Transcript SAFE SANCTUARIES

WHY SAFE SANCTUARIES ?
• Protect our children
• Protect our workers
• Protect the Church’s assets for mission
and ministry
TOOL #1
SCRIPTURE
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Jeremiah 1:1-10
I Samuel 1:27-28
Amos 5:24
Micah 6:4-8
Matthew 18:5
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Luke 2:22ff
TOOL #2
BAPTISMAL COVENANT
• Members of the household of faith, I
commend to your love care these children
(persons), whom we this day recognize as
members of the family of God…
With God’s help we will so order our lives
after the example of Christ, that these
children surrounded by steadfast love,
may be established in the faith, and
confirmed and strengthened in the way
that leads to life eternal.
The United Methodist Book of Worship, pages 104-105.
TOOL #3
MATH PROBLEM
• 1 child every 10 seconds is abused
• 1 out of 10 boys; 1 out of 5 girls will be sexually
assaulted in childhood
• 50% of worship center sexual misconduct is by
volunteers
• 1 person every hour has stroke/heart attack
• Less than 20% of child abuse is perpetrated by
strangers.
Church Mutual; Joy Melton, Safe Sanctuaries, Discipleship Resources
KENTUCKY FACTS
• During 2002-2004, a child was reported
abused or neglected every 8.5 minutes in
Kentucky
• Using this statistic, during a 1 hour
worship service, 7 reports will be made
2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org
PHYSICAL ABUSE
• In 2004, 11,374 cases of physical abuse
were reported in Kentucky
• 23% were substantiated—met the criteria
to proceed with an investigation
2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
• In 2004, 607 cases of emotional abuse
were reported in Kentucky
• 20% were substantiated—met the criteria
to proceed with an investigation.
2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org
NEGLECT
• In 2004, 33,038 cases of neglect (and
dependency) were reported in Kentucky.
• 38% wre substantiated—met the criteria to
proceed with an investigation.
2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org
TOOL #4
SCARY BUT TRUE STORIES
TOOL #5
INCORPORATION
www.gcfa.org/Inc.LocalUMC.html
http://www.sos.ky.gov/business/filings/forms/
TOOL #6
MEET PATRICK
• WHO ARE THE ABUSERS?
• HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE THEM?
• TYPES OF ABUSE?
• WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?
TOOL #7
CHECKLIST FOR LOCAL CHURCHES
TOOL #8
RECRUITING-SCREENING-HIRING PRACTICES
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Written Application Forms
Personal Reference Forms
Driver’s License Checks
Personal Interviews
Six Month Hospitality Rule
Participation Covenant
Criminal Background Checks
local-state-national-Megan’s Law Website
TOOL #9
BASIC OPERATING PROCEDURES
• Two UNRELATED Adult Rule
• Windows/half doors In All Classrooms
• No Workers Under Eighteen
• Four-Years-Older Rule
• Open Door Counseling
• First Aid/CPR Training
• Participation Covenant For All
Participants/Leaders
• Annual Orientation For Workers
• Advance Notice To Parents
• Parent and Family Education
• Appropriate Equipment and Supervision
TOOL #10
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN
• Notify the parents of the victim and take
any necessary steps to assure child’s
safety. Child’s safety is first concern.
• Treat accused with dignity, but
immediately remove him/her from further
involvement with children and/or youth.
• Notify proper law enforcement/child
protective services.
• Notify proper Conference authorities,
insurance agent, and church’s attorney.
• CONFERENCE CRISIS
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WILL ASSIST
CHURCH LEADERS.
• Prepare a brief and honest statement that
can be made to the congregation. Do not
give unnecessary details, blame, interfere
with victim’s privacy or violate any
confidentiality. There is a difference
between confidentiality and secrecy.
• Be prepared to cooperate fully with the
investigation.
TOOL #11
ISSUES
CONCERNING
REPORTING
KENTUCKY STATUTE FOR REPORTING
• 620.030: Any person who knows or has
reasonable cause to believe that a child is
dependent, neglected, or abused shall
immediately cause an oral or written report
to be made to a local law enforcement
agency or the Department of Kentucky
State Police.
KENTUCKY ANNUAL CONFERENCE
APPROVED POLICY
• Reporting is required by any staff or a volunteer
that:
~personally witnesses an incident of abuse
or exploitation
~when an allegation of an event of abuse
or exploitation is made to staff or a
volunteer by a third party
~when a child/vulnerable adult discloses
abuse or exploitation.
CLERGY AS REPORTERS
• “All clergy of the United Methodist Church
are charged to maintain all confidences
inviolate including confessional
confidences, 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
• Abuse must be reported to the Kentucky
Child Protection Hot Line:
1-800-752-6200
ADDITIONAL ISSUES
• Ecumenical Ministry
• Outside Groups Using Church Facilities
• Response Plan—who speaks to the media
• Clergy as mandated Reporters
• KY State Police Child Abuse Hotline –
800-543-7723
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?
• 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?
“TRUTH, LIES,
AND
SEX
OFFENDERS”
HOW THEY THINK, WHAT THEY DO
ANNA C. SALTER, Ph.D
TOM SALSGIVER
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
CONFERENCE
[email protected]
717-766-7441