Safe Sanctuary Training

1. Safe Sanctuary Training What volunteers, parents, staff and pastors need to know about Safe Sanctuary

2. Why A Safe Sanctuary policy?

3. Child Abuse Statistics • A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds • More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse.Over 80% of these children are under 4 years old. • More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. 

4. About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.  • About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.  • Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

5. Request of General Church, Annual Conference. • Who do each of us know who has been abused?

6. Safe Sanctuary Team • Mike Schulenberg – Staff Parish, Lawyer • James Drake – Lawyer • Terry Feely - Youth Rep • Ellen Anton – Music Rep • Renee Kamysz – PDO Rep • Betsy Mitchell – Children’s Ministry Rep • Mike Conklin – Parent Rep • Deb Mengler – Christian Education Rep, Chair

7. Summary of Key Policies • Selection of church personnel and volunteers. • Two person rule. • Reporting abuse to Safe Sanctuary Supervisory group. • All groups using BUMC facilities will adhere to the policies set forth in this document.

8. Selection and Screening of Church Volunteers • All people who work with children, youth or elderly or vulnerable adults will complete: • Application form. • 3 reference checks. • Background check. • Application, references and background check will be received or completed prior to serving.

9. Two Person Rule • A minimum of two church personnel or volunteers must be present during any activity involving children or youth. • One adult and one older (14 or over) youth (for children’s ministry only) • Two older youth (as in evening child care, for children’s ministry only) • Two adults present must be present for all youth activities.

10. Two Person . . . • Two church personnel or volunteers are required to stay until all youth or children are picked up.

11. Home Alone One • If, for any reason, someone is left alone with a child or youth, another church personnel or volunteer should be found as soon as reasonable. • If another person cannot be found, children or youth will be returned to their parent or guardian.

12. Transportation • People who transport children, youth or elderly or vulnerable adults will have their driving record check. • Decisions about who may transport will be made according to our insurance underwriters guidelines.

13. People who transport children or youth must also have a valid drivers license and present proof of valid insurance.

14. Transportation exceptions • Transportation can be an exception to the two adult rule if transporting children or youth off site. One adult can be in a vehicle if there are two or more unrelated children or youth in the car. • If children or youth carpool with volunteers to or from an event, a note from parents or guardians must be on file with Susan or Deb.

15. Overnight activities • Overnight activities must be supervised by two church personnel or volunteers over the age of 21 and who are not related to each other. • Ratio of adult church personnel or volunteers to children or youth should be 1:7 or less. • The Safe Sanctuary Supervisory Group will clear all volunteers on overnight activities.

16. Retreats and overnights • Two person rule is difficult. There will be times when an adult and a child or youth are alone in a room. • This will be noted in a permission slip and signed be a parent or guardian.

17. Mentors • All mentors will have a Safe Sanctuary background check. • Mentors may meet alone with the confirmand with parental permission and notification. • Mentors will meet with confirmands in a public area. • Parents or guardians will acknowledge this exception to the two adult rule by signing a permission slip.

18. When BUMC Supervision begins and ends • BUMC supervision begins when there are two adults or youth (supervisors) present. • BUMC supervision ends when all children have left.

19. Additional policy related to children and nursery • Children in Kindergarten and younger will be signed in and out of classrooms or nursery. • Children 5th grade or younger will be picked up by a parent or guardian. • Children who begin in worship and go to class will be signed in be adult leader and signed out by a parent or guardian.

20. Additional policy related to children and nursery . . . • The nursery will maintain a list of children including who can or cannot pick up a child, and pertinent medical issues. • Christian Education Ministry team and Youth Ministry team will maintain a list of similar information for children or youth.

21. Additional policy related to children and nursery . . . • Parents or guardians must bring children to the nursery, and sign the child in. • Parents may stay and assist in the nursery. This parent does not count as a second adult unless this person is Safe Sanctuary cleared.

22. Additional policy related to children and nursery . . . • To release a child from the nursery – be sure that you are leasing a child to the parent or guardian. Do not release a child from the nursery to siblings under the age of 14.

23. Restrooms and diapers • Children’s diapers will be changed in view of the second adult or youth supervisor. • Parents – we request that you take your children to the washroom before activities.

24. Restrooms and diapers . . . • Church personnel or volunteers may take children to the washroom if necessary. • Take children to the restroom in groups if possible. • Church personnel or volunteers should assist a child only if asked by a child.

25. Restrooms and diapers . . . • Church personnel or volunteers should not be alone with a child in the stall of a restroom with the doors closed.

26. Home Alone Two • Children must attend the program for their age, grade or developmental level. • If children are found unsupervised they will be returned to their parents or age appropriate activity. • Children may not be unsupervised in the church.

