DEVELOPING SAFE SANCTUARIES

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DEVELOPING SAFE SANCTUARIES

• Rev. Julie Hager Love
• jlove_at_kyumc.org

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KENTUCKY CONFERENCE POLICY

• For ALL LOCAL CHURCHES
• Implementation no later than June 30, 2008

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WHO NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED?

• Pastor(s) staff
• Key volunteers (teachers, leaders)
• Parents
• Board of Trustees
• Administrative Council/Board

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SCREENING

• All workers (paid and volunteer) complete an
  BACKGROUND SCREENING FORM.
• Contact REFERENCES
• Process BACKGROUND CHECK

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SCREENING

• Develop a RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM for forms,
  checks, etc
• Must be active with the church at least 6 months
  prior to supervising children/youth

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SUPERVISON

• Provide TRAINING for staff volunteers
• 2 Adult Rule. There will be 2 unrelated adults
  in each classroom.

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SUPERVISION

• If this is not possible, there will be a roving
  teacher who moves amid the rooms during the
  program period.
• All ministries should occur in OPEN VIEW. Window,
  half door or door shall remain open.

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SUPERVISION

• No children will be left unsupervised.
• REGISTRATION MATERIALS should be collected for
  all activities PERMISSION FORMS for
  transportation

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Supervision

• No person under the age of 18 shall supervise
  younger children those over 18 shall be at
  least 4 YEARS OLDER THAN THE CHILDREN.
• Putting children in charge of children invites
  disaster.
• Joy Melton. Safe Sanctuaries. Nashville
  Discipleship Resources, 1998. page 32.

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REPORTING

• Abuse MUST be reported to the Kentucky Child
  Protection Hot Line at [phone], the Local
  CHFS Office or the State Police.

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REPORTING

• All clergy of The United Methodist Church are
  charged to maintain all confidences inviolate,
  including confessional confidences,

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REPORTING

• except in the cases of suspected child abuse or
  neglect or in cases where mandatory reporting is
  required by civil law.
• The Book of Discipline, 2004. 341.5

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REPORTING

• When abuse is reported the worker shall
  immediately be removed from contact with
  children/youth.

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REPORTING

• If the ACCUSED is CLERGY, OR THEIR FAMILY, the DS
  should be contacted immediately.
• Keep a WRITTEN RECORD of the event.

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RESPONDING

• Quick
• Compassionate
• Unified
• No cover ups

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RESPONDING

• Contact your District Superintendent.
• Appoint spokesperson (pastor). Enlist help of
  Conference Communications Director.
• Pastoral support available to all involved.

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QUESTIONS ABOUT INSURANCE

• How much coverage do you have? What are the
  limits?
• Do you specifically have SAM insurance?
• Who is covered/Who is not covered?

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INSURANCE

• Exactly what is coveredcriminal
  lawsuits/defendant until found guilty, innocent?
  Punitive damages are never covered.
• What do you do if there is an allegation?