to discuss these initiatives.

Scouting is an enduring movement whose members are prepared to serve in even the most challenging times. This important work continues with the full resources of WOSM and the support of the BSA. 

We commend the work that Councils, Districts, and individual Scouts have done on behalf of refugees abroad. It is an important tenet of our Scouting heritage to support those harmed by conflict, disaster, and hardship. 

The best way to support an unfolding humanitarian crisis is always to make a financial contribution through WOSM or another reputable NGO. Local representatives know what is needed and financial contributions help them purchase the most necessary and locally-appropriate supplies. To directly support Scouts’ humanitarian relief work in Ukraine and for refugees, you can donate at bit.ly/scoutsukraine.

Scout Executives should coordinate with International@scouting.org when planning or engaging in an overseas initiative. The BSA’s Messengers of Peace, the BSA’s Supporting World Scouting pillar, and our Council-based International Representatives can provide resources and insight.

Foreign nationals living in the United States are welcome to participate in and register with any eligible BSA program. This includes youth who are refugees, study abroad students, and children of international families working in the United States. Please welcome these families into our scouting community and help them connect with local units. 

If a youth has prior Scouting experience, foreign Scouts are entitled to have their accomplishments considered towards credit for BSA ranks. Please share the following policy with your local Advancement Committee.

BSA Guide to Advancement (2021), Page 38, Section 5.0.4.0

Youth From Other Countries. Youth from other countries who temporarily reside in the United States, or have moved here, may register in a BSA unit and participate in advancement. If progress from a foreign Scouting association is to be considered and applied to BSA requirements, then the foreign Scout must meet in person (or over electronic media) with members of the council or district advancement committee, along with at least one adult leader or committee member of the receiving unit. Previous advancement work is reviewed to determine the BSA rank—up to, but not including Eagle Scout rank—the youth is qualified to receive. The candidate must present evidence of membership and advancement from the previous association. Once a rank is determined, it is reported through the BSA’s internet portal for reporting advancement or on an advancement report.

https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Being a refugee is a difficult time of transition. It may be helpful to start a special unit that can serve the specific needs of those youth. Of course, this can be a Cub Scout Pack, Scouts BSA Troop, Exploring Post, Venturing Crew, or a Sea Scout Ship. These units would be founded in the normal BSA process and additional details about how you can reach out to refugee communities can be within this guide.

However, we also wanted to make you aware that not all foreign nationals or refugees may wish to join the Boy Scouts of America. Sometimes families plan to return to their homeland; other times it may be in the best interest of the youth to keep a small sense of cultural familiarity during a difficult time. For these and other reasons, the BSA has also created a special exception in its bylaws, which permits foreign Scouts to establish units here in the United States. This policy is particularly relevant for those living near a major embassy, a NATO exchange military base, a refugee community, or an international school/academy. But no matter the circumstances, cross-registering in this way permits the foreign unit to utilize Council activities, properties, and training events, while retaining their personal national heritage and Scouting structure.

BSA’s Rules and Regulations (2020), Page 22, Section X: 

Special Situations, World Organization of The Scout Movement

Member associations of the World Organization of the Scout Movement may organize, administer, and service units of their association for dependents of their citizens living temporarily in the United States. 

 Such permission is to be granted upon certification by the National Service Center, under the following conditions: 

(a) The approval to establish a unit will be on an annual basis and may be extended upon review of status as reflected in an annual report. 

(b) Registration will be restricted to citizens and dependents of member countries. No registration will be accepted or allowed in the unit from citizens of the United States or any third country. 

(c) The condition of registration will reflect agreements as to the use of Boy Scouts of America’s intellectual property. In this instance only would there be a requirement for dual registration. 

(d) There will normally be no registration fee assessed by the Boy Scouts of America for either a unit or an individual member. 

