SAFE SANCTUARY POLICYTRAINING

AGENDA

Review the PolicyTake a brief testComplete 2 forms:

Background Investigation Consent Form Safe Sanctuaries Covenant Form

POLICY

Available on church website www.desertfoothills.org

BACKGROUND

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church, in April 1996, adopted a resolution aimed at reducing the risk of child abuse in the church.

The General Conference resolution affirmed that every local church should have in place a policy for protecting children.

GOALS

To prevent abuse from happening to the children and youth in our care

To prevent false allegations of abuse against individuals and the church

To enable staff and volunteers to recognize and report suspected abuse

MAJOR GUIDELINES

Group of Three RuleBackground ChecksAppropriate Age Difference Between Leaders

and ParticipantsAppropriate Communication Reporting Suspected of Known Child Abuse or Neglect

GROUP OF THREE RULE

SUMMARY: A child or youth shall not be alone with another

unrelated adult or child or youth at any time for any reason. Everything should be done in groups of at least three: at least two adults and a young person, or two young people and an adult. The ideal to strive for is that at least two unrelated adults are with children or youth at all times

GROUP OF THREE RULE

RATIONALE:

Should an adult desire to do harm to a child, it is much more difficult to do so with another witness present

A secondary rationale for the Group of Three Rule is to prevent false allegations of abuse

GROUP OF THREE RULE

Policy Highlights: Maintain visual contact with others Riding in vehicles Restrooms Parent pick-up after meetings Camps

BACKGROUND CHECKS

SUMMARY: Background checks should be performed on all staff

and volunteers that have contact with youth at church sponsored meetings and events

BACKGROUND CHECKS

RATIONALE: Someone who has been convicted of a sexual

offense against children, youth, or adults has no place as a volunteer at church events.

Children and youth should not be placed at undue risk by having them in a vehicle with a driver with recent serious violations on their record.

The very act of being asked for a background check may deter a potential abuser from volunteering, or from acting on their desires.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Policy Highlights: All current and perspective staff and volunteers will

be required to complete a Background Investigation Consent form

Background checks for staff and volunteers shall be through the National Sex Offender Database, available at

www.nsopr.gov Driver’s license checks should be made of staff and

volunteers transporting children and youth on behalf of the church.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Policy Highlights: All current and perspective staff and volunteers will

be required to complete a Background Investigation Consent form

Background checks for staff and volunteers shall be through the National Sex Offender Database, available at

www.nsopr.gov Driver’s license checks should be made of staff and

volunteers transporting children and youth on behalf of the church.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Policy Highlights: National Criminal File checks should be performed annually

on paid staff that work with children and youth. These checks may be performed at

www.screennow.com

Background checks for both staff and volunteers shall be updated every two years

Privacy of information collected is paramount. Records should be kept in a secure location, and the person performing the background checks will protect the confidentiality of those being checked. Background checks will be performed by a paid staff member designated by the SPRC.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

Background Check Results: Anyone convicted of child or sexual abuse will be

denied the opportunity to work with our children and youth

DUI’s or other serious driving violations happening within the last decade would be cause to restrict someone from driving children and youth

Other identified violations will be subject to review by the Pastor and the Staff Parish Relations Committee (SPRC)

APPROPRIATE AGE DIFFERENCE

SUMMARY: Leaders of children and youth (teachers, camp

counselors, youth workers, etc.) should be at least four years older than the participants that are under their immediate supervision.

APPROPRIATE AGE DIFFERENCE

RATIONALE: Leaders whose age is within four years of the

participants may not: Exercise appropriate boundaries in their relationships

with those in their care. Have developed the level of judgment needed to be in

responsible situations with children and youth. Command the respect of those they are entrusted to

supervise

APPROPRIATE AGE DIFFERENCE

Policy Highlights: Staff and volunteers working with youth will be at

least four years older than the participants that are under their immediate supervision

Church leadership should work to provide younger volunteers the opportunity to volunteer in situations where this age difference can be maintained

“Leaders-in-training” (youth whose age is within four years of participants) shall be allowed to serve in a leadership role when properly supervised by an adult leader

APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION(WRITTEN AND ELECTRONIC)

SUMMARY: Written and electronic communications between

adults and children and youth should be as open and public as possible. Persons wishing to post information on the Internet may do so only with permission of the sponsoring organization

APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION(WRITTEN AND ELECTRONIC)

RATIONALE:

Private conversation between a youth and adult, whether written, texted, e-mailed, phoned, or otherwise sent could signify or be construed as an inappropriate relationship between the adult and the young person.

Staff and volunteers may take appropriate photographs and movies of children and youth, but do not have legal authority to post those on-line.

Church permission forms request permission to use photos of participants in printed and electronic materials. This does not confer permission to individuals to post pictures on their own websites.

Volunteers and staff should be aware of what their own “web presence”.

APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION(WRITTEN AND ELECTRONIC)

Policy Highlights: Try to talk via a landline first. If via cell phones, attempts should be made to talk to the

parents or guardians at either the beginning or end of the phone call.

Copy electronic communications such as e-mails, instant messaging and telephone text messaging to the parents and/or another adult leader

Covenant to not post information about any event on-line without the express permission of the sponsoring organization

Volunteers and staff shall maintain an appropriate web presence

REPORTING ABUSE AND NEGLECT

SUMMARY: Volunteers and staff are both morally and legally

responsible to report actions that surround suspected or known child abuse.

REPORTING ABUSE AND NEGLECT

RATIONALE:

The fundamental goal is the protection and well being of the children and youth

Abuse or neglect cannot remain a secret, nor can it be tolerated. Volunteers and staff are responsible both morally and legally to promptly report actions that surround suspected child abuse

A person making a good-faith report cannot be sued for doing so, and those receiving the report will keep their identity confidential.

Providing proper and timely notification will allow proper communications to occur between church officials, law enforcement officials, and media representatives

REPORTING ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Policy Highlights: When it is suspected that a child or youth in the care of

staff or a volunteer has been subjected to abuse or neglect in their home, the Pastor shall be notified. If the Pastor is not available, the Chairperson of SPRC shall be notified.

It shall be the responsibility of the Pastor to notify Children’s Services of suspected abuse. Notification can be made to Children’s Services 24 hours a day at 1-888-SOS-CHILD

When it is alleged that a child or youth in the care of staff or a volunteer has been subjected to abuse by someone in the church, the DFUMC Pastor shall be contacted. If the Pastor is not available or is directly involved with the alleged abuse, the Chairperson of SPRC should be notified.

REPORTING ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Policy Highlights: Upon notification by staff or volunteers of alleged

child abuse, the Pastor will be responsible for immediately contacting three individuals. The first is local law enforcement authorities; the second is the Superintendent of the district in which the incident has occurred; and the third is the Conference Communications Director, who will be responsible for activating the Conference Crisis Communications Team

Confidentiality shall be maintained for all parties involved in the reporting of the incident.

SUMMARY

Group of Three RuleBackground ChecksAppropriate Age Difference Between Leaders

and ParticipantsAppropriate Communication Reporting Suspected of Known Child Abuse or Neglect

Questions ?

Test Time !

BEFORE YOU LEAVE………….

Complete: Test Background Investigation Consent Form Safe Sanctuaries Covenant Form

Turn in everything to FacilitatorHave a great day !!!!!

THANKS FOR TAKING TIME FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF OUR CHURCH