United Cabarrus Insurance Agency, Inc'

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Child and Youth Protection
Protecting the Children Protecting the
Church Protecting Yourself

• Presented by
• United Cabarrus Insurance Agency, Inc.
• and
• Southern Mutual Church Insurance Company
• Serving and Protecting Churches

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Statements that can no longer stand . . .

• Weve known this person for years.
• We would know if something was going on.
• People in the church will get mad if we start
  screening.
• We just dont have the time to address the
  issue.
• Background checks cost time and money and we
  have neither.

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Why should we discuss this?

• Community of trust with few safeguards
• Ignorance of facts
• Opportunities for contact - Continual need for
  workers and volunteers
• Attitude that It Will Never Happen Here

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Definition of Child Sexual Abuse

• Definitions vary from state to state.
• In general, it is defined as any sexual
  activity with a child, whether in the home by a
  caretaker, in a day care situation, a
  foster/residential setting, or in any other
  setting. The abuser may be an adult, an
  adolescent, or even another child. (National
  Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse, 1992).

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Definition continued . . .

• Abuse may be violent or non-violent and is
  always an exploitation of vulnerability. The
  abuse is also a criminal behavior that places
  children in situations that they are not
  personally, socially or physically ready for or
  in anyway to be deemed responsible for the
  abusers actions.

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Types of Abuse

• Physical
• Emotional
• Neglect
• Sexual Abuse contains elements of all three

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Learn the Facts

• Authorities estimate 500,000 children suffer
  sexual abuse each year
• Experts estimate that one in four girls and one
  in six boys are sexually abused before their
  eighteenth birthday.
• The median age of for reported sexual abuse is
  nine years old. 22 of the victims are under the
  age of eight.
• Only one in ten child victims report the abuse -
  Children who are sexually abused and do not
  tell are at a far greater risk than the general
  population for a host of psychological,
  emotional, social and physical problems often
  lasting into adulthood.
• Of the 550,000 registered sex offenders in the
  U.S., 100,000 are unaccounted for.

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Learn the Facts

• ChoicePoint Audit of Background Checks
  (2002-2005)
• 86,000 individuals with undisclosed criminal
  records attempting to work or volunteer for
  nonprofits.
• Every 43 hours at least one sex offender tries to
  attain a position with a youth oriented
  organization.
• Sampling for a youth organization (1.03 million
  applicants screened)
• 121,392 had criminal records
• 740 sex related offenses
• 305 sex offenders
• 2,031 drug convictions
• 153 murder convictions

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Impact on the Children

• Withdrawal from family/offender/church
• Rebellion against authority/church
• Declining academic performance
• Running away
• Abuse of alcohol and drugs

• Development of fears/phobias
• Poor self esteem
• Promiscuity
• Depression
• Suicide
• Increased chance that victim will abuse others

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Impact on the Church

• Shattered community trust
• Congregational discord and devastation of
  ministry
• Litigation/financial cost
• Spiritual damage

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Good News!

• Church leaders can take simple steps to
  significantly reduce the risk of sexual abuse
  ever occurring.

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Create an Open Climate

• Recognize the equal value of people
• Discuss and solve problems openly
• Make people feel obligated to report any
  suspicion without fear of retaliation

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Risk ManagementSelecting Workers and Volunteers

• Use an application
• Conduct Interviews
• Screen applicants
• Institute a waiting period
• Check references
• Conduct background checks

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Risk ManagementSupervising Classrooms and Youth
Activities

• Supervise at all times
• Keep proper student teacher ratios (see handout
  for guidelines)
• Have windows in doors of any youth rooms
• Have two adults present for all interactions
• Follow reporting guidelines

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Risk ManagementProviding Safe Activities

• Obtain permission slips / health and consent
  forms from parents
• Maintain adult/child ratios (avoid one on one)
• Provide safe activity areas
• Supervise activities

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Risk ManagementInsurance

• Review your policy
• Understand the role of insurance.
• Consult an agent for advice when
  considering new activities.

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Whats next?

• Have a discussion in your church
• Define a plan of action
• Always Be vigilant

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Resources

• www.ministrycontinuitysolutions
  .com
• www.smcins.com
• www.churchvolunteercentral.com
• www.darkness2light.org