Transcript DEVELOPING SAFE SANCTUARIES

DEVELOPING SAFE
SANCTUARIES
Rev. Julie Hager Love
[email protected]
KENTUCKY
CONFERENCE POLICY
• For ALL LOCAL CHURCHES
• Implementation no later than June
30, 2008
WHO NEEDS TO BE
INVOLVED?
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Pastor(s) & staff
Key volunteers (teachers, leaders)
Parents
Board of Trustees
Administrative Council/Board
SCREENING
• All workers (paid and volunteer)
complete an BACKGROUND
SCREENING FORM.
• Contact REFERENCES
• Process BACKGROUND CHECK
SCREENING
• Develop a RECORD KEEPING
SYSTEM for forms, checks, etc
• Must be active with the church
at least 6 months prior to
supervising children/youth
SUPERVISON
• Provide TRAINING for staff &
volunteers
• 2 Adult Rule. There will be 2
unrelated adults in each classroom.
SUPERVISION
• If this is not possible, there will be a
roving teacher who moves amid the
rooms during the program period.
• All ministries should occur in
OPEN VIEW. Window, half door
or door shall remain open.
SUPERVISION
• No children will be left
unsupervised.
• REGISTRATION MATERIALS
should be collected for all
activities & PERMISSION
FORMS for transportation
Supervision
• No person under the age of 18 shall
supervise younger children & those
over 18 shall be at least 4 YEARS
OLDER THAN THE CHILDREN.
• “Putting children in charge of
children invites disaster.”
Joy Melton. “Safe Sanctuaries.” Nashville: Discipleship Resources,
1998. page 32.
REPORTING
• Abuse MUST be reported to the
Kentucky Child Protection Hot Line
at (800) 752-6200, the Local CHFS
Office or the State Police.
REPORTING
“All clergy of The United
Methodist Church are charged to
maintain all confidences inviolate,
including confessional
confidences,
REPORTING
except in the cases of suspected
child abuse or neglect or in cases
where mandatory reporting is
required by civil law.”
The Book of Discipline, 2004. ¶341.5
REPORTING
• When abuse is reported the
worker shall immediately be
removed from contact with
children/youth.
REPORTING
• If the ACCUSED is CLERGY, OR
THEIR FAMILY, the DS should be
contacted immediately.
• Keep a WRITTEN RECORD of the
event.
RESPONDING
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Quick
Compassionate
Unified
No cover ups
RESPONDING
• Contact your District
Superintendent.
• Appoint spokesperson (pastor).
Enlist help of Conference
Communications Director.
• Pastoral support available to all
involved.
QUESTIONS ABOUT
INSURANCE
• How much coverage do you have?
What are the limits?
• Do you specifically have “SAM”
insurance?
• Who is covered/Who is not covered?
INSURANCE
• Exactly what is covered—criminal
lawsuits/defendant until found guilty,
innocent? Punitive damages are
never covered.
• What do you do if there is an
allegation?