APPENDIX D

All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist

PROPOSED

Child Abuse Prevention Policy

Revised Draft May 27, 2009

(Prior drafts April 1, 2007 & April 30, 2009)

Introduction

All congregants are in a position of stewardship and each plays a key role in fostering the spiritual development of the children and youth who come to us for solace and guidance and education. It is important that we all assume the responsibility to provide the special nurture, care, and support that enable children and youth to develop a positive sense of self and a spirit of interdependence and responsibility.

At All Souls Church we strive to provide a safe place for our children, youth and adults. [Please refer to Conflict Resolution: Guidelines and Suggestions for Success, Appendix A; and Guidelines for Dealing with Offensive or Disruptive Behavior, Appendix B.]

While we at All Souls may have a caretaker responsibility for short periods of time only, our contact with children and youth may last for years; we therefore have a crucial stake in the positive growth of each child or youth who comes to our church.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist is a safe place for all those that enter and applies to all persons under 18. Child abuse or child sexual abuse can and does occur anywhere, in the home, at church, in our schools.

At All Souls Church we will be guided by the definition of an abused or neglected child that is found in the statutes of the State of Vermont: “An abused or neglected child is any person under the age of 18 years whose physical health, psychological growth and development or welfare is harmed or is at substantial risk of harm by the acts or omissions of persons responsible for that child’s care.”

By actively addressing potential problems and concerns, we demonstrate our commitment to providing protective care for the children, youth and volunteers who participate in child and youth programming at All Souls Church. To provide this care, All Souls Church carefully screens and trains those who will work with and teach its children and youth. The Director of Religious Education and the Minister, in consultation with the Religious Education Committee, are directly responsible for putting this policy into practice, as outlined below.

It should be noted at the outset that adults or youth who have been convicted of or pled guilty to either child sexual or child physical abuse, or have legal charges pending, will not work with children or youth. Such individuals will be required to enter into a covenant with the church by signing a Limited Access Agreement specific to the circumstances involved [Refer to Addendum #3].

Screening Volunteers and Staff

The Director of Religious Education will oversee completion of the appropriate paperwork, except where noted, and will check references for childcare providers and volunteers. The DRE’s immediate supervisor will follow up to insure that the reference checks have been completed.

Before a person may teach or otherwise work with children or youth at All Souls Church, the following conditions shall pertain or must be met as part of the hiring process:

An applicant shall have at least two personal interviews, one of which can be by phone and one, which must be on-site.
The applicant shall provide three references, to be checked by the Director of Religious Education.

If the Director of Religious Education, Minister, or members of the Religious Education Committee do not know the applicant, confirmation of identity will be requested via photo identification, passport or birth certificate.
A criminal record check is performed before hiring and then updated every three years. Only the Minister and Director of Religious Education are authorized to access the Criminal Record Check information. The cost of criminal record checks must be included in the annual budget approved by the congregation.
When criminal record checks are performed, they will be initiated and reviewed by the Director of Religious Education and kept completely confidential by the Minister and DRE.
The Minister and Director of Religious Education will maintain screening information, including record checks, for a period of 2 years or until the individual has ceased employment/membership with the church, whichever is sooner.

Training

Training will be provided for staff and volunteers working with children and youth at All Souls Church, and shall include the following:

Review of Child Abuse Prevention Policy
Definition of child abuse *
Sexual and physical symptoms of child abuse and child sexual abuse *
Possible signs of an adult being an abuser *
What behavior constitutes inappropriate conduct
Church procedure regarding working with children and youth at All Souls Church
Reporting procedures for observed or suspected misconduct
Rationale behind screening procedures

