Community of Community of ChristChrist

1

ChildrenChildren and Youth Workersand Youth Workers

Core TrainingCore Training

2

GoalsGoals• To reaffirm the process to protect the To reaffirm the process to protect the youth worker, the church, and youth worker, the church, and primarily the primarily the child or young personchild or young person• To increase awareness of the symptoms To increase awareness of the symptoms and consequences of child abuseand consequences of child abuse• To explore the ways abuse may occur and To explore the ways abuse may occur and be prevented be prevented • To consider the foundation principles that To consider the foundation principles that underpin the church’s rationale for youth-underpin the church’s rationale for youth-worker registrationworker registration• To explain the screening and reporting To explain the screening and reporting processesprocesses

3

ContextContextAllegations of abuse are becoming Allegations of abuse are becoming more prevalent.more prevalent.Statistically, abuse is a reality, even Statistically, abuse is a reality, even within our faith movement.within our faith movement.Standards must be in place.Standards must be in place.Protecting our children and youth is Protecting our children and youth is not optional.not optional.

Community of Christ shares its Community of Christ shares its Enduring Principles through all aspects Enduring Principles through all aspects of life. The worth of all persons, of life. The worth of all persons, blessings of community, pursuit of blessings of community, pursuit of peace, and responsible choices are peace, and responsible choices are components especially pertinent to components especially pertinent to this life experience.this life experience. 4

Those most vulnerable in our society Those most vulnerable in our society should have the right to fulfill their should have the right to fulfill their potential.potential.Everyone has a responsibility to Everyone has a responsibility to support the care and protection of support the care and protection of children.children.We can promote social justice by living We can promote social justice by living the principles in our child-protection the principles in our child-protection policies.policies.

The Child Comes FirstThe Child Comes First5

But procedures also are But procedures also are there to protect you. They there to protect you. They must be taken seriously must be taken seriously and adhered to in a robust and adhered to in a robust manner.manner.

6

ActivityActivity

7

A Word about…YourselfA Word about…Yourself

• This knowledge can affect your This knowledge can affect your life in a personal way.life in a personal way.• The information can be The information can be upsetting.upsetting.• You will meet survivorsYou will meet survivors——in this in this group.group.• This information confronts our This information confronts our own parenting.own parenting.

8

Four Categories of Four Categories of AbuseAbuse1. Neglect1. Neglect

The responsible adult fails to provide The responsible adult fails to provide adequately for various needs: physical, adequately for various needs: physical, emotional, educational, medical.emotional, educational, medical.

2. Emotional/Psychological2. Emotional/Psychological

This includes name calling, ridicule, This includes name calling, ridicule, degradation, destruction of belongings, degradation, destruction of belongings, torture of pet, excessive demands or torture of pet, excessive demands or critism, routine humiliation, the withholding critism, routine humiliation, the withholding of communication.of communication.

9

3. Physical3. PhysicalPhysical aggression is directed Physical aggression is directed

toward a child by an adult with toward a child by an adult with intent to cause injury.intent to cause injury.

4. Sexual Abuse4. Sexual AbuseAbuse of a child by an Abuse of a child by an

adolescent or adult for sexual adolescent or adult for sexual stimulation. Could be pressuring stimulation. Could be pressuring child to engage in sexual activity, child to engage in sexual activity, exposure, physical contact, or the exposure, physical contact, or the display or use of a child in display or use of a child in pornography. pornography.

10

What Is Abuse?What Is Abuse?

Inflicting harm, or failing to act to prevent Inflicting harm, or failing to act to prevent harm to a young person. It may occur harm to a young person. It may occur immediately or through accumulation over immediately or through accumulation over time. time.

Children may be abused in a family, in an Children may be abused in a family, in an institution or community setting, by those institution or community setting, by those who know them, or more rarely by who know them, or more rarely by strangers.strangers.

11

ActivityActivity

Fill in the blanks (small groups)Fill in the blanks (small groups)

12

How Do We Safeguard How Do We Safeguard Our Children?Our Children?

Anyone working with children or young Anyone working with children or young people in any church program (youth leader, people in any church program (youth leader, Sunday school teacher, camp counselor, Sunday school teacher, camp counselor, etc.) MUST be a registered youth worker.etc.) MUST be a registered youth worker.

All priesthood must be registered youth All priesthood must be registered youth workers.workers.

Registered youth worker assistants (15Registered youth worker assistants (15––20 20 years old) will be used only under the years old) will be used only under the supervision of a registered youth worker.supervision of a registered youth worker.

