Safe Sanctuary-Child Abuse Policy
First United Methodist Church-Siloam Springs, Arkansas
First United Methodist Church-Siloam Springs, Arkansas
The General Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted a resolution aimed at eliminating any potential for child sexual abuse in the church.
Our Christian faith calls us to offer both hospitality and protection to the little ones, the children. The Social Principles of The United Methodist Church state that "...children must be protected from economic, physical and sexual exploitation and abuse."
Child Abuse incidents are devastating to all who are involved: the child, the family, the local church and its leaders. Increasingly, churches are torn apart by the legal, emotional, and monetary consequences of litigation following allegations of abuse.
God calls us to make our churches safe places, protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and ritual abuse. God calls us to create communities of faith where children and adults grow safe and strong. (From The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church. P. 384-386)
Thus, in covenant with all United Methodist congregations, The Siloam Springs First United Methodist Church adopts this policy for the prevention of child abuse in our church.
Purpose
Our purpose for establishing this Child Abuse Prevention Policy and accompanying procedures is to demonstrate our total and unwavering commitment to the physical, emotional and spiritual safety of all the children and youth God has entrusted to our care.
Covenant Statement
The Siloam Springs First United Methodist Church hereby pledges to conduct the ministry of Jesus Christ in ways that assure the physical and emotional safety and spiritual growth of all of our children and youth as well as all of our workers with children and youth.
We will follow reasonable safety measures when selecting and recruiting workers; we will implement appropriate operational procedures in all areas of programming and care; we will train our workers with children and youth on our procedures and policies; and we will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse consistent with Arkansas state law.
I. Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect (Arkansas Code 9-30-103)
A. Arkansas Code defines a child as being any person under eighteen (18) years of age.
B. Child abuse is any non-accidental physical injury, mental injury, sexual abuse, or sexual exploitation inflicted by those legally responsible for the care and maintenance of the child, or an injury which is at variance with the history given. The term encompasses both acts and omissions.
C. Neglect refers to
1. Failure to provide, by those legally responsible for:
a. The care and maintenance of the child and the proper or necessary support;
b. Education, as required by law; or
c. Medical, surgical, or any other care necessary for his well-being; or
2. Any maltreatment of the child. The term includes both acts and omissions.
Definitions of specific types of child abuse and neglect are further delineated in the Arkansas Code.
II. Staff Recruitment and Selection Guidelines
A. Age
In recruiting and hiring volunteers and paid staff to work with children and youth in any position of authority, they must be at least 15 years of age and at least 3 years older than the age of the persons they are working to serve.
This standard allows persons to be separated by enough years so as to better have perspective and recognition as an authority figure with the group they are serving. Persons not meeting these standards may not serve in a role of authority; however, they may be utilized as assistants to those in leadership positions.
B. Workers with children
1. Siloam Springs First United Methodist Church will not use anyone as a worker for children or youth in the church unless they have completed a satisfactory background check. In the case of paid staff workers, the applicant must pass a current background check.
2. A person may assist an individual who has completed a satisfactory background check if that individual remains in room with helper.
C. Application
Applicants must complete and sign an application and the related waivers giving permission to check references and background information.
D. Reference Checks
Reference checks may be requested by the interviewers at their discretion. The "Children's and Youth Worker's Reference" form will be filled out by the interviewers conducting the reference check.
E. Background Checks
Criminal background checks shall be made of all clergy, paid staff, and volunteers who have supervisory program responsibility for youth (youth is someone under the age of 18) and all other church employees, to the extent permitted by law, prior to employment, to determine current or historic child abuse or sexual misconduct, criminal records, violent or pedophiliac behavior.
F. Prior Convictions
Individuals who have been convicted of physical or sexual abuse or neglect may not work in any church-sponsored activity or program for preschoolers, children or youth.
G. Interview
All applicants must be interviewed for suitability for the work they desire to do. Interviews will be conducted by the leader of the program in which the applicant will work and other persons designated by the program leader. Church policy and guidelines should be discussed during the interview.
H. Child Abuse Survivor Applicants
Adult survivors of childhood physical or sexual abuse need the love and acceptance of this church family. A person's experience with abuse and their recovery process may be pertinent to their suitability as youth and children's ministry workers. Applicants who are survivors of abuse should discuss this in confidence with the person who conducts the confidential interview. If an applicant is uncomfortable doing so, he/she may have the interview conducted by a pastor.
I. Applicants with Substance Abuse Backgrounds:
An applicant in substance abuse recovery or “clean” (i.e. not utilized any controlled substances) less than two years will not be permitted to work directly with youth/children.
J. Confidentiality of Information
The church will keep confidential all information received in the applicant selection process. Selection information will be marked as such and stored in a locked location with limited access afforded only to church staff and others with a need to know.
The Pastor, the Youth Minister and the Children’s ministry team Chairperson are responsible for the implementation of these policies.
K. Required Forms and Signatures
In addition to staff application and reference forms, all applicants will sign “Authorization and Request for Criminal Background Check” and “Participation Covenant Statement” forms as part of the application process.
