1. INTRODUCTION
The Allegheny Synod has received
numerous requests from congregations for aid in developing documents that would
provide guidelines to foster the protection of children and youth.
To encourage and empower
congregations with this task, the Children/Youth and Family Ministry Committee
of the Allegheny Synod has created a resource to assist congregations and the
synod to develop and implement a child protection policy.
The suggestions included in this
resource are intended to protect children and youth who participate in church
sponsored activities from abuse. Secondarily,
this resource is also intended to protect youth workers from false allegations.
2. CONTENTS
Indicators of abuse
Statutes/Standards
Application procedures
Reporting abuse
Responding to allegations
Sample forms
3. DEFINITIONS
A child or youth is any
person considered being a minor under the law of the state in which the church
resides.
Sexual abuse, emotional abuse
and physical abuse are
defined by the statutes of each locality and should be obtained from your local
department of social services.
An employee is anyone
called by or hired by the church, and receives a wage.
A volunteer is anyone who
provides services for the church and receives no compensation.
A youth advisor is anyone
who works with children and youth. This
term applies to both paid and unpaid workers.
The minimum age of a youth advisor is 21.
4. STATUTES
The child abuse statutes is
available from your local department of social services.
5. STANDARDS
Abuse
Prohibited: Those who accept
the special responsibility or working with the children and youth of the church
shall not violate their responsibility by engaging in acts of sexual, emotional,
or physical abuse.
Two-Adult
Rule: At
least two (2) youth workers, one (1) over the age of 21, shall be present when
youth are waiting for parents to arrive and in all church activities involving
youth. Activities meeting in a classroom setting (e.g. Sunday
school, vacation bible School, choir rehearsals) may be supervised by one (1)
youth worker in the classroom when there is visual access to the classroom (e.g.
a door with a window, or open door) and there are other youth workers present in
the immediate vicinity.
When children are being picked
up, two adults should be present until all children have left the building with
a responsible adult.
Recommended adult to child ratios
for children in a classroom setting are as follows:
0-24 months 1 adult to 3 children
2 years old or a mixed group including 2-year olds 1 adult to 6 children
3 to 5 year olds 1 adult to 10 children
6 to 8 year olds
1 adult to 15 children
(Information provided by National
Association for the Education of Young Children)
Assessment of the capability and
training of staff and volunteers as well as special needs of the children should
supercede these recommendations when deciding upon ratios.
Transportation
of Youth: When
youth are transported as part of a church activity, they shall be transported in
groups with at least two (2) youth workers in each vehicle unless the senior
pastor/pastor or his/her designee waives this requirement.
Waivers will be granted when the number and age of youth to be
transported in each vehicle provides adequate protection against abuse.
If a waiver is granted, youth workers should obtain, in advance of the
trip, written permission from the parent or guardian for his/her child to accept
such transportation arrangements. If
a waiver is not granted and an emergency arises which necessitates that two
adults cannot be in a car, the youth worker supervising the activity is advised
to report the situation to the senior pastor/pastor or his/her designee
immediately.
Permission
Slips: Youth
must have permission to participate in any overnight activity or any activity
that takes place away from church property.
That permission must be in writing, signed and dated by a parent or
guardian. It must identify the
activity in which the youth is participating and date(s) on which the activity
is occurring (and also probably who the supervisors will be.)
The senior pastor/pastor or his/her designee may waive the requirement
for the permission slip where it would serve no useful purpose (for example, a
picnic off church property where the youth would be accompanied by a parent).
Overnight
rule: It
is recommended that churches use the recommendations stated for adult to youth
ratios when planning overnight trips. It
is further recommended that two (2) of the youth workers be at least 21 years of
age. Overnight coed activities must
be chaperoned by both male and female youth workers.
Each youth worker must occupy a bed, sleeping bag, or mattress by
him/herself. If providing adequate
supervision to youth requires the youth workers (s) to occupy the same room or
tent as the youth, the permission slips should inform parents of the activity,
sleeping arrangements and date(s) on which the activity is occurring (and also
probably who the supervisors will be.) Youth
must provide these written permission slips signed by a parent or guardian to
participate in overnight activities.
6. JOB/APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applications,
Interviews, References Required: Anyone
who wishes to work with children or youth within the church, including employees
and volunteers who have worked with youth within the church for less than the
past three years, are required to submit application.
The application will request information regarding the applicant’s
suitability to work with youth and will request authorization for church
officials to obtain from law enforcement authorities any information they have
regarding the applicant. The church
should decide who on the staff or church council will initiate criminal
background checks with the concurrence of the senior pastor/pastor.
An interview with appropriate staff as designated by the pastor and
church council is also required. The
interview may be waived where the youth worker has been working in the church
for more than one year prior to the child protection policy.
Applications, related papers and clearances will be kept confidential and
retained in their personal file at the church (i.e. maintained in locked files
with access limited to those with a clear need for the information they
contain.)
Six-Month
Waiting Rule:
Applications to serve as a
volunteer youth worker shall not be approved unless the applicant has been a
church member for no less than six (6) months.
7. REPORTING CHILD ABUSE
All alleged incidents of child
physical and sexual abuse should be reported to the appropriate government
officials as required by law. Each
church needs to decide who on the staff will be involved in the reporting.
Regardless of who is chosen, the pastor should be made aware except in
circumstances where abuse involves the pastor.
It is recommended that the person making the report as well as all church
officials cooperate fully with government authorities regarding the allegations.
8. RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE
It is important that all
allegations of abuse be taken seriously.
In every situation, respect for the dignity, right to privacy and
confidentiality of all persons involved must be maintained.
The person who has been accused
should be relieved of his/her duties until all of the authorities have completed
their investigation. If the person
is a paid employee, the personnel committee of the church, or similar group will
decide between paid or unpaid administrative leave.
The investigating authority should advise the church whether or not other
parents, or staff should be informed of the allegations.
The church should designate one
person as a spokesperson should media attention arise.
This person and this person only will be the one through whom all media
contacts are made.
Close documentation should be
maintained beginning with the report of abuse.
Documentation should always include information of what, who, how, when
and where.
The child and parents should be referred to counseling within the community as an additional support service.