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. Safe Sanctuary Team • Chris Ingram – Staff Parish • Susan Lungren - Palmer- Youth • Ellen Anton – Music • Mandy Polignone– PDO • Cheryl Bendeich– Children’s Ministry • Gary Pierce – Congregational Care • Jon Cunningham – Trustees • Rob Walters – Trustees, CE rep • Mary Fink – Youth • Jeffry Bross – Flowing Grace • Nicole Parmelee – Flowing Grace • David Newhouse – Directing Pastor • Deb Mengler – Christian Education, Chair

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

5. Selection and Screening of Church Volunteers • Application form. • 3 reference check. • Background check. • Confidentiality. Everything is confidential, unless we are required by law to release the information.

6. 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.

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

8. Two person . . . • Home Alone One

9. Transportation • Transporting children or youth . . . • Decisions about who may transport . . .

10. Transportation exceptions • Transportation can be an exception to the two adult rule if transporting children or youth off site. • Carpools.

11. Overnight activities • Two church personnel or volunteers over the age of 21 who are not related to each other. • Ratio of adult church personnel or volunteers to children or youth.

12. Retreats and overnights • Two person rule difficult. • Permission slip.

13. Mentors • Exceptions to the two adult rule. • 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.

14. When BUMC Supervision begins and ends • BUMC supervision begins . . . • BUMC supervision ends . . .

15. Additional policy related to children and nursery • Signing in and out. • Pick up by a parent or guardian. • Children who begin in worship.

16. Additional policy related to children and nursery . . . • The nursery will maintain a list of children . . . • Christian Education Ministry team and Youth Ministry team will maintain a list of similar information.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. Restrooms and diapers • Children’s diapers . . . • Parents – we request that you take your children to the washroom before activities.

20. 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 . . .

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

22. Home Alone Two • Children must attend the program for their age, grade or developmental level. • If children are found unsupervised . . . • Children may not be unsupervised in the church.

23. 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 person responsible for your ministry area is responsible for assuring that Safe Sanctuary policy is followed.

24. Other Miscellaneous stuff • Outside speakers, entertainers etc. • Review and selection. • Disputing a decision. • Again, Confidentiality.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. Reporting form

28. Safe Sanctuary Media Policy • Who may take pictures. • How pictures may be used. • Identifying information. • Storage. • Media Release.

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

30. 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.

31. 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 . . . • This policy will apply to people who drive . . .

32. Screening • Two leaders . . . • These two leader will have a background check. • Information from this background check will be kept in the Safe Sanctuary Safe.

33. Supervision • Annual Safe Sanctuary Training. • Staff person responsible for your ministry area will be responsible for assuring compliance with Safe Sanctuary policy.

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

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

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

37. Screening • Adult mission team. • Selection. • Forms will be kept in the Safe Sanctuary Safe.

38. Supervision • Two unrelated adults. • Child care. • Medical mission trip. • Assuring compliance.

39. Reporting • Allegations of abuse. • Reporting. • Appropriate procedures for reporting to DCFS or Elder Abuse hotline will be followed. • Alleged abuser.

40. 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.

41. Annual Review • Annual Review. • Team leaders.

42. 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

43. 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.

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

45. Types of Abuse • Physical Abuse: • To deliberately and intentionally causes bodily harm to a child. • Emotional Abuse: • To exposes a child to spoken and/or unspoken violence or emotional cruelty. • Neglect: • To endangers a child’s health, safety or welfare.

46. Types of Abuse • Sexual Abuse: • Sexual contact between a child and an adult, or older more powerful youth. • Ritual Abuse: • Physical, sexual, or psychological violation of a child inflicted regularly, intentionally, and in a stylized way by a person or persons responsible for the child’s welfare.

47. Team Responsibilities • Assure compliance. • Review applications, references etc as needed. • Annual review of policy. • Assure proper reporting practices for DCFS and Elder Abuse Hotline.

48. Team Responsibilities • Facilitate Church’s response to abuse. • Provide for Church spokesperson. • Assure compliance with DCFS or Hotline investigation. Facilitate church access.