safe sanctuary safe sanctuary your church name here date here
TRANSCRIPT
Safe Sanctuary Safe Sanctuary Safe Sanctuary Safe Sanctuary
Your Church Name HereYour Church Name Here
Date hereDate here
Liz BowlinDirector of Children’s MinistryNorth Alabama Conference UMC205-363-1963 (c)[email protected]
Why Needed1. Biblical Mandate
Mark 9:36-37Matt. 18:6
2. Conference Mandate (1996)
3. Open hearts, open doors
PurposeProtect children
Protect volunteers
Protect the ministry
Definitions1. Child/minor2. Employee3. Volunteer4. Child abuse5. Sexual abuse
Sexual Abuseany touching of the sexual or intimate parts of a child or any other conduct done for the
purposeof gratifying the sexual desire of either party through physical force or a threat, express or
implied, that places a child in fear of immediate death or of physical injury by a person 18 years old or older against another who is less than 16 years old, or by a person four or more years older than the victim.
Statistics3 million reported cases a year8,219 a day342 per hour> 8 per minute> 1 every 15 seconds
Source: National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect
Rates
By age 18• 1 in every 3 girls,• 1 in every 7 boys
is sexually abused.
Source: National Center for Child Abuse and Neglect
POLICY GUIDELINES
Minimum Age
Youth Leaders:at least 19 yrs old> 5 years older
Children’s Leaders:at least 18 yrs. old
Minimum Age
Youth and Children’s Helpers:at least 12 yrs old.>5 yrs older
Two Adult Rule
• 2 non-related leaders in a room
• Use floater if needed
Doors and
Windows
Sign in – Sign out Procedures
• www.kidcheck.com• www.lambslist.com• www.excellerate.com• www.childrenschurchcheckin.com• www.ministrytracker.com
6 MonthRule
Exceptions to the Rule
• helper with a “cleared” volunteer in leadership
• non-child contact job• “quick-cleared”
Teacher:Student Ratios• Birth to 18 months 1 : 5• 18 mons. to 2 ½ yrs 1 : 7• 2 ½ yrs to 4 yrs 1 : 11• 4 yrs to school age 1 : 18• School age to 8 yrs 1 : 21• 8 yrs and older 1 : 28
Potty Policy• Diapering – open, visible area
• Supervised Independence – let them ask
• Complete privacy – unless an emergency; get parents if needed
• Check the bathroom first!
Overnight• Never share a bed with a child
• Never be alone in a room with a child
• Adults must be of the same gender as the students they are chaperoning.
Hotel Settings• Adults should never be in a room
with just one child.
• Doors should open to a hallway
• Adjoining rooms are best
Cabin Setting
2 adults in a large room with multiple bunk beds
Church-Owned Vehicles
• Screening and training of drivers
• Proper insurance
• 2 adult rule
• Keep passenger records on board
Personal Vehicles
• 2 adult rule exception: Caravan
• Youth driving other youth
• Youth driving themselves
The Obvious
• Never counsel the opposite sex behind closed doors.
• Never visit children and youth home alone
• Watch your dress, language, ATF activities
Recruiting/ScreeningFor Staff AND Volunteers :
• Application
• Three references
• Criminal background check
• Safe Sanctuary training
Background Checks
• Criminal not credit
• Employment Screening Services www.es2.com
• www.northalabamaumc.org/safesanctuary
Reporting
• Voluntary for faith based ministry volunteers but highly encouraged by the Conference
• Mandatory for Pastors so alert those you counsel of your obligation
Reporting Rubric
Secure safety of victim
Report to immediate director or pastor (SPRC Chair)
Pray and set a guard over your lips
Q and A