III. Staff Supervision Guidelines
All meetings of children and/or youth affiliated with Siloam Springs First United Methodist Church will be governed by the following guidelines:
A. Two adult rule
Two approved (see section II above) adults or one adult and one approved, trained volunteer 15 years and older must be present at all times. This applies to classroom activities, activities away from the church facility and when transporting children and youth.
Whenever possible, teachers will be assigned in teams of two or more per Sunday School hour to every class of children or youth. Concerted effort will be made to recruit sufficient numbers of volunteer teachers/leaders to permit such team teaching.
Other church sponsored or community groups of children or youth who meet at the church should have two or more leaders present whenever possible. When feasible, both male and female leaders would be present.
If the group stays overnight at the church, or if a church sponsored group leaves the premises, two or more leaders must be present and must include at least one male and female if the group is mixed gender. See additional specifications for youth overnight outings in section III-H of this document.
B. Nursery Checkout Procedure
All parents utilizing the church nursery will observe the check-in/checkout procedure as outlined in the nursery policy manual.
C. Open Door Policy
Further protection for the children requires that an open door policy be followed. This policy shall state that the parents of the children served, the clergy, administrative and professional staff of the church have the right to visit and observe the children’s/youth activity, classroom, or church-sponsored program at any time, unannounced.
D. Acceptable Computer Usage Policy for Students & Volunteers
(Added by Administrative Council on April 8, 2008) The First United Methodist Church – Siloam Springs provides computers and Internet access available to students and volunteers in order to complete tasks associated with the various ministries of the Church. This includes, but is not limited to Internet research, building and maintaining web sites associated with the Church, using word processing or presentation programs and sending e-mail messages.
The Church agrees to allow students and volunteers to access the Internet and computers once he or she reads signs and agrees to follow the Acceptable Use policy.
E. Outside Access:
There must be access to a phone, cell phone or pager when groups are at or away from the church facility. The church office or authorized church representative will be given this number prior to the groups’ departure from church property.
F. Doors and Windows:
All classroom and office doors will have a window or visibility from hallway or remain open while occupied. Windows will be kept free from adornment and kept locked at all times. Doors that do not have visibility from the outside will be replaced with doors with window when replacement is needed.
G. Individual Counseling:
One-on-one interactions are sometimes necessary and appropriate but care must be taken that they be conducted in an environment that provides visibility by other adults. If at all possible, another adult is to have knowledge of staff members' whereabouts and with whom they are meeting.
Children and youth receiving individual counseling should be told they are free to discuss any aspects of the counseling process with a parent or other adult, especially if they are uncomfortable about anything that occurs in counseling. All incidents of suspected abuse and neglect revealed during the session will be reported in accordance with section IV of this policy.
H. Touch
Physical affection should be appropriate to the age of the child or youth. (For example, it is generally appropriate for a four-year-old to sit in a nursery worker's lap and give a kiss on the cheek, but it is not appropriate for a teenager and youth leader to behave this way.)
Touching should be initiated by the child or youth. It should be a response to the child's need for comforting, encouragement, or affection. It should not be based upon the adult's emotional need.
Ideally, touching and affection should only be given when in the presence of other children's ministry or youth workers. It is much less likely that touches will be inappropriate or misconstrued as such when two adult workers are present and the touching is open to observation. This is especially important when diapering a baby or helping a young child change clothes or use the restroom.
Touching behavior should not give even the appearance of wrongdoing. As ministry workers our behavior must foster trust at all times; it should be above reproach.
A child's preference not to be touched should be respected. Do not force affection upon a reluctant child. Church workers are responsible to protect children under their supervision from inappropriate touching by others.
Church workers must promptly discuss inappropriate touching or other questionable behavior by other workers with their ministry leader, staff member, or a pastor.
I. Outings Away From Church Property:
All children and youth participating in out-of-town and over-night outings must have written consent and a medical release form. (Medical release and consent forms may be completed for a one-year period and must be renewed annually).
There must be access to a phone, cell phone or pager when groups are away from the church property. If the outing involves water activities such as swimming, a certified lifeguard will accompany the group.
In no circumstance is one adult (other than the parent) to take a child or children on an overnight outing alone. On youth overnight outings, there will be a 1:10 adult:youth supervision ratio observed. Female adult will supervise female youth in their sleeping quarters and male adult will supervise male youth. Married couples will not stay together but observe the female/female and male/male sleeping arrangements. With the exception of a parent/child combination, an adult and youth will not occupy the same bed or sleeping bag.
J. Classroom Discipline
All teachers and workers will use the following discipline measures:
1. If a child is behaving inappropriately, the teacher or worker will tell the child specifically what he/she is doing that is not acceptable and state what the expected behavior is, e.g., "We do not throw the blocks. We use blocks for building."
