SAFE SANCTUARIES

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WHY SAFE SANCTUARIES ?

• Protect our children
• Protect our workers
• Protect the Churchs assets for mission and
  ministry

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TOOL 1SCRIPTURE

• Jeremiah 11-10
• I Samuel 127-28
• Amos 524
• Micah 64-8
• Matthew 185
• Ecclesiastes 49-12
• Luke 222ff

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TOOL 2BAPTISMAL COVENANT
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• Members of the household of faith, I commend to
  your love care these children (persons), whom we
  this day recognize as members of the family of
  God

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• With Gods help we will so order our lives after
  the example of Christ, that these children
  surrounded by steadfast love, may be established
  in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in
  the way that leads to life eternal.
• The United Methodist Book of Worship, pages
  104-105.

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TOOL 3MATH PROBLEM

• 1 child every 10 seconds is abused
• 1 out of 10 boys 1 out of 5 girls will be
  sexually assaulted in childhood
• 50 of worship center sexual misconduct is by
  volunteers
• 1 person every hour has stroke/heart attack
• Less than 20 of child abuse is perpetrated by
  strangers.
• Church Mutual Joy Melton, Safe Sanctuaries,
  Discipleship Resources

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KENTUCKY FACTS

• During 2002-2004, a child was reported abused or
  neglected every 8.5 minutes in Kentucky
• Using this statistic, during a 1 hour worship
  service, 7 reports will be made
• 2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org

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PHYSICAL ABUSE

• In 2004, 11,374 cases of physical abuse were
  reported in Kentucky
• 23 were substantiatedmet the criteria to
  proceed with an investigation
• 2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org

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EMOTIONAL ABUSE

• In 2004, 607 cases of emotional abuse were
  reported in Kentucky
• 20 were substantiatedmet the criteria to
  proceed with an investigation.
• 2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org

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NEGLECT

• In 2004, 33,038 cases of neglect (and dependency)
  were reported in Kentucky.
• 38 wre substantiatedmet the criteria to proceed
  with an investigation.
• 2005 Kentucky Kids Count. www.kyyouth.org

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TOOL 4SCARY BUT TRUE STORIES
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TOOL 5INCORPORATION

• www.gcfa.org/Inc.LocalUMC.html
• http//www.sos.ky.gov/business/filings/forms/

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TOOL 6MEET PATRICK

• WHO ARE THE ABUSERS?
• HOW DO YOU RECOGNIZE THEM?
• TYPES OF ABUSE?
• WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?

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TOOL 7CHECKLIST FOR LOCAL CHURCHES
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TOOL 8RECRUITING-SCREENING-HIRING PRACTICES

• Written Application Forms
• Personal Reference Forms
• Drivers License Checks
• Personal Interviews
• Six Month Hospitality Rule
• Participation Covenant
• Criminal Background Checks
• local-state-national-Megans Law Website

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TOOL 9BASIC OPERATING PROCEDURES

• Two UNRELATED Adult Rule
• Windows/half doors In All Classrooms
• No Workers Under Eighteen
• Four-Years-Older Rule
• Open Door Counseling
• First Aid/CPR Training

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• Participation Covenant For All Participants/Leader
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• Annual Orientation For Workers
• Advance Notice To Parents
• Parent and Family Education
• Appropriate Equipment and Supervision

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TOOL 10CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

• Notify the parents of the victim and take any
  necessary steps to assure childs safety.
  Childs safety is first concern.
• Treat accused with dignity, but immediately
  remove him/her from further involvement with
  children and/or youth.

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• Notify proper law enforcement/child protective
  services.
• Notify proper Conference authorities, insurance
  agent, and churchs attorney.

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• CONFERENCE CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS TEAM WILL ASSIST
  CHURCH LEADERS.
• Prepare a brief and honest statement that can be
  made to the congregation. Do not give
  unnecessary details, blame, interfere with
  victims privacy or violate any confidentiality.
  There is a difference between confidentiality
  and secrecy.
• Be prepared to cooperate fully with the
  investigation.

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TOOL 11

• ISSUES
• CONCERNING
• REPORTING

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KENTUCKY STATUTE FOR REPORTING

• 620.030 Any person who knows or has reasonable
  cause to believe that a child is dependent,
  neglected, or abused shall immediately cause an
  oral or written report to be made to a local law
  enforcement agency or the Department of Kentucky
  State Police.

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KENTUCKY ANNUAL CONFERENCE APPROVED POLICY

• Reporting is required by any staff or a volunteer
  that
• personally witnesses an incident of abuse or
  exploitation
• when an allegation of an event of abuse or
  exploitation is made to staff or a volunteer by
  a third party
• when a child/vulnerable adult discloses
  abuse or exploitation.

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CLERGY AS REPORTERS

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

• Abuse must be reported to the Kentucky Child
  Protection Hot Line
• 1-800-752-6200

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ADDITIONAL ISSUES

• Ecumenical Ministry
• Outside Groups Using Church Facilities
• Response Planwho speaks to the media
• Clergy as mandated Reporters
• KY State Police Child Abuse Hotline
• 800-543-7723

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

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• TRUTH, LIES,
• AND
• SEX
• OFFENDERS
• HOW THEY THINK, WHAT THEY DO
• ANNA C. SALTER, Ph.D

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• TOM SALSGIVER
• CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CONFERENCE
• tom_at_cpcumc.org
• 717-766-7441

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