Appendix B.
North
Kingstown United Methodist Church
Youth Protection Procedures
Introduction
Child
Abuse and child sexual abuse is a tragic reality in our community. It is a
common occurrence for us to hear reports in the media about abuse perpetrated in
a church or a church sponsored event. The
North Kingstown United Methodist Church will not tolerate or ignore the abuse of
children or youth in our community of faith.
As a church we are committed to providing a safe, secure place where all
children and youth can grow in wisdom and faith.
Objective
To
ensure the safety and well being of children and youth members of our
congregation.
3. Discussion
It
is important to note that child abuse encompasses many different forms.
In general, child abuse consists of five categories:
Physical
Abuse
Emotional
Abuse
Neglect
Sexual
Abuse
Ritual
Abuse.
Child
abuse happens when a person exerts his or her power over a child in a way that
harms or exploits the child. As
members of the church, we do not like to think that any person employed by the
church or serving in a ministry, including Sunday school and our youth groups
would harm a child. In addition, we
don’t like to think that a child in the church would make a false allegation
either. Therefore the church needs
a comprehensive strategy to protect the youth of our church, and to prevent any
needless risk that may harm our children or those employees and volunteers
working with children.
When
an allegation of child abuse in the church is made, whether they eventually are
proven true or false, everyone in the church suffers. It is essential that we have child abuse prevention and risk
reduction policies for the protection of our children, our volunteers, and our
staff.
Definitions
The
following definitions are extracted from Rhode Island General Law 40-11-2.
(1) "Abused and/or neglected child" means a child
whose physical or mental health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm
when his or her parent or other person responsible for his or her welfare:
(i) Inflicts, or allows to be inflicted upon the child
physical or mental injury, including excessive corporal punishment; or
(ii) Creates or allows to be created a substantial risk of
physical or mental injury to the child, including excessive corporal punishment;
or
(iii) Commits or allows to be committed, against the child,
an act of sexual abuse; or
(iv) Fails to supply the child with adequate food,
clothing, shelter, or medical care, though financially able to do so or offered
financial or other reasonable means to do so; or
(v) Fails to provide the child with a minimum degree of
care or proper supervision or guardianship because of his or her unwillingness
or inability to do so by situations or conditions such as, but not limited to,
social problems, mental incompetency, or the use of a drug, drugs, or alcohol to
the extent that the parent or other person responsible for the child's welfare
loses his or her ability or is unwilling to properly care for the child; or
(vi) Abandons or deserts the child; or
(vii) Sexually exploits the child in that the person
allows, permits or encourages the child to engage in prostitution as defined by
the provisions of chapter 34 of title 11, entitled "Prostitution and
Lewdness"; or
(viii) Sexually exploits the child in that the person
allows, permits, encourages or engages in the obscene or pornographic
photographing, filming or depiction of the child in a setting which taken as a
whole suggests to the average person that the child is about to engage in or has
engaged in, any sexual act, or which depicts any such child under eighteen (18)
years of age, performing sodomy, oral copulation, sexual intercourse,
masturbation, or bestiality; or
(ix) Commits or allows to be committed any sexual offense
against the child as such sexual offenses are defined by the provisions of
chapter 37 of title 11 entitled "Sexual Assault", as amended; or
(x) Commits or allows to be committed against any child an
act involving sexual penetration or sexual contact if the child is under fifteen
(15) years of age; or if the child is fifteen (15) years or older, and (1) force
or coercion is used by the perpetrator, or (2) the perpetrator knows or has
reason to know that the victim is a severely impaired person as defined by the
provisions of § 11-5-11, or physically helpless as defined by the provisions of
§ 11-37-6.
(2) "Child" means a person under the age of
eighteen (18).
(3) "Child protective investigator" means an
employee of the department charged with responsibility for investigating
complaints and/or referrals of child abuse and/or neglect and institutional
child abuse and/or neglect.
(4) "Department" means department of children,
youth, and families.
(5) "Institution" means any private or public
hospital or other facility providing medical and/or psychiatric diagnosis,
treatment, and care.
(6) "Institutional child abuse and neglect" means
situations of known or suspected child abuse or neglect where the person
allegedly responsible for the abuse or neglect is a foster parent or the
employee of a public or private residential child care institution or agency; or
any staff person providing out-of-home care or situations where the suspected
abuse or neglect occurs as a result of the institution's practices, policies, or
conditions.
(7) "Law enforcement agency" means the police
department in any city or town and/or the state police.
