PROTECTING  OUR  CHILDREN  

PRESENTER Arthur F. Blinci VP Chief Risk Management Officer

PRESENTER Dr. William Chunestudy Resource Education Specialist

MODERATOR David J. Fournier Marketing & Communication

Every  10  Seconds  

A Child is Abused in North America…

Mission  Cri7cal  

 The  Mission:  Christ-­‐centered  programs  and  ac7vi7es  for  children  and  youth  

q   The  Challenge:  ü   Protec7ng  children  from  Harm  or  Abuse    ü   Proper  screening  of  Employees  &  Volunteers  ü   Proper  training  of  all  Employees  &  Volunteers    

 on  how  to  appropriately  interact  with  children    and  their  repor7ng  obliga7ons  

ü   Proper  Supervision  of  all  church  sponsored    programs  and  ac7vi7es  

Are  You  Prepared?  

Shield  the  Vulnerable  FAQs  1.  Why  is  the  Church  Implemen7ng  

the  Shield  the  Vulnerable  Program?  

2.  Who  provides  the  STV  Program?  3.  How  will  the  STV  Program  Work?  4.  What  Training  will  you  Receive?  5.  How  secure  is  your  Personal  Data?  

Adults  Know  how  to                                      Interact  appropriately  with  Children  

Safeguarding  our  Children  “Churches are encouraged to adopt policies that would provide a

measure of safety and protection for children…

•  Two-Adult Rule or Never being alone with a child •  Open Door Policy to avoid one on one situations •  Adult Screening - Background Checks •  Six-Month Waiting Period for new volunteers •  Training in Child Protection”

§  SDA Church Manual (2010) pgs 168 & 169

NAD  Policy  FB  20  &  25  •  Establishes  the  prac7ces  the  Church  will  use  in  screening  and  training  volunteers  who  work  with  children  

•  Provides  that  screening  and  training  will  be  done  before  an  individual  is  allowed  to  serve  

•  Addresses  the  challenge  of  allowing  convicted  sex-­‐offenders  to  return  to  fellowship  within  the  local  congrega7on  

 

Volunteer  Code  of  Conduct  1.  Provide  appropriate  supervision  

at  all  7mes  2.  Have  at  least  one  other  adult    

present    at  all  7mes  or  never  be  alone  with  a  child  at  any  7me  

3.  Ask  the  child  for  permission  to  touch  them  for  any  reason  

4.  Refrain  from  the  use  of  physical  or  verbal  aZacks  of  any  kind  

5.  Affirm  children  only  in  an  appropriate  manner  

6.  Take  extra  care  when  taking  children  to  the  restroom  

7.  Take  extra  care  when  conduc7ng  ac7vi7es  in  rooms  without  interior  viewing  areas  

8.  Cooperate  with  the  volunteer  background  screening  process  

9.  Beware  of  the  signs  of  child  abuse  and    local  repor7ng  laws  and  legal  requirements    

10.  Will  conduct  myself  as  a  loving,  kind,  firm  and  professional  person  at  all  7mes  

11.  Par7cipate  in  training  and  volunteer  orienta7ons  

12.  Uphold  SDA  Standards  and          Beliefs  at  all  7mes  

 

Required  ReporGng  

Two  Adult  Rule  

Background  Screening  

Online  Training  

Reference  Checking  

Continuous Child Protection Protocols

Recurrent Three Year

Cycle

“Shielding  the  Vulnerable”  

Once you complete the course you will receive your certificate of training Then, you must click on the “start” button to complete your required background check

Shield  the  Vulnerable  FAQs  6.  How  does  a  Conference  Implement  

the  STV  Program?  7.  What  kind  of  Training  is  Given?  8.  Who  sees  the  Criminal  Background  

Informa7on?  9.  Who  makes  the  Decision  on  

Eligibility?  10.   What  does  the  STV  Program  Cost?  