2. If this measure is not effective, the child will be guided to another activity.
3. If inappropriate behavior continues, the child may be placed at a table to work alone away from the other students.
4. If the child's disruptive behavior continues after these steps
have been taken, a teacher will notify the activity coordinator who will talk with the child and work with the child’s parents.
5. No physical punishment or verbal abuse, e.g., ridicule, are to be used at any time. If isolating the child within the classroom or removal of the child from the room becomes necessary, the situation will be discussed with the child's parents or guardian as soon as possible.
K. Gifts
No staff, either paid or volunteer, are to give gifts to individual children or young people without the prior knowledge of the parent(s) or responsible clergy. Because gift giving can be a form of buying loyalty or silence, gift giving should be done on a group basis, or for special occasions only. Gifts may not be elaborate but should be modest and appropriate to the occasion.
L. Training
Prior to working in the youth or children department, workers must undergo child protection safety training. Initial training on issues of child sexual abuse in church settings shall be required for all clergy, paid staff and volunteers who regularly supervise youth activities (e.g. youth group leaders) and all other church employees.
In addition, a summary of current child abuse statutes and reporting requirements for your legal jurisdiction are to be made available to all clergy, paid staff and volunteers who regularly supervise youth activities, Church Council members and all other church employees.
M. Verification of Reading of Policy Statement
Upon receipt of the this policy statement, the volunteer or paid staff person will read and sign a statement that he/she has read Siloam Springs First United Methodist Church’s Child Abuse Protection Policy.
IV. RESPONSE BY CHURCH WORKERS TO ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE
As caring Christians, we are committed to protect and advocate for children/youth participating in the life of the church.
The church is entrusted to provide an emotionally safe, spiritually grounded, healthy environment for children, youth, and adults in which they are protected from abuse.
It is our legal and moral responsibility to report suspected abuse whenever it comes to our attention regardless of where that abuse takes place. We shall report suspected abuse to stop potentially existing abuse and to prevent further abuse.
To report abuse is to witness to the world of the love and justice of God. Reporting abuse is a form of ministering to the needs of those crying out for help. If abuse occurs, it is our intention to act as an advocate for all affected persons, providing support, information, assistance and intervention.
We seek to provide a supportive atmosphere, offering both objectivity and empathy as we seek to create a climate in which healing can take place.
If abuse is suspected by, observed by or disclosed to a volunteer and/or paid staff member of the church, that person shall report the incident immediately to the pastor or designee. (If the accused is the pastor, see information below.) Be prepared to do the following:
A. Ensure the protection of and tend to the immediate needs of the child, as the situation requires.
B. IMMEDIATELY contact the senior pastor or pastor on call.
C. IMMEDIATELY notify the proper authorities (immediate supervisor, designated church child protection representative or the adult in charge of the event.) This person will:
1. provide written documentation concerning the incident on the designated form
2. notify the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-482-5964. This is a requirement of the law. (Note: Do not attempt an investigation. This should be left to professionals who are familiar with these cases.)
3. notify the pastor in charge. If the pastor is the accused party, the designee will notify the chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee and the District Superintendent.
4. give written documentation to the pastor and/or Chair of the Staff Parish Committee.
D. The pastor or designee will notify the parents of the victim and take whatever
steps are necessary to assure the safety of the child/youth until the parent(s)
arrive. It is important to emphasize that the proper authorities must be notified
even if the parent(s) does not wish the incident to be reported. (Note: If one or
both of the parents is the alleged abuser, contact the proper authorities listed
above. Follow their instructions about notification of the parents.)
E. After having reported the suspected abuse to the proper authorities, the
incident is to be reported immediately to the church's attorney, the church's
insurance company, and the district superintendent. The district
superintendent will report the allegation to the bishop's office. Do not try to
handle this without professional assistance.
F. A list of emergency numbers will be available to the staff at all times.
G. If the accused is working in a volunteer or paid position with children or youth
in the church, immediately, yet with dignity and respect for the sacred worth
of the person, remove the accused from further involvement with children
and/or youth.
H. Once the proper authorities have been contacted and the safety of the child or
youth is secured, the pastor or other designated person may tell the accused
that a report has been made. If the accused is a volunteer or paid staff of the
church, that person shall be relieved temporarily of his or her duties until the
investigation is finished If the accused is a paid staff person of the church,
arrangements should be made to either maintain or suspend his or her income
until the allegations are cleared or substantiated.
I. Any contact with the media should be handled by a pre-determined
spokesperson. Care will be taken to safeguard the privacy and confidentiality
of all involved. The spokesperson should generally convey that the matter is
under investigation and any comments made prior to the conclusion of the
investigation would be premature.
J. A written report of the basic information shall be kept to ensure on-going
ministry to, and advocacy for, victims and others involved. A form for this
purpose shall be available in the church office. The report shall be brief and contain only factual information relevant to the situation. It shall be filed in a secure place in order to ensure confidentiality. It shall be written in ink or typed to prevent it from being changed. The church must also file a copy of the report with the bishop's office of the Arkansas Conference where it shall remain confidential.
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