Child Protection Manual
revision 1.5, updated 9/7/2006
1 Introduction
Thank you for your willingness to minister to children. Children are especially precious to God (Matthew 19:14, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:16). We must do everything within our power to protect these valuable treasures to whom we minister (Matthew 18:1-7). In order to protect children from abuse, we must carefully screen potential workers, diligently supervise them, and promptly report and deal with any allegations of abuse (I Peter 2:13-14). At the same time, we must ensure that our policy protects our ministry (I Corinthians 4:1-2) and our Christian servants (Matthew 25:21, 29) from false allegations of abuse.
Our church desires to be a safe and harmonious environment in which the needs and well-being of every individual is paramount. We do not tolerate assault, threats, harassment, or abuse against church or school personnel or students. Verbal or written threats, racial or ethno cultural harassment, or abuse perpetrated by anyone in the church or school, whether intentional or unintentional, is condemned as unacceptable.
The church is not immune to abuse, either by its members or by those in leadership positions. Incidents of child abuse or neglect cut across racial, social, economic, and religious boundaries. Although no organization or individual can assure complete protection, this Child Protection Manual reflects our church’s commitment to help protect children from harm. All church leaders shall publicly acknowledge and promote the child protection policy of the church.
No person will be permitted to serve in any position ministering to children at this church unless that person has been screened (background check) and unless that person complies with the rules set forth in this manual.
Because every volunteer and staff participant has the potential to impact children for good or for evil, we must ensure that all those participating maintain a Biblical standard of Godliness in their personal behavior. We trust that you share our desire to protect the precious children who God has entrusted to us.
1.1 Applicability
This manual applies to all people who work with children in either a volunteer or compensated ministry position at this church, including all ministries of the church. All people who participate in church-sponsored activities involving children are required to comply with the guidelines provided in this manual. Your cooperation in this commitment not only reflects your concern about children’s safety, but also your willingness to take steps toward halting child abuse and its detrimental effects.
1.2 Purpose
In an effort to create the safest possible environment at our church, several child protection measures will be used. These measures include screening of paid and volunteer workers for past child abuse convictions or expungements, provision for regular training on child protection issues to paid and volunteer staff members, use of prevention rules, and guidelines for reporting alleged abuse.
2 Steps to Add New Children’s Ministry Workers
The steps outlined below must take place before a new worker can start serving in a Children’s Ministry position. The entire process should take approximately two weeks. Teenagers must fill out the application form even though the background check is not required, in which case step 6 is skipped.
1. Ministry leader identifies person to serve in a ministry position.
2. Senior Pastor approves person to serve in the ministry position.
3. Ministry leader asks person to serve in the ministry position and gives person this manual.
4. New person reads this manual, completes the application form, release form, and background check consent form.
5. New person submits application form and release form to the church office.
6. Church staff performs background check.
Note: background check may be carried out by ministry leader trained in background screening process.
Note: strike out social security number on application form once background check is complete
7. Church staff adds new person to list of approved children’s ministry workers.
8. Senior Pastor signs application form as final approval.
9. Church staff saves proof of background check along with application form in a permanent file in the church office.
10. Church staff notifies ministry leader that person has passed background check.
11. Ministry leader schedules person to start serving in ministry position.
12. If a background check reveals that a potential children’s ministry worker has committed any previous acts of sexual misconduct, the potential worker shall be provided with a copy of the background check report, a copy of the Fair Credit Reporting Act summary, five day’s advance notice of decision of adverse action, and final notice decision of adverse action (after 5 business days).
3 Potential Worker Screening
In order to prevent known child abuse offenders from working with children, this church shall screen all individuals before placing them in children’s ministry positions.
1. All potential children’s ministry workers older than age 18 shall complete an application form and associated forms.
2. The children’s ministry leader responsible for the area of ministry in which a potential worker will serve shall check references for the potential worker, conduct an interview with the potential worker, ensure that a criminal records check is performed for the potential worker if the worker is older than age 18, and conduct orientation and training activities applicable to the ministry position for the potential worker.
Note: If a potential worker has already been screened (e.g. for adoption) and can provide documentation proving such screening, this documentation can be filed as proof of screening rather than running another background check, at the discretion of ministry personnel.
3. All potential children’s ministry workers shall sign a written acknowledgement stating that they have received and reviewed a copy of this manual.
4. Persons who are known to have committed previous acts of sexual misconduct are strictly prohibited from serving in any area of children’s ministry, whether or not their conversion to Christ came before or after their misconduct.
5. Persons shall not be permitted to serve in any area of children’s ministry until they have attended the church regularly for at least three months. If a person has served in ministry with children for at least three months in the church he or she attended prior to joining the church, and can provide a reference from a staff person with whom they worked at the previous church, they may be considered for a ministry position prior to the three months of regular attendance at the church.
6. All ministry personnel shall keep applications, disclosure forms, and results of reference and background checks confidential.
7. All worker application forms, reference check forms, and results of background checks shall be retained in a permanent file in the church office.
4 Rules to Protect Children
In order to protect our children, the following rules shall be followed by all paid and volunteer workers at the church.
4.1 Supervision
1. Unscreened “volunteers” shall not be permitted to help out in any church sponsored activity involving children in any way that interacts with children. Only assigned workers are allowed to stay in the nursery and toddler rooms during church services.