Implementa7on  Plan  

1  • Your  Conference  Must  Register  with  Shield  the  Vulnerable  

2  • Selec7on  of  Local  STV  Administrators  

3  •  Implement  and  Train  Volunteers  

4  • Monitor  Local  Volunteer  Compliance    

STV  Administrator  Training  •  Level  1  Administrator  

–   Conference  Office  Level  

•  Level  2  &  3  Administrator  –   Local  Level  Volunteer  Coordinators  

•  Administrator  Training  Received  •  Type  of  Informa7on  Received  •  Reports  on  Compliance  

Eligibility  Decision-­‐making  

Key  Issues  &  QuesGons:  ü   Who  Determines  Eligibility  to  serve  

 as  a  Volunteer  ü   What  can  Disqualify  a  person  ü   What  happens  if  the  Conference  

 Disqualifies  a  person  ü     How  is  the  person  no7fied  ü     Can  the  disqualified  person  appeal  

Conference Control Each  Conference  makes  decision  on  eligibility  criteria  no7fies  local  church    

§   Only  the  Conference  receives  the  individual’s  criminal  background  informaGon  

§  Conference  determines  Eligibility  §   Individual  is  Eligible  to  Serve  §   Advisory  –  Needs  further  Review  or  more  informaGon  before  final  decision  

§   Individual  is  Ineligible  to  Serve    

Cost  of  Screening  and  Training  q   $  4.50    Adult  Training  Course  q   $  7.20    Criminal  Background  Check    _________  

q   $11.70  Cost  per  Adult  Volunteer  or        Employee  

q   AddiGonal  Training  for  Adults  &  Children  q   $3.50  per  seat  Student  Training  Courses  (Op7onal)  q   Adult  training  courses  available  at  no  addi7onal  cost  for  the  first  year  ajer  registra7on  in  the  STV  program  

Shield  the  Vulnerable  FAQs  11. Can  non-­‐US  Ci7zens  be  Screened?  12.   Is  the  STV  training  available  in  the  

Spanish  language?  13.   What  about  Other  Courses  for  

Children  and  Adults?  14.   How  does  ARM  assist  with  the  STV  

program  implementa7on?  15.   Where  can  I  find  more  Child  

Protec7on  Resources?    

 

Non-­‐US  CiGzen  Background  Checks  

•  What  if  the  person  wishing  to  Volunteer  is  not  a  US  Ci7zen,  does  not  have  a  SSN  card  or  Drivers  License?  

•  Does  this  preclude  them  from  Eligibility?  

Spanish  Language  STV  Training  

OpGonal  Classes      Adults  &  Kids  

Resource  Tools  

QuesGons…  

Arthur F. Blinci Chief Risk Management Officer

Ablinci@adventistrisk.org

Dr. William Chunestudy

Resource Education Specialist Shield the Vulnerable Program Liaison

Wchunestudy@adventistrisk.org

The information contained in this presentation is based on general risk management principles and does not constitute an endorsement by Adventist Risk Management, Inc. of any product(s), service(s) or course of action. It is the responsibility of the attendee to make their own decision about the reliability and correctness of the information contained herein. It is advised that all organizations should seek qualified legal counsel whenever dealing with matters addressed in this seminar. © 2013 Adventist Risk Management, Inc.

THIS  POWER  POINT  PRESENTATION  AND  ANY  MATERIALS  DISTRIBUTED  ARE  FACT  BASED  GENERAL  INFORMATION  AND   SHOULD   NOT,   UNDER   ANY   CIRCUMSTANCES,   BE   CONSIDERED   SPECIFIC   LEGAL   ADVICE   REGARDING   A  PARTICULAR  MATTER  OR  SUBJECT.  PLEASE  CONSULT  YOUR  LOCAL  ATTORNEY  OR  RISK  MANAGER  IF  YOU  WOULD  LIKE  TO  DISCUSS  HOW  A  LOCAL  JURISDICTION  DEALS  WITH  ANY  SPECIFIC  CIRCUMSTANCES  YOU  MAY  BE  FACING.