Youth and Family Ministries Policy for the Protection of Children

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1 Youth and Family Ministries Policy for the Protection of Children Statement of Purpose The church is called to be a life-giving communion of worship, renewal, and discipleship. This is equally true for our most vulnerable members: our children and youth. Trinity Church is committed to creating a safe and healthy environment for the nurture and care of our children. God often depicts his love for children as similar to the special care given by a shepherd for the vulnerable in his flock. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11) The practices and procedures described in this policy are created and implemented to reduce the risk of abuse so that children can more securely engage with the gospel of Jesus Christ through our church community. The effects of sin extend everywhere in our culture, including into our church. While we can t completely prevent the risk of child abuse, as a body of Christ we are committed to take a firm and proactive stand for the protection of our children and against the abuse that can potentially occur even in our congregation. We believe that this policy to reduce the risk of abuse is a reflection of our Heavenly Father s love for his church. This policy includes four sections: scope of policy, youth worker screening, youth activity standards, responding to and reporting allegations of abuse. The Application for Volunteer Youth Work is included at the end. We thank Rocky Mountain Community Church for their policy to which we referred heavily in the creation of this document. Section 1: Scope of Policy This policy for the prevention of abuse covers all church sanctioned youth activities and youth workers that involve children and youth under the age of eighteen. Note: Childcare for Growth Groups and Bible Studies are excluded from this policy. Growth Groups and Bible Studies are designed for adults, though parents may choose to bring their children. Childcare is therefore offered at the discretion of the group or study host and

2 the parents attending. Parents remain present on-site at the study/group and maintain responsibility for the supervision and care of their children. The following provides clarification of the terms used in this policy and are not intended to mirror or restate Montana Law, but rather to assist Trinity Church youth workers to understand how to recognize child abuse by describing it in everyday language. Youth Activity: Any activity involving youth that is sanctioned by Trinity Church, regardless of location. Approved Youth Worker: Any person who is screened and approved by Trinity Church to engage in youth activity. Adult: Anyone eighteen years of age or older Abuse: Includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. 1. Physical abuse is any non-accidental injury that is intentionally inflicted upon a minor. 2. Sexual abuse is any contact of a sexual nature with a minor. This includes any interaction that is meant to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of the person initiating the contact. 3. Emotional abuse is a mental or emotional injury to a minor that results in an observable and material impairment in the minor s growth, development or psychological functioning. 4. Neglect is the failure to provide for a minor s basic needs or a failure to protect a minor from harm. Section 2: Youth Worker Screening Everyone who desires to participate in any Trinity Church youth activity must undergo screening and be approved before engaging as a Trinity Church approved youth worker. Included will be all Trinity Church staff, interns, officers, and youth workers, whether paid or volunteer. Successful screening includes the completion of a criminal records check as described below. Parents of children or youth who are not approved youth workers may be permitted to attend and participate in youth activities, but not in a leadership role, and they may not be alone with children other than their own. In order to participate in any youth activity, all applicants for youth work, without exception, must successfully complete the following screening process. This section on youth worker screening applies to all who apply after September 1, Six-month Rule: In order to serve as a volunteer youth worker, an applicant must be currently attending and have been a regular attendee at Trinity for at least six months. The elders may grant a specific written waiver of this requirement under appropriate circumstances. Application form: Applicants must complete and submit an Application for Youth Work form. Personal References: Applications must provide three personal references of people who are not relatives or employers. Criminal Background Check: All applicants 18 years of age and older must undergo a criminal background check in the state of Montana and in any other states where the applicant has lived over the last ten years. Applicants shall complete the Consent to Release Information form sent via . The background check may include: 1) contacting churches or other organizations where the applicant has served; 2) contacting employers where the applicant has worked, 3) a federal criminal background check; and 4) a review of the Montana Sexual or Violent Offender Registry.

