Transcript Slide 1

®
The Little Children & Jesus
People were bringing even infants to Jesus
that he might touch them; and when the
disciples saw this, they sternly ordered
them not to do it. But Jesus called the
children to him and said, “Let the little
children come to me, and do not stop
them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who
will not receive the kingdom of God like a
little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15-17
In the fear of the LORD [is]
strong confidence: and his
children shall have a place of
refuge.
Proverbs 14:26
Startling
Facts
Startling Facts
 Over 3,000,000 child abuse
incidents are reported every year
in the United States
 Equates to 8,219 incidents
every day
 Equates to 1 incident every
10 seconds
What is
abuse?
Five Categories of Abuse
Physical
Emotional
Neglect
Sexual
Ritual
Physical Abuse
Deliberate and intentional bodily harm
Possible signs of physical abuse
1.
Hostile and aggressive behavior towards others
2.
Fearfulness of parents and/or other adults
3.
Destructive behavior towards self, others
and/or property
4.
Unexplainable fractures or bruises
inappropriate for child’s developmental stage
5.
Burns, facial injuries, patterns of
repetitious bruises
Emotional Abuse
Exposure to spoken/unspoken violence
or emotional cruelty
Possible signs of emotional abuse
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Exhibits severe depression and/or withdrawal
Exhibits severe lack of self esteem
Failure to thrive
Threatens or attempts suicide
Speech and/or eating disorders
Goes to extremes to seek adult approval
Extreme passive/aggressive behavior patterns
Neglect
Endangering health, welfare and safety
through negligence
Possible Signs of Neglect
1.
Failure to thrive
2.
Patterns of inappropriate dress for climate
3.
Begs or steals food; chronic hunger
4.
Depression
5.
Untreated medical conditions
6.
Poor hygiene
Sexual Abuse
Sexual contact between a child and
an adult or more powerful youth
Possible signs of sexual abuse
1.
Unusually advanced sexual knowledge and/or
behavior for a child’s age and developmental
stages
2.
Depression; Cries often for no apparent reason
3.
Promiscuous behavior
4.
Runs away from home and refuses to return
5.
Difficulty walking or sitting
Sexual Abuse
Sexual contact between a child and an
adult or more powerful youth
Possible signs of sexual abuse
6.
Bruised/bleeding in vaginal or anal areas
7.
Exhibits frequent headaches, stomach aches,
extreme fatigue
8.
Sexually transmitted diseases
9.
Unusual nervousness or anxiety about being
left alone
Ritual Abuse
Physical, sexual, psychological violence inflicted
intentionally, stylized, by someone or multiple
people responsible for the victim's welfare
Possible signs of ritual abuse
1.
Disruptions of memory or consciousness
2.
Unexplained mistrust and mood swings
3.
Flashbacks
4.
Eating disorders
5.
Fear of dark, especially at sundown or a
full moon
Ritual Abuse
Physical, sexual, psychological violence inflicted
intentionally, stylized, by someone or multiple
people responsible for the victim's welfare
Possible signs of ritual abuse
6.
Agitation or despair that seems to occur in cycles
7.
Fear of ministers, priests, or others wearing
robes or uniforms
8.
Nightmares or sleep disorders
9.
Any of the symptoms of sexual abuse
Abusers:
Who are
They?
Who are abusers?
Over 75% are trusted by the
victim
Not easily recognizable
Exert power to harm or
exploit
Thrive on secrecy, isolation
and ability to manipulate
Who are the
victims?
Who are the victims?
Victim
Family of victim
Victim’s peers
Church
Congregations
Family of the abuser
Interact
• How can abuse be prevented?
• What should leaders do to
reduce the risk of abuse in our
churches? Why?
• How can your church ensure
Safe Sanctuaries® for children,
youth and vulnerable adults?
Does abuse really
happen
in the church?
Does abuse really
happen
in the church?
YES!
History of Safe
®
Sanctuaries
History of Safe Sanctuaries®
The 1996 General Conference
of The United Methodist
Church adopted a resolution
aimed at reducing the risk of
abuse in the church
West Ohio Safe Sanctuaries®
In 2014, West Ohio Annual
Conference passed a
resolution requiring each
local congregation and
worshipping community to
establish a policy and update
procedures annually.
Why do
churches
need a policy?
Why do churches need a policy?
 Provides safe havens for children
and youth
 Honors families
 Protects from bodily, emotional
and spiritual harm
 Upholds our Christian
responsibility
 Offers accountability
Recommended Resource
What to
include in
the policy?