2. At least two adults shall be present to supervise any church sponsored activity involving children.
3. Older teens who have demonstrated a sufficient level of responsibility and maturity may serve as the second adult with small children.
4. No adolescent shall ever be permitted to supervise other adolescent(s) during any church sponsored activity.
5. No child shall ever be isolated with one teen or adult unless in plain view (e.g. room with open door for counseling).
6. At least two adults shall be present when young children are taken to the restroom.
7. All nursery workers should be ladies or older teen girls. In certain situations (e.g. Mothers Day), men over the age of 25 may work in the nursery.
8. If a teacher takes a class out of the normal class room, the teacher shall count the number of students before leaving and upon return to verify the safe return of all children.
9. Children shall never be unsupervised in any area of the church buildings or property before, during, or after church services.
10. Representatives of the church shall never go into a child’s home during visitation while the child’s parents are not home.
4.2 Conduct
1. Teens and adults shall never initiate close body contact with children, including horseplay. The worker known as the one “that always hugs all the kids” is more vulnerable to an accusation of abuse.
2. Corporal discipline shall never be carried out by anyone other than a child’s parent or legal guardian.
4.3 Classrooms
1. When feasible, visibility into classrooms shall be maintained at all times (i.e. open doors, doors with windows, Dutch doors, etc)
2. The nursery diaper changing station shall be in full view of the room where other adults may monitor activity.
4.4 Discipline
In order to ensure that consistent and fair measures are applied to all children, the following disciplinary steps shall be followed (in order) by all paid and volunteer ministry workers who serve in a children’s ministry. If a child is behaving inappropriately:
1. Tell the child specifically what he or she is doing that is not acceptable and state what the expected behavior is, e.g. “You may not talk while the teacher is talking. You may only talk when you raise your hand and the teacher calls on you.”
2. If appropriate, guide the child to another activity, e.g. “You play with the blocks instead of the cars, since you are not sharing the cars.”
3. Separate the child from the rest of the class, but still in the classroom.
4. Take the child to the Ministry Leader (e.g. Sunday School Director). Since, two adults must take the child and two adults must stay with the class, contact an usher to have someone come get the child if the class has less than 4 adults. If a child must be removed from the classroom, a disciplinary incident form must be filled out and the incident must be discussed with the child’s parent or guardian.
If children or teenagers are involved in an altercation, take whatever minimal action is necessary to keep the children or teenagers from harming themselves or others. Immediately separate the individuals involved in the altercation, and contact the parents. If any child or teenager continues to be unruly, have a parent take them. If parents are not available, call the proper legal authorities.
If any child behaves in a violent manner, a disciplinary incident form shall be filled out and the incident shall be discussed with the child’s parent or guardian. At the discretion of ministry leadership, the proper legal authorities may be notified.
Never touch a child accept to prevent the child from harming himself or another person (child or adult). Do not push, pull, or carry the child if the child will not obey. See section 4.2 (Conduct).
4.5 Events and Activities
1. Attendance records shall be obtained and permanently retained for all church sponsored activities, including bus routes, Sunday School classes, etc.
2. No one shall be allowed to pick up a child at church other than the child’s parent or legal guardian without verbal or written consent from the child’s parent or legal guardian. Older siblings of a nursery age child shall not be permitted to pick up the child without written parental permission. Such permission shall be kept on file with the nursery coordinator.
3. Only known, proven staff shall be permitted to sponsor or chaperone overnight outings, and at least three adult workers shall be present at all times during overnight outings.
4. The Senior Pastor shall approve of all “off-premise” activities involving children.
4.6 Gifts
Paid and volunteer children’s ministry workers shall not give personal gifts to individual children or young people without the prior knowledge of the parent(s) or responsible leadership. Because gift giving can be a form of buying loyalty or silence, gift giving should be done on a group basis or for special occasions only. Gifts should be modest and appropriate to the occasion.
4.7 Driving Policies
The designated leader of the event must ensure that each person designated to provide transportation to or from the church meets the following requirements:
1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Have a valid state driver’s license, qualified for the vehicle being operated
3. Have no record of convictions in the past five years for drunken driving, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended or revoked license, or reckless endangerment
4. Have proof of insurance
5. Never be alone in a vehicle with a child not his own
5 Reporting Obligations
If the church receives an allegation of child abuse, it will respond with the utmost concern to the victim, parent, and the party making the allegation. The accused will be treated with dignity and support. Without clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, church personnel will assume that such complaints are made in good faith. Persons making such complaints should have no doubt that the church takes them seriously and will take appropriate action.
When it becomes necessary to report suspected child abuse or neglect, the protection of children must be the most important concern. It is the legal responsibility of any person with responsibility for the care of children to report all cases of child abuse they observe, and further, to report visible signs of alleged abuse. Failure to report could lead to liability on the part of the church, the observer, or both..
5.1 Definition of Abuse
Pennsylvania statute defines child abuse as any of the following:
· Any recent act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes non-accidental serious physical injury to a child younger than 18 years of age.
· Any act or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes non-accidental serious mental injury to or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a child younger than 18 years of age.
· Any recent act, failure to act, or series of such acts or failure to act by a perpetrator which causes an imminent risk of serious physical injury to or sexual exploitation of a child younger than 18 years of age.