3 Personal Interview: A personal interview provides the opportunity to follow up on the application and to reinforce with the applicant the importance of monitoring for, and if necessary, reporting suspected abuse. Depending on the other information received through the screening process, an interview may be conducted. All information acquired during the screening process will be treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to other outside of the pastors, elders and church administrator unless disclosure is considered necessary to protect a child from possible abuse. Section 3: Youth Activity Standards Trinity Church s commitment for all youth activities is to create a safe and healthy environment for every child. Every social interaction involves an element of risk. These standards are intended to allow effective ministry while still taking prudent and reasonable steps to reduce the risk of abuse. The standards are in two categories: General standards that apply to all youth workers and all youth activity, and specific standards for specific areas of ministry. These standards are a base line additional safeguards will be added as appropriate for specific ministry youth activities. 1. General standards A. Only approved youth workers are allowed to engage in youth activities in a leadership role. B. Unless otherwise noted, the "rule of two" always applies. Rule of two: In any youth activity there must be at least two youth workers immediately present. Approved youth workers shall not be alone with a child during any youth activity. C. All individuals will abide by the following code of conduct while acting in their capacity as a child or youth worker: i. Refrain from unwholesome talk; including profanity, inappropriate humor, course joking, and sexual innuendos while in the presence of children or youth. ii. Maintain appropriate relationship interactions with all children and youth. This includes avoiding any inappropriate touch as well as any display, demonstration, or suggestion of sexual activity in their presence. iii. Avoid the presence or possession of obscene or pornographic materials at all times. If you fail in this area, notify a pastor or elder immediately. iv. Immediately report any suspected abuse or neglect of a child or youth to the Pastor of Youth and Families. D. Every youth worker must read and sign off that they have read and understand this policy. 2. Specific standards A. Nursery during Sunday morning worship 1) The Nursery Lead must be an adult approved youth worker and must be present at all times. There will be a ratio of a minimum of one worker to every three children. 2) A check-in/check-out procedure will be used. Each child will be signed in by a parent-or guardian, who will receive a numbered pager for the child, similar to a claim check. In order to sign the child out from our care, the parent or guardian must present the numbered pager. In the event that a parent or guardian is unable to present the pager, the ministry leader will be

4 contacted. He/she will be responsible for releasing the child to the care of a parent or guardian after discussing the surrounding circumstances with the parent or guardian. 3) Parents will be sent a page if a diaper change is needed. 4) For potty-trained children, the bathroom in the nursery room will be used. If the child needs assistance, the nursery lead will help with the door cracked open. B. Children s Worship Training 1) At least two approved workers will be present, one of whom will always be a lead. 2) Children who are participating in Children s Worship Training will be dismissed from the Worship Service just prior to the Pastoral Prayer. The Worship Training workers will wait at the back of the performance hall to gather the children and walk them to the Children s Worship Training room. 3) No bathroom visits during Children s Worship Training unless it is an emergency. Then the child may use bathroom next to the flex space area and the leader will maintain line of sight to the bathroom. 4) Parents must pick-up their children from the Worship Training lead for them to be dismissed. C. One-on-one Youth Counseling/Discipleship 1) One-on-one youth counseling/discipleship is approved if in a public place (e.g., public park, coffee shop, or restaurant) or at an office with door open or windowed door and with someone else present. 2) The parent/guardian will be notified when the youth will be meeting with the youth worker. E. Transportation 1) With parental approval, minors may be transported by a youth worker. They must be transported directly to and from their destination; no stops should be made unless approved by the person responsible for the youth activity. 2) Drivers for youth activities must be over 25 years of age. We will conduct a driver s record check on all youth workers volunteering with the junior and senior high. F. Overnight youth activity 1) There must be two adult approved youth workers in the same room as the youth, or no adult youth workers shall be present at all. At least one of the adult approved youth workers must be over 21 years old. G. Use of emerging communication technology 1) The use of electronic contact between children and adult approved youth workers serving in ministry with children and youth is permitted for legitimate school and church-sponsored purposes. To ensure adequate monitoring of such contacts, s sent to minors should be copied to parents, guardians, or supervisors, and phone calls to a child's cell phone should be made only when necessary and kept short. Children and youth should be encouraged to contact church employed youth workers through a church address and church phone number; adult approved youth workers should not socially "chat" with or "text" youth whom they serve. 2) Legitimate church sponsored uses of social networking sites should include the involvement of more than one adult approved youth worker on the site. Social networking sites may not be used for socializing between adult approved youth workers and youth. H. Non-compliance

5 1) Under any circumstance when a standard is not followed, the non-compliant youth worker shall if at all possible notify his or her supervisor in advance. If advance notice is not possible, the youth worker shall immediately afterwards notify his or her supervisor. 2) Notification means a phone call and, if requested, a written report. 3) Every incident of non-compliance shall be reported to the Pastor of Youth and Families. Section 4: Responding to and Reporting Allegations of Abuse As stated above, Trinity Church is committed to creating a safe and healthy environment for the nurture and care of our children. Protection of our children includes prayer, youth worker screening, and proactive compliance with our protective standards, as outlined elsewhere in this policy. Because of our commitment to reduce the risk of child abuse, every suspicion or allegation of abuse will be taken seriously and, when required by Montana statute, reported to the proper government authorities. Trinity Church will fully cooperate with any investigation of abuse. Approved Aug 27, 2013 by the Trinity Session Modification approved Nov 12, 2013 by the Trinity Session