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
Definitions
Screening
Supervision
Reporting
Response Plan
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
Definitions
West Ohio
Conference Safe
®
Sanctuaries
Policy Mandatory
Standards
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
Definitions
Screening
Screening
Mandatory
Standards
Screening Mandatory Standards
Background Screening
• Standard contact information
• Experience/qualifications for the position
• Voluntary disclosure of criminal history,
including criminal charges and/or
convictions
• Waiver of confidentiality allowing the
church to secure background checks and
references
• Listing of 2 non-relative references
Screening Mandatory Standards
Background Screening
• Minimum-Ohio state background check
• Recommended-National background check
• National background check is highly
recommended if the person has lived
outside the state and/or lives near the
border of another state
• Fingerprinting is not required
Screening Mandatory Standards
Background Screening
• West Ohio Conference clergy undergo
background screening into the conference.
Screening Mandatory Standards
Background Screening
• Any person who has been convicted of
abuse should not be permitted to volunteer
or work directly with children, youth or
vulnerable adults in any church sponsored
activity.
Screening Mandatory Standards
Background Screening
• Persons who have a break in volunteer or
paid service of one or more years shall
resubmit for a new background screening
• Background checks shall be repeated every
five years (recommended every 3 years)
• All records must be kept in a locked cabinet
• Records shall be kept by the church in
perpetuity
Screening Mandatory Standards
Six Month Hospitality
• Persons shall demonstrate an active
relationship with the local church for at least
6 months before being allowed to be in a
supervisory role in activities for children,
youth or vulnerable adults
• In the case of new staff hires, references
deemed adequate by the hiring supervisor
will replace the six month waiting period
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
Definitions
Screening
Supervision
Supervision
Mandatory
Standards
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Training
• Required for all staff/volunteers
• Initial education of Safe
Sanctuaries® prior to any adult
having direct supervision of
children/youth/vulnerable adults
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Training
• Minimum training includes:
• Documentation of an annual review
of the Safe Sanctuaries® policies
and procedures
• CPR and First Aid
• Information on how to identify
and report abuse
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Two Adult Rule
• Regardless of the size of the group, two
unrelated adults must be present
• May include the presence of an adult
‘roamer’ who moves in and out of
rooms and ministry activities
• When transporting, an additional adult
must accompany driver in the vehicle
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Never Left Unsupervised or
Alone
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Ministry Spaces Open to
Public View
• Viewing window
• Glass panel in the door
• ½ Door configuration
• Open door
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Attendee Registration
• Name
• Address and/or phone number
• Parent /Guardian Name(s)
• Emergency Contact and
phone number
• Age
• Allergies/Special Needs
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Transportation Requires
Written Permission
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Authority workers must be at
least 18 years of age or older
At least 5 years older than
those being supervised
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Limit counseling
• Conducted in a room where the door
remains open for the entire session
• Person in charge must determine in the
initial meeting if he/she is qualified to
address the need effectively
• If the problem has not been resolved
after three sessions, the child or youth
must be referred to a professional
counselor
Supervision Mandatory Standards
Secure insurance coverage for
the scope of ministry
The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church
¶2532.2. The Board of Trustees shall review annually the
adequacy of the property, liability, and crime insurance
coverage on church owned property, buildings, and equipment.
The board of trustees shall also review annually the adequacy
of personnel insurance. The purpose of these reviews is to
ensure that the church, its properties and its personnel are
properly protected against risks.
• Insurance rates are often reduced
with a Safe Sanctuaries® policy
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
Definitions
Screening
Supervision
Reporting
Reporting
Mandatory
Standards
Reporting Mandatory Standards
State Law Mandatory Reporting
• Witness of an abuse incident or a person who
receives a report of an allegation
• Clergy are mandatory reporters
• The Book of Discipline of the United
Methodist Church
¶341.5 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.
Interact
How are Safe Sanctuaries®
useful in preventing abuse?
What changes will your
church need to make in order
to be West Ohio Conference
compliant?