(e) Standards of certification will include membership qualifications, intellectual property, and adherence to the basic policy, program, and methods of the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

➤ Develop a Council Refugee Outreach Team

Recruit and appoint an individual to serve as a Refugee Outreach Coordinator. Candidates might include those with a background in membership, social work, multicultural outreach, or international affairs. Introduce them to your Council’s International Representative, any relevant District Executives, your Scout Reach Coordinator, and perhaps a unit leader that has already been involved with local refugees.

➤Gain an Understanding of Your Local Refugees

The Scout Motto, “Be Prepared” guides us in serving our refugee brothers and sisters. We want to get to know them to develop a relationship. Here are some important considerations:

• Learn about your area’s refugees, including thier home country, culture, family structure, and sensitivities. Learn about the circumstances that led to their fleeing and coming to the USA.
• Learn about the refugee’s home country cuisine. Try something as simple as making a dish at home.
• What language does this community speak? Can you find someone within your Council who speaks that language? Can you learn a few words of their language?
• What are their religious beliefs? Are there any special holidays to be aware of? Does your community have a place of worship they can attend?
• How do you pronounce their name? 
• Learn about Scouting in their home country. Go to the World Organization of Scouting website and find the National Scouting Organization for your refugee’s country https://www.scout.org/worldwide
• Read books about the refugee experience such as: Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga, the story of a Syrian refugee
• Identify if there are any cultural centers within your Council
• Identify if there are religious leaders that can facilitate or assist

➤ Make Initial Outreach

Contact local organizations such as refugee centers, social services agencies, religious institutions, etc. Scouting volunteers may have existing relationships. The Outreach Coordinator should work to understand the communities perception of Scouting and then cultivate a positive image by marketing to the shared interest this community has with Scouting.

➤ Work to Get Involved, Right Away!

Scouts need Eagle projects. Wood Badger’s need diversity tickets. Messengers of Peace projects can receive international recognition. And overall, volunteers are eager to support a good cause. Here are some possible volunteer needs:

• Airport Pickups: Wear your Scout uniform and welcome a new family at the airport/train/bus and provide them with a welcome meal on their first day in their new home city.
• Apartment Setups: Help transform an unfamiliar apartment into a new home for an arriving refugee family.
• Bus Orientations: Teach a new resident to use the bus/train system. Mobility is one of the most important steps to self-sufficiency.
• Provide English lessons to beginner speakers. Research tools that may help you, including in the native language they already speak.
• Assist in cultural adjustment and learning about American culture.
• Share your Scouting experiences and learn about theirs.
• And of course, ask how you can help. Clothing, application help, education, employment help, and many other needs are common.

➤ Publicize this Outreach on your Council Website

Publicize your interest in supporting refugees with posts on social media and on Council webpages. Please feel free to use the information on this page to build your message, but also utilize your research, initial findings, and new community volunteerism. Consider hosting a Messengers of Peace project that can bring the local Scouting community together.

➤ Add Refugee Leaders to your Outreach Team

As you gain traction, refugee leaders will make themselves available to support. This will include potential Charter Organization leaders, elder members of the community, or business owners. Work to ensure that you are including all parts of the community and not just one sect or socio-class.

➤ Start identifying Long-Term Partners

Perhaps there is a nearby unit that wants to start accepting Scouts immediately. Perhaps there is a local house of worship or community center that is willing to charter a new unit. If so, work to mentor those connections with strong commissioners and the support of your Outreach Team. The BSA has published detailed guides on how to start a new unit here.

If such options are not immediately available, identify organizations that might be long-term partners with the right support and training. A strong option is to host a reception/orientation/gathering to build bridges and introduce Scouting to local refugees – churches and Cultural centers are a great option. As a draw, this event should offer food that accommodates dietary restrictions and be held at a non-scouting location that will draw people to attend. This is a great time to allow a Refugee leader with Scouting experience to speak. It is also a great time for local BSA leaders to identify themselves as community leaders too. This kind of event helps adult, youth, and partner recruitment. Everyone should be able to learn something, and everyone should be able to go home with additional literature.