Promoting the Enduring Principles will help Promoting the Enduring Principles will help to create environments conducive to loving to create environments conducive to loving relationships.relationships.

13

Fundamental Principles:Fundamental Principles:

1. Selection and screening1. Selection and screening

2. Education2. Education

3. Minimizing opportunity for 3. Minimizing opportunity for harmharm

4. Respect for the child4. Respect for the child

14

1. Selection and Screening1. Selection and Screening

Youth worker application formYouth worker application form• Signatures (applicants, parent if under 18 Signatures (applicants, parent if under 18 years old, interviewer, mission center years old, interviewer, mission center president/financial officer)president/financial officer)• InterviewInterview• ReferencesReferences• Six-month affiliation ruleSix-month affiliation rule

Registration is initiated at the Registration is initiated at the congregational level, goes to the mission congregational level, goes to the mission center, then to legal services at IHQ. It is center, then to legal services at IHQ. It is finalized when entered into the church’s finalized when entered into the church’s data base and the mission center president data base and the mission center president is notified.is notified. 15

Richard Hammer’sRichard Hammer’s

Five-step PlanFive-step Plan

• Written applicationWritten application• Personal interviewPersonal interview• Institutional referencesInstitutional references• Six-month affiliation ruleSix-month affiliation rule• 2-by-2 adults2-by-2 adults

16

2. Education2. Education

RYW must learn the facts and RYW must learn the facts and understand them:understand them:• Why registrations are in placeWhy registrations are in place• Different types of abuseDifferent types of abuse• Ways to protect children from potential Ways to protect children from potential abusersabusers• How to respond to reports of past or How to respond to reports of past or current abusecurrent abuse

i.e., this course!i.e., this course!

17

Education also Provides Protection Education also Provides Protection for Our Youth Leadersfor Our Youth Leaders

• Gives them permission to act Gives them permission to act appropriatelyappropriately

• Gives permission to ask for Gives permission to ask for support/another personsupport/another person

• Protects them from potential Protects them from potential allegationsallegations

18

A Word about the A Word about the Children…Children…

It is not our responsibility to educate It is not our responsibility to educate children about child abuse; it is our children about child abuse; it is our responsibility to help children responsibility to help children understand God’s love for them as understand God’s love for them as individuals, teach them to know they individuals, teach them to know they are an important part of our are an important part of our community, and help them feel church community, and help them feel church is a safe place.is a safe place.Think about how you can do this Think about how you can do this practically in your camp/vacation practically in your camp/vacation school/activity day, etc.school/activity day, etc.

19

3. Minimizing 3. Minimizing Opportunity for HarmOpportunity for Harm

• Adhere to the 2-by-2 ruleAdhere to the 2-by-2 rule(Youth worker assistants never can be alone with a child)(Youth worker assistants never can be alone with a child)

• Visual 1:1Visual 1:1• Prepare and planPrepare and plan

20

4. Respect for the Child4. Respect for the Child

• Respect the child’s privacyRespect the child’s privacy• Dress appropriatelyDress appropriately• Constructive disciplineConstructive discipline• Appropriate touchingAppropriate touching

21

NO CHILD EVER NO CHILD EVER SHOULD BE ALONE SHOULD BE ALONE WITH AN ADULT BEHIND WITH AN ADULT BEHIND CLOSED DOORSCLOSED DOORS

22

ActivityActivity

ScenariosScenarios

23

ReportingReportingIf a child or young person If a child or young person

discloses to you, you discloses to you, you shouldshould::• Stay alert. Do not overreact, do not panic, or Stay alert. Do not overreact, do not panic, or

the child may shut down. Try to ask open-ended the child may shut down. Try to ask open-ended questions. Do not offer confidentiality.questions. Do not offer confidentiality.• Disclosures may come from the activity or Disclosures may come from the activity or home.home.• You are a mandatory reporter. Report to You are a mandatory reporter. Report to activity director and discuss how you will report activity director and discuss how you will report to the appropriate authority.to the appropriate authority.• Directors should separate the accused abuser Directors should separate the accused abuser from the activityfrom the activity——not in 1:1 environment (may not in 1:1 environment (may need to go home) and provide the abused with need to go home) and provide the abused with comfort to the level required.comfort to the level required.• You can remain anonymous in this process.You can remain anonymous in this process.

24

The privilege of being a youth The privilege of being a youth worker brings responsibilities…worker brings responsibilities…

and those responsibilities can be and those responsibilities can be an expression of the peace and an expression of the peace and justice principles we try to live justice principles we try to live by. by.

Live out our mission!Live out our mission!

25