Steps in
Reporting
Abuse
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
1. If the victim is in immediate need
of medical attention, the
appropriate medical assistance
will be obtained. If the alleged
perpetrator is onsite and danger
is perceived, local police
authorities will be called.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
2. The staff person or volunteer must
report the incident immediately to
the person in charge of the
ministry/activity. Upon receiving
such information, the person in
charge shall immediately contact
the senior pastor. If the senior
pastor has been accused, the head
of the church council shall be
notified in the senior pastor’s
place.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
3a. The person in charge when the
alleged abuse was observed or
disclosed prepares the Report of
Suspected Incident of Child Abuse:
• Name of the alleged victim
• His/her age
• Address
• Family information
• Reason abuse is suspected
• Other helpful information to the
investigation
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
3b. The senior pastor (or church council
leader) will contact Child Protective
Services for Ohio Health and Family
Services. When making the report by
telephone, it is advisable that it be
conducted in the presence of an
objective witness who can verify that
the report has been made (and by
whom) in case this is needed later for
possible legalities.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
4. Notify the parents of the
victim and take whatever
steps are necessary to assure
the safety and well being of
the child or youth until the
parent(s) arrive.
NOTE: If one or both of the parents
is the alleged perpetrator, follow
the advice of the authorities
concerning notification.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
5. The senior pastor (or church
council leader) shall
immediately call the
superintendent of the district in
which the church resides and
report the allegations.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
6. The district superintendent will
immediately report the
situation to the Assistant to the
Bishop and Communications
Director at the West Ohio
Conference office, as set forth
in the Crisis Communications
Guidelines for the West Ohio
Conference.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
7. Further communication or steps
taken with the staff,
congregation, community or
media shall only be taken after
consultation with the district
superintendent and the
conference office.
8 Steps in Reporting Abuse
8. The person in charge must keep a
written report of the steps taken by
the church in response to the
reported abuse. The report should
be brief and contain only factual
information relevant to the
situation. It should be written in
ink or typed to prevent it from
being changed and kept in a
secure location.
What to include in the policy?
Introduction
Statement of Covenant
Definitions
Screening
Supervision
Reporting
Response Plan
Response
Mandatory
Standards
Response Mandatory Standards
Designate church
spokesperson for media
requests
Response Mandatory Standards
Remove the accused from
further involvement
Advise the accused there has
been an allegation of abuse
Response Mandatory Standards
Take all allegations seriously
Support victim and the
victim’s family
Extend pastoral resources
Provide a supportive
atmosphere to those
affected so healing can occur
Safe
®
Sanctuaries
Best Practices
Safe Sanctuaries® Best Practices
Respect Appropriate
Interpersonal Boundaries
Cyber Safety
Parent and Family Education
Appropriate Equipment and
Setting
Developing or
Updating a Safe
®
Sanctuaries
Policy
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 1-Research
Abiding In Safe Sanctuaries®
Step 2-Develop a team
• Pastor
• Staff Parish member
• Trustee member
• Lay Leader
• Staff/persons responsible for
children/youth ministries
• Representative from each ministry
• Parents (of 2 different families)
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 3-Conduct a church and
congregation assessment
• General Board of Discipleship
Self Evaluation Tool
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 4-Gather resources
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 5-Know your legal
responsibility
• “Mandated reporters”
• Manage the process by utilizing an
abuse flow chart
• Without a plan or if a church is not
abiding in the policy, the church is
liable
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 6- Write or update your
Safe Sanctuaries® policy
• Submit a copy to your District
Office
• Include copy of policy with the
annual Charge Conference report
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 7-Utilize community
agencies and resources
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 8- Train all staff and
volunteers annually
• Document date of event
• Record attendee names
Developing or Updating a Safe Sanctuaries® Policy
Step 9-Celebrate your
commitment!
What Would
You Do?
And whoever welcomes one such
child in my name welcomes me. If
anyone causes one of these little
ones—those who believe in me—
to stumble, it would be better for
them to have a large millstone
hung around their neck and to be
drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:5-6
Forms and
Resources
westohioumc.org/safesanctuaries
gbod.org/leadership-resources/
safe-sanctuaries
West Ohio Conference
Safe Sanctuaries® Contact
RaNae Street
Director of Discipleship Resources
[email protected]
800-437-0028 x325
614-844-6200
Bible Study Scriptures
Micah 6:1-8
Isaiah 58:10-12
Amos 5:24
Psalm 24:4-5
Luke 1:21-52
Matthew 18:5-6
Resources
Resources
• General Board of Discipleship,
www.gbod.org 877-899-2780
• For Their Sake Handbook: A Staff
Training Handbook About Child Abuse
Awareness by Becca Cowan Johnson
• Many Churches Neglect to Screen
Those Working with Children and
Youth by The Barna Group