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7 Application for Volunteer Youth Work Thank you for your interest in volunteering to work with children. This application is to be completed in its entirety by any person desiring to volunteer for a position involving the supervision or custody of minors. Your cooperation in completing this application will assist the Children s Ministry and church leaders in their efforts to provide a safe and secure environment for children and youth. Your responses will be treated confidentially and within the necessary framework of the applicable ministry support team. Information may be provided on a need-to-know basis to individuals who are involved in the evaluation process, or in order to comply with applicable legal requirements. Personal Information Date: Name: First Middle Last Street Address: City: State: Zip: Home Phone: Cell Phone Work Phone: Preferred method of contact: address: (very important) Are you 18 years or older? Date of Birth: Marital Status: If married, spouse s name: If you will be transporting children or youth, please list your driver s license number. Please note: For those who will be transporting children or youth, we will also conduct a motor vehicle check as part of the background check. Do you have car insurance coverage as required by law?

8 Spiritual History and Background When did you start attending Trinity Church? Are you a Trinity Church Member? ; Membership is at If not, are you willing to attend the Inquirer s class at Trinity Church? Do you regularly attend Trinity Church 3+ services a month? List all churches (include city/state) you have regularly attended during the past 5 years: Qualifications and Availability for Service What date will you be available to begin? What is the minimum length of commitment you can make? What type of ministry do you prefer? (age level, type of position, etc.) List all previous work involving children: (list each church s name and address, type of work performed and dates)

9 List all previous non-church work involving children: (list each organization s name and address, type of work performed and dates) List any gifts, calling, training, education or other factors that have prepared you for working with children. What methods of discipline might you use in your position with children and youth? Legal Questionnaire (If the answer to any question 1 7 is Yes, please attach a statement or explanation) 1. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense (felony or misdemeanor)? You will need to answer yes if you have entered into plea agreement, including deferred sentence or deferred judgment arrangement, in connection with a criminal charge. 2. Have you ever been arrested for or charged with a sexual offense, offense relating to children or youth, or a crime of violence? 3. Have you ever been reported to a social services agency, law enforcement authority, child abuse registry or similar organization regarding abuse to misconduct involving children or youth? 4. Have you ever been the subject of a civil lawsuit involving sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, or other immoral behavior or conduct involving adults, children or youth? 5. Have you ever been the subject of a complaint or disciplinary proceeding against a professional license or other license held by you, including but not limited to a license to provide child care or similar services?

10 6. Have you ever been the subject of any disciplinary action, transfer or dismissal, or been named as a defendant in a civil or criminal lawsuit as a result of an accident or mishap involving children or youth? 7. Have you ever been dismissed or terminated from a volunteer or paid position for charges of child abuse or neglect? Personal Questionnaire Have you ever been accused of an act of sexual or physical abuse? If yes, please explain Have you ever been accused of an improper act with a child and it was later determined that your actions had been misunderstood? If yes, please explain Do you agree to contact one of the pastors at Trinity Church if you have looked at pornography within the last 6 months or look at pornography at any time after becoming a youth worker?

11 Personal Non-Related, Non-Employer References (Please provide three.) Name Phone Address City: State: Zip: Name Phone Address City: State: Zip: Name Phone Address City: State: Zip:

12 Applicant s Statement I agree that: The information contained in this application is complete, truthful and accurate. Trinity Church is authorized to contact, as references, the previously stated references, churches or organizations in order to secure information about my character and suitability for children or youth work. With respect to each contact, I agree to release all such references from any liability for furnishing such evaluations to Trinity Church, provided they do so in good faith and without malice. I will complete the Consent Form to enable Trinity Church to obtain a criminal background check. I understand that this background check does not inquire into any personal financial or credit history. I have read the Trinity Church Policy for the Protection of Children and will perform my volunteer duties and responsibilities in such a way that complies with the policies and any specific policies and procedures for the volunteer position I assume. If I disagree with anything written in the policy which would prevent my compliance, I will immediately notify the Trinity Church Pastor of Youth and Families. I will notify the Trinity Church Pastor of Youth and Families if my behavior while in the role as a volunteer is not in compliance with the Trinity Church Policy for the Protection of Children. By the grace of God, I will always try to demonstrate behavior and conduct that is scriptural, as I am a role model for children and youth whether acting in a volunteer capacity or not. I agree to attend and participate in any required volunteer training sessions. I understand that my service in Trinity s Youth and Family Ministries is on a volunteer basis, and that my services may be discontinued at any time, for any reason. I will release, discharge, and hold harmless Trinity Church, its leadership, members, agents, employees, officers, and all other individuals participating and assisting in this application process from all claims, demands, actions, judgments and executions arising out of same. Signature Date -