(8) "Mental injury" includes a state of
substantially diminished psychological or intellectual functioning in relation
to, but not limited to, such factors as: failure to thrive; ability to think or
reason; control of aggressive or self-destructive impulses; acting-out or
misbehavior, including incorrigibility, ungovernability, or habitual truancy;
provided, however, that the injury must be clearly attributable to the
unwillingness or inability of the parent or other person responsible for the
child's welfare to exercise a minimum degree of care toward the child.
(9) "Person responsible for child's welfare"
means the child's parent, guardian, foster parent, an employee of a public or
private residential home or facility, or any staff person providing out-of-home
care (out-of-home care means child day care to include family day care, group
day care, and center-based day care).
(10) "Physician" means any licensed doctor of
medicine, licensed osteopathic physician, and any physician, intern, or resident
of an institution as defined in subdivision (5).
(11) "Probable cause" means facts and
circumstances based upon as accurate and reliable information as possible that
would justify a reasonable person to suspect that a child is abused or
neglected. The facts and circumstances may include evidence of an injury or
injuries, and the statements of a person worthy of belief, even if there is no
present evidence of injury.
Procedures
Recruiting, Screening, and Hiring Workers and Volunteers.
In order to ensure the safety of children
participating in ministries, the church must conduct a thorough screening of all
paid staff and volunteers who will work with youth and children.
All full time, part-time, paid, volunteer, or lay persons who work with
youth or children shall;
Complete
a comprehensive application that includes
·
Identification
·
Address
·
Employment
History for the past five years
·
Volunteer
work for the past five years
·
Prior
church membership
·
Personal
references
·
Consent
to verify all information provided and to contact the references
·
Waiver of
any right to confidentiality and of any right to pursue damages against the
church caused by the reference’s response
·
Certification
that the information provided is true and correct.
Consent
to a criminal background check.
Personal
interview for all paid staff
Staff
appointed by the Bishop will meet all conference requirements.
Staff appointed by the Bishop are encouraged to demonstrate a leadership
role by complying with the requirements outlined above.
The
church will have occasions where the regular worker/volunteer is unavailable and
a replacement must be found on short notice. In order to maintain a safe environment for youth and
children, and retain the flexibility to recruit last minute help, the church
will maintain a list of substitute Sunday school teachers and youth group
volunteers who meet the standard prescribed for those positions.
b. Basic Procedures for Safe Ministry with Children and Youth
The following basic procedures are designed to
prevent harm to youth and children, volunteers, and staff.
The
Two Adult Rule.
At least two adults will be present at all times during any church sponsored
program, event, or ministry involving youth or children.
If circumstances do not permit two adults to be present in all rooms with
youth and children during Sunday School, an adult “roamer” will be assigned
to randomly move in and out of the various rooms being utilized for the program,
event or ministry.
First
Aid / CPR Training. North Kingstown United Methodist Church encourages all paid
staff and volunteers to be trained in First Aid and CPR.
Annual
orientation for all staff and volunteers. All paid staff and
volunteers who work with children and youth shall attend an annual orientation
which will include:
·
Church
policies for the prevention of child abuse
·
Procedures
to be utilized in all youth ministries.
·
Appropriate
steps to report an incident of child abuse
·
Details
of Rhode Island laws regarding child abuse
The
Five-year Rule. Volunteers in youth ministry or paid staff in youth ministry
shall be five years of age older than the children or youth they are working
with.
Staff
or Volunteers will be at least eighteen years of age
. Staff and volunteers will be eighteen years of age or older.
It is the policy of North Kingstown United Methodist Church that youth or
children should not supervise other youth or children unless they are assisting
a volunteer/employee over the age of eighteen and adhere to the five-year rule.
Windows
in all Doors of rooms utilized in child or youth ministries. All
doors in rooms used in youth ministry will have windows or remain open whenever
practical. In instances where only
one adult is in a room and the “roamer” is being utilized, door shall remain
open.
Open-Door
Counseling. All counseling sessions with children or youth will be
conducted in a room where the door can remain open for the entire session.
Counseling sessions should be conducted at a time when others are nearby,
even if they are not within listening distance.
Advance
Notice to Parents. Parents should always be provided advance notice and full
information regarding any event in which their child is participating.
Parents must give written permission for the child’s participation in
church events or ministries that take place outside of the North Kingstown
United Methodist Church. Church
activities occurring at other locations require the use of the two adult rule.
