Creating a safer environment for those entrusted to your church's care.

1. Protecting Our Future Creating a safer environment for those entrustedto your church's care.

2. Objectives for Protecting Our Future • You will learn… • Why action is necessary. • Methods for limiting the • possibility of abuse occurring. • How to implement these policies in your church. 2

3. Reasons for these Policies • Child abuse is a ____________________ in our society. • Churches are becoming the __________ of liability suits. • ____________________ are beginning to require policies such as these. • It is the ____________________ to do. 3

4. Protecting Our Future By: • Establishing a process for __________ • __________ 2. Properly __________ Workers 3. __________ Workers 4. Developing a __________ Plan 5. Providing Adequate __________ 6. Creating __________ 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” 4

5. Establish a Process for Selecting Workers • 6 Month Rule • 2. Written Application for • Paid Staff and Volunteer • Workers • 3. Reference Checks • Background Checks • Interview 1 Timothy 5:22 “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…. 5

6. Methods of Background Checks • County Check • Includes all criminal acts by an individual in a particular county. Contact your local Sheriff’s Department for details. • State Check • Includes all criminal acts by an individual in the state. • www.fdle.state.fl.us/ • Private Investigator or Screening Company • Search includes locations outside of Florida and may include a driver’s license and social security verification. There are many companies that provide this service such as: • •protectmyministry.com • •churchvolunteercentral.com • 4. Florida Convicted Sex Offender’s List • Statewide list of convicted sex offenders. • www.fdle.state.fl.us/ • 6

7. Properly Supervising Workers Who does the Two Adult Rule protect? How will you ensure these policies are followed by each ministry? To whom should workers report misconduct or abuse? 7

8. Train Workers 1.To follow _______________ 2. To recognize signs of ______________ and _______________ 3. To give proper displays of ______________ 4. To use appropriate methods of _____________ 5. To handle _______________ 8

9. Develop a Plan for Response • Take every allegation __________. • Do not __________ to __________. • __________ to the victim and family. • Contact attorney and ____________________. • Report _____________ to the authorities. • Remove the alleged perpetrator from the situation until a proper _____________ has been conducted. • Keep information ________________. 9

10. Provide Adequate Insurance Types of Coverage 1.Sexual Molestation and Misconduct Coverage should include an action taken by a church staff member or a __________ toward a minor in the church’scare. 2. Sexual Harassment Coverage should include sexual misconduct by a staff member directed toward another ____________________. These are types of insurance coverage. The actual names of the coverage may vary from one insurance company to another. 10

11. Create Balance Churches must balance between: __________ __________ Does your church have a balanced approach? 11

12. Information • Discovery • Get Pastoral Support • Prepare Key Leaders • Begin Writing Policies Phase 1 Education • Prepare Teachers • Church Decision to adopt policies • Teachers Trained • Forms Developed Phase 2 3 Phases of Implementation Implementation • Screening Begins • Policies Take Effect Phase3 12

13. A Cooperative Program Ministry of the Florida Baptist Convention S.S., Groups, and Discipling Ministry Team @ 10/29/07