➤ Meet their total need.

The objective should be to make the full Scouting experience available, including a Cub Scout pack, a Scout troop, and a Venturing crew. It is important to express that Scouting is a family affair that includes parents and youth in the program.

Schedule follow-up meetings to ensure the program grows and remain socially active. Offer training immediately for all leaders and parents—remember to include parents. The training program should include Youth Protection and What is Scouting. Make a special effort to make Council-level program available to these new units and ask other districts to support as well – augmenting the program while reducing unit-leader burden. Commissioners are perfect allies, and should seek strategies across councils. 

In most cases, refugees arrive with very limited financial resources. Can your Council/District/Troop provide financial support, uniforms, or camping gear for refugee Scouts?

Tie 1. California: 5255 Afghan refugees

Tie 1. Texas: 4481 Afghan refugees

2. Oklahoma: 1800 Afghan refugees 
3. Washington: 1679 Afghan refugees
4. Arizona: 1610 Afghan refugees
5. Maryland: 1348 Afghan refugees
6. Missouri: 1200 Afghan refugees
7. New York: 1143 Afghan refugees
8. North Carolina: 1169 Afghan refugees
9. Virginia: 1166 Afghan refugees
10. Georgia: 1069 Afghan refugees

Wartime refugees are most likely to arrive through military bases. The following were temporary refugee centers/camps in the U.S. during September and October 2021:

• Ft. Lee, Virginia
• Ft. Pickett, VA (7,900)
• Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin (13,000)
• Camp Etterbury Army Post, Indiana (6,200)
• Ft. Bliss Army Base, El Paso, TX
• Dona Ana Complex, New Mexico (10,000)
• Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst, New Jersey (10,900)
• Holloman Air Force, New Mexico
• Marine Base Quantico

If you live near one of these bases, or in a community where you know numerous Afghani refugees now live, we encourage you to make connections to these vulnerable populations. Afghanistan was home to tens of thousands of Scouts, many of who now call the USA home.

While it has not yet been announced where Ukrainian refugees will be resettled, it is likely that the United States will choose areas where existing Ukrainian-American populations reside. The states with the largest such populations include New York (148,700), Pennsylvania (122,291), California (83,125), New Jersey (73,809), and Illinois (47,623).

https://www.ameredia.com/resources/demographics/ukrainian.html

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states

• •  UNHCR: They strive to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate or resettle. This organization provides critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation, and healthcare, as well as shelter, blankets, household goods, and sometimes food. They also arrange transport and assistance packages for people who return home, and income-generating projects for those who resettle. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/ 
  • Immigration Advocates Network (IAN):  is dedicated to expanding access to immigration legal resources and information through collaboration and technology. IAN was created in 2007 by leading immigrants’ rights organizations, to increase access to justice for low-income immigrants and strengthen the capacity of organizations serving them. They create their own tools, build platforms for others, and work with partners to harness the power of technology and collective action to better support immigrants and their advocates. https://www.immigrationadvocates.org 
  • Refugee Council USA: RCUSA’s members include 29 US-based non-governmental organizations, ranging from the nine national resettlement agencies to grassroots organizers. In total, their members represent hundreds of thousands of refugees and their millions of supporters and volunteers across the country. https://rcusa.org/ 

• • Save the Children: Their work creates lasting change for children, their families and communities – ultimately, transforming the future we all share. Among their duties, this organization helps a boy or girl to go to school, and also protects them from dangers such as child trafficking and early marriage.  Keeping children healthy from disease or malnutrition is another of their complex tasks www.savethechildren.org 
  • UNICEF: UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, to defend their rights, and to help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. www.unicefusa.org 

Your service to refugees is in alignment with the values of World Scouting and is exhibited in many awards, events, and Scouting rank requirements. Below is an initial list. See the BSA’s international webpage for more information.

• Messengers of Peace
• International Spirit Award
• JOTA/JOTI
• Citizenship in the World MB
• UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Interpreter Strip