Participation
Covenant for All Participants and Leaders. The
covenant is a statement, which establishes the behavior standards expected of
all adults involved in youth ministries. The participation Covenant is included
as appendix b. Leaders of outside
groups utilizing church property for youth activities must sign an Outside Group
Covenant. This covenant is included
in appendix c.
Parent
and Family Education Parents will be reminded each year that church
employees and volunteers receive a youth protection orientation. This notice may be presented verbally or in writing.
Appropriate
Equipment and Supervision. Ministries
with youth and children may occur in a variety of settings and locations. All
youth and children’s ministries shall comply with the requirements of this
paragraph during all activities, even off of church property. Any equipment (e.g. playground) should be inspected on a
regular basis for safety issues. Any
youth ministry or activity taking place outside of the church or consists of
overnight activities shall have adults of each gender present, if the children
are of both genders
A
report of all accidents, major or minor shall be made to the pastor directly or
via the Church Trustees. This
report should include the name of the child, types of accident, witnesses to the
accident, and any treatment provided.
Responding to Allegations of Abuse
·
All
persons in Rhode Island are required by state law (RIGL 40-11-3) to report known
or suspected cases of child abuse and neglect to the Department of Children,
Youth and Families within 24 hours of becoming aware of such abuse/neglect.
A Hotline is maintained at 1-800-742-4453.
In the
event of any allegation of child abuse, any worker or volunteer at North
Kingstown Methodist Church shall:
1. Take
steps to ensure the safety of the child until parents arrive.
Notify
the Pastor.
Notify
the Parents.
Do
not confront the accused abuser, but remove that person from further involvement
with children or youth.
Notify
the State Hotline.
Keep
an accurate written record of all steps taken in response to the allegation.
The Pastor shall:
Ensure
the safety of the child.
Keep
an accurate written record of all steps taken in response to the allegation.
Notify
the local authorities.
Notify
the District Superintendent.
Ensure
that the State Hotline has been called.
Ensure
that the accused abuser is removed from further involvement with children or
youth.
Serve
as the spokesperson for any necessary statements to the news media or the
congregation.
Groups and organizations that utilize church property
All youth and children’s groups and organizations
that utilize church property for activities involving youth and children shall
have child protection policies and procedures that are comparable to those
listed in this document. All groups
or organizations shall provide the Pastor or designated representative a copy of
these policies and procedures. Groups
or organizations utilizing church property shall maintain the two adult rule at
all times. In the event that an
allegation of abuse is made while on church property, groups and organizations
will immediately notify the Pastor or designated representative.
Effective Date.
These procedures are effective immediately for all
new employees and volunteers involved with children’s or youth ministries.
All employees and volunteers presently serving the church in children’s
or youth ministry shall have six months from the date this procedure is approved
to complete the requirements of paragraph 5a, lines 1 and two above.
Appendices
Appendix
A.
Child Abuse Procedure
Flowchart
Appendix B.
Participation Covenant
The congregation of the North Kingstown United Methodist
Church is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all children,
youth, employees and volunteers who participate in ministries and activities
sponsored by the church. The congregation is committed in preserving the church
as a holy place of safety and protection for all who would enter and as a place
in which all people can experience the love of God through relationships with
others.
By my signature below, I agree to:
Observe
and abide by all church policies regarding work in ministries with children and
youth.
I
will observe the “Two Adult Rule” at all times.
I
agree to participate in training and education events provided by the church
related to my assignment.
I
agree to promptly report abusive or inappropriate behavior.
I
agree to inform the pastor if I have ever been convicted of child abuse,
including sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse.
I have read this Participation Covenant and agree to
observe and abide by the policies set forth.
Signature of Applicant
Date
Print Full Name
Appendix
C
Participation Covenant for
Outside Groups
The congregation of the North Kingstown United Methodist
Church is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all children
and youth, who participate in ministries and activities on the property of the
North Kingstown United Methodist Church. . The congregation is committed in
preserving the church as a holy place of safety and protection for all who would
enter and as a place in which all people can experience the love of God through
relationships with others.
By my signature below, I agree to:
Observe
and abide by all of my organization’s policies regarding work with children
and youth.
I
will provide a copy of my organizations youth protection policies to the pastor
or designated representative annually.
I
will observe the “Two Adult Rule” at all times.
I
agree to participate in training and education events provided by my
organization related to my assignment.
I
agree to promptly report abusive or inappropriate behavior.
I
agree to inform the pastor if I have ever been convicted of child abuse,
including sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse.
I have read this Participation Covenant and agree to
observe and abide by the policies set forth.
Signature of Applicant
Date
Print Full Name
Organization