Annual Training

State Street

United Methodist Church

Safe Sanctuaries Policy

Reducing the Risk of Abuse and

Safety Awareness Training in the

church.

Safe

Sanctuaries

Our Commitment:

• To promote the safety and spiritual

growth of all of our children, youth

and workers.

• To follow reasonable measures in

the selection of workers.

• To implement prudent operational

procedures in all programs and

events.

• To educate our workers regarding

appropriate policies and methods.

• To have a clearly defined procedure

for reporting suspected abuse that

conforms to TN and VA state laws.

• To be prepared to respond to

media inquiries if an incident occurs.

Why Safe Sanctuaries?

• Each day in the United States, nearly

5 children die as a result of child

abuse in the home.

• Child abuse and neglect is the

leading cause of death in children

age four and younger!

Why Safe Sanctuaries?

The Church is called to be a place

where the values of compassion,

justice, mercy and grace are

proclaimed.

Why Safe Sanctuaries?

This policy is written to provide for

the safety of children and youth

and to protect workers against

false allegations of abuse.

Recognizing Child Abuse…

• See Handouts – 5 types and

indicators of possible abuse.

• Please review and keep for future

reference.

State Street UMC

Safe Sanctuaries

Policy

Adopted November 2005 Revised July 2015

in compliance with Holston

Conference Resolution

requiring all Holston

Conference churches to

implement a Safe Sanctuaries

policy.

*Key Points of our Policy

*The full policy can be found on our church website -- click on policies tab.

Recruitment, Screening

and Selection of

Volunteers

• Job descriptions for volunteers and

staff

• Participation covenants

• Annual Safe Sanctuaries training

• Two designated levels of

volunteers:

• Core Volunteers

• Occasional Volunteers

Core Volunteers and Staff:

Criminal Background checks (repeated every 5 years for volunteers)

Procedures for Working

with Children

and Youth

Two Adult Rule

• Two unrelated adults, not living in

same household required at all events.

• During times of major use leave door

open and a designated “floater” may

supervise the area.

Supervision of Children

• Children and youth under age 18 shall

be supervised at all times while at the

church.

Supervision of Children

Personal Conferences:

• in view of other adults

• door open

• Notify staff member about counseling

beginning/end

• Reschedule if no other adults are in

building.

Supervision of Children

Meetings

• Two adult rule in effect

• Childcare is provided by the church

with advance notice.

• Children must remain with childcare

workers or in room with parents

Supervision of Children

Youth “hanging out” at the church:

• high traffic area

• during work hours

• when staff members are present and

on the same floor

Bathroom Procedures

Nursery – Birth to age 3

• Paid staff change diapers, following posted procedure.

Preschool – 3-4-PreK

• One volunteer may assist but the door must remain open.

Elementary – K-grade 5

• Encourage parents to take children before worship and SS.

• One volunteer escorts child to the bathroom and remains

outside hallway bathroom door.

• If possible, take two or more children at the same time.

Age Limit Rule

• Hired Childcare Workers at least 18

• Childcare assistants (at least age 16)

volunteer or paid, must work with

adult

• Minimum age for youth workers is 22

(exception youth interns who must be

at least 20)

Age Limit Rule

• At least one volunteer or paid worker in

each children’s area must be 18 or older.

• No elementary children in the nursery or

preschool areas unless they are children of

the worker.

• All childcare workers and childcare

assistants must complete annual Safe

Sanctuaries training.

Five Year Older Rule

• Volunteers at least five years older

than the group with which they are to

work

• Senior high youth workers - at least

22 years old (except youth intern).

Transportation

• Drivers and chaperones must have

valid driver’s license and submit to a

MVR check.

• Drivers age 21 with good driving

history.

• Chaperones age 18

• Two bus chaperones.

• Youth must ride in church vehicles

• Parent permission required for youth

to drive in personal cars

• No unrelated minor passengers may

ride in personal cars of youth drivers

Six-Month Rule

• “Official Volunteers” should

have participated regularly at State

Street UMC for six months.

• Parents may visit and participate in

their children’s activities at any time.

Advance Notice Rule

Leaders provide advance notice for all

events.

Parental Permissions

Written permission required for

overnight trips and when transporting

children or youth.

Photographs

• Parent permission on annual

registration forms for

photographs/videos.

• No identifying names (no tagging on

church sites)

Social Media-Church Websites

• Sites monitored regularly by more

than one administrator.

• All content must reflect our church’s

values.

• Please post “responsibly.”

Procedures

• First Aid and CPR required for

program staff

• Accident/Incident Report forms

available from program staff

• Windows on all classroom doors or

open door policy

• Review of policy annually

Responding to Allegations

Reporting Child Abuse or

Neglect

State Reporting

• Any suspected cases of child abuse

must be reported to the proper

authorities within 24 hours.

• Use the Report of Suspected Incident

of Child Abuse form (Appendix G) -

see handout. Also available on church

website or staff offices.

• Incidents away from church must be

reported in that jurisdiction.

(Appendix G)

• Suspected abuse in a non-church

situation must also be reported.

Important!

How an adult responds to a child

when he or she tries to disclose

abuse can influence the outcome of

the child’s victimization!

• Stay calm.

• Reassure the child that help will be sought.

• Do not criticize the child.

• Assure confidentiality (except for required

reporting)

NO one, except child protective services

(and authorized persons) should be told

about allegations of abuse – if the

allegations cannot be substantiated, you

can be sued for defamation of character.

When to Report?

• Not required to know “for sure.”

• Reasonable suspicion.

Church-Related Allegations

• Notify state authorities.

• Also notify one of the following:

Senior or Associate Minister

Director of Children and Family

Ministries

Director of Student Ministries

Lay Leader and/or Chair Church

Council

Let’s Review…

• Listen to the following scenarios.

• Decide if the situation follows our

policy or not.

Scenario 1:

You bring your child to a meeting at

the church. Childcare is provided,

but you allow your child to stay in the

church library or playground instead.

NO!

• Children and youth under age 18 shall be

supervised at all times at the church.

• During meetings, children must remain

with the childcare worker or in the same

room as the parent.

Scenario 2

A child in your SS class tells you his

uncle has been “touching” him in

private areas. You talk to the other

volunteers about the situation and

decide he’s probably making it up so

you do not report.

NO! In suspected cases of abuse/neglect:

• Notify authorities.

• Also notify one of the following:

Senior or Associate Minister

Director of Children and Family Ministries

Youth Director

Lay Leader and/or Chair Church Council

Scenario 3

One of your youth routinely texts you

late at night wanting to “chat.” You

remind the youth of your guidelines for

texting and do not answer the text after

hours unless it is an emergency.

YES!

• Use social media responsibly.

• Best Practice: Establish regular hours

when you are available to answer

texts, tweets, or phone calls.

Scenario 4

A youth wants to talk to you about an

important issue. No one else is in the

building at the time. You reschedule the

conference for a different time or agree

to meet in a public place.

YES!

One on one conferences are

permitted, but they must be conducted

within eyesight of other adults, with

open doors or by notifying other staff

of the beginning/ending of the

conference.

Questions?

Next Steps

• Complete Forms - turn in to Helene

Denny.

• For additional copies, see Helene

• Thanks for agreeing to volunteer this

year!