27. Other Miscellaneous stuff • Annual Training session. • Active involvement in BUMC ministries for one month. • Inform staff if abuse or neglect charges are made against you. • The staff person or pastor responsible for your ministry area is responsible for assuring that Safe Sanctuary policy is followed.

28. Other Miscellaneous stuff • These requirements are waived for outside speakers or entertainers. Two adults must be present during the event and the speaker or entertainer will not be alone with children or youth. • Decisions of the Safe Sanctuary team can be disputed in a discussion between Directing Pastor and staff person responsible for the ministry area. • All information gained through the background check process will be kept confidential unless we are require by court of law to release information.

29. Responding to Allegations of Abuse • If you believe that a child or youth is being abused, contact a member of the Safe Sanctuary team immediately. A response team will be formed. • The Safe Sanctuary team member will advise on whether or not a call to DCFS is warranted. The DCFS phone number is 1-800-25ABUSE, 1-800–252-2873.

30. Responding to Allegations of abuse . . . • If you disagree with the assessment of the Safe Sanctuary team, and believe that a call to DCFS is warranted, call them at 1-800-25ABUSE, 1-800–252-2873. • Anyone who willfully fails to report suspected child abuse or neglect may be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

31. Reporting form

32. Safe Sanctuary Media Policy • People assigned by the church to take pictures of our children or youth will have a background check completed. • Pictures may be used in internal communication. • Identifying information will be removed from photos. • Photos are held on a secure Shutterfly site. • A media release will be signed and on file for all children or youth.

33. Safe Sanctuary Media Policy • Please note that we cannot be responsible for pictures taken by other members and friends.

34. Elderly and Vulnerable Adults • Definition: • Vulnerable adult – A person 18 years of age or older who possesses a physical, or emotional dysfunction that impairs the individuals ability to adequately provide for their own care. • Elderly – A person 60 years of age or older who resides in a domestic living situation and is, or is allegedly to be abused, neglected, or financially exploited by another individual or who neglects himself or herself.

35. Policy Application • This policy will not apply to groups where the primary goal of the group, or the primary participants of the group are not elderly or vulnerable adults. • The two adult rule will not apply in counseling or counseling type situations. • This policy will apply to people who transport elderly or vulnerable adults.

36. Screening • Two leaders will be identified for each group. • Drivers and assistants will have a background check including a drivers license check. • These two leader will have a background check. • Information from this background check will be kept in the Safe Sanctuary Safe.

37. Supervision • All volunteers will receive an annual Safe Sanctuary training either in a group setting or online. • Staff person or pastor responsible for your ministry area will be responsible for assuring compliance with Safe Sanctuary policy.

38. Reporting • All incidents of suspected abuse should be reported to the Safe Sanctuary Supervisory Group. • Fill out the Elder or Vulnerable Adult Report Form.

39. Reporting • To report suspected abuse, exploitation or neglect of an older person, call the Elder Abuse Hotline: • 1-866-800-1409

40. Adult Mission Policy • We establish this policy at the request of the Northern Illinois Conference Volunteers In Mission Coordinator.

41. Screening • Two leaders of each adult mission team will have a Safe Sanctuary clearance and training. • Forms will be kept in the Safe Sanctuary Safe.

42. Supervision • Two unrelated adults will lead each mission team. • If child care is provided as part of a mission trip, the Safe Sanctuary policy for children and youth will be followed. • Two unrelated, safe sanctuary cleared people will be in an exam space for medical mission trips. • Staff person or pastor responsible for the mission trip will assure compliance.

43. Reporting • Abuse will be reported immediately to one of the team leaders. • Incident will be reported to authorities immediately if the team is in the United States or upon return if the team is in a foreign country. • Appropriate procedures for reporting to DCFS or Elder Abuse hotline will be followed. • The alleged abuser will be removed from contact with children or youth until the issue is resolved.

44. Reporting • If on an international mission trip, and the accused is from the host country, the Host Missionary or their representative will assume responsibility in cooperation with the team leader.

45. Annual Review • Safe Sanctuary policy will be reviewed annually.

46. What is a Mandated Reporter? • A Mandated Reporter is a professional who may work with children in the course of their professional duties. • Medical Personnel. • School Personnel. • Clergy. • Social Service/Mental Health Personnel. • Law Enforcement. • Child Care Personnel. • Coroner. • Students in one of these areas

47. Who Can Report? • Everyone! • Even if we don’t have a legal obligation to report, we do have a theological obligation to the people in our care. • Hospitality and Justice ministry.

48. Recognizing Abuse • How do we recognize what we are to report?

49. Types of Abuse • Physical Abuse: • To deliberately and intentionally causes bodily harm to a child.

50. Emotional Abuse: • To exposes a child to spoken and/or unspoken violence or emotional cruelty.