*Asterisks above refer to separate handout

Supervision of Children

Parents/Guardians must register children who spend time in the Nursery or who participate in the Religious Education Program at All Souls Church.
All members of teaching teams will receive an orientation packet that includes the Child Abuse Prevention Policy information for All Souls Church.
All teachers of religious education and older youth who work with children and youth at All Souls Church will be asked to sign the Religious Education Code of Ethics form [Refer to addendum #1] and the Agreement to Teach form [Refer to addendum #2].
Two adults, one of whom shall have been screened, shall be present before the building is unlocked for children to attend a Religious Education function.
Two screened adults shall be present for all classes at all times during Religious Education hours and during any church-sponsored activity involving children and youth.
On Sundays when the worship service includes all ages, children and youth need to be with their parents or adult caretaker until classes begin. On Sundays when there is a Children’s Chapel, all children need to attend that service until their classes begin, unless they attend the adult worship service with a parent or adult caretaker. Children are not to be in the classrooms without teachers present.
During formal Religious Education hours there will be a roaming supervisor, usually the Director of Religious Education or his or her designee.
The building and grounds will not be open to children or youth for any church-sponsored activity until two adults are present, one of whom has been screened.
An appropriate designated person will be present in the R. E. wing during Religious Education classes for children going to the lavatory or who have been removed from class for disciplinary purposes.
Classes will not be dismissed until the church service has ended.
A parent or guardian must sign in all nursery-aged children when they are brought to the nursery. The parent or guardian must let the childcare provider know who will pick up the child, and the person who picks up the child must sign out said child.

Field Trips, Youth Gatherings, Vehicle Rides

Permission slips from a parent/guardian are required for all children and youth attending any off-site Religious Education sponsored activity.
Drivers must have proof of 100/300-collision/personal-injury auto insurance and a valid driver’s license.
Each person transported in a vehicle is required to wear a seat belt.
Medical release forms for all out-of-town trips/sleepovers must be signed.
When traveling, each vehicle should carry two adults, one of whom has been screened.
Smoking is not allowed.

Non-Religious Education Events at All Souls Church Involving Children and Youth

The same rules apply as for Religious Education events.

APPENDIX D: ADDENDUM #1

CODE OF ETHICS

For

Adults and Older Youth Working with Children and Youth

At

All Souls Church

Adults and older youth who are in leadership roles are in a position of stewardship and play a key role in fostering spiritual development of both individuals and the community. It is, therefore, especially important that those in leadership positions be well qualified to provide the special nurture, care, and support that will enable children and youth to develop a positive sense of self and a spirit of independence and responsibility.

The relationship between youth and their leaders must be one of mutual respect if positive potential is to be realized. There are no more important areas of growth than those of self-worth and the development of a healthy identity as a sexual being. Adults play a key role in assisting children and youth in these areas of growth. Wisdom dictates that children, youth, and adults suffer damaging effects when leaders becomes sexually involved with young person in their care; therefore leaders will refrain from engaging in sexual, seductive, or erotic behavior with children and youth. Neither shall they sexually harass or engage in behavior with youth that constitutes verbal, emotional or physical abuse.

Leaders shall be informed of the code of ethics and agree to it before assuming their role. In cases of violation of this code, appropriate action will be taken.

I have read and understand the above statements of position, expectations, and actions. I understand that my background will be checked for a criminal record.

Date Name Printed

_________________________________________

Name Signed

APPENDIX D: ADDENDUM #2

AGREEMENT TO TEACH FORM

For

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS AND YOUTH GROUP LEADERS

At All Souls Church, West Brattleboro, Vermont

NAME: ________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________

PHONE: ________________________ CELL PHONE: ________________________

EMAIL: _______________________________________

I have read the All Souls Church Right Relations Policy, which includes the following:

1. Our Covenant

2. Our Principles of Right Relations

3. Conflict Resolution: Guidelines and Suggestions for Success

4. Guidelines for Dealing with Offensive or Disruptive Behavior

5. Our Crisis Intervention Protocol

6. Our Child Abuse Prevention Policy

I understand the importance of these policies for keeping children, youth and vulnerable adults safe.

I agree to uphold these principles in my work with the children, youth, adults, and families of All Souls Church.

I have signed the Code of Ethics statement.

I affirm that I have never been accused of, convicted of, or pled guilty to any sexual crime. I also have not pled guilty to a lesser charge after having been charged with a sexual crime. I have never engaged in any form of child abuse, including sexual abuse. I have never been determined to have engaged in any sexual offenses in any civil, administrative, or ecclesiastical forum or other forum.

If there are any facts or circumstances in my background that call into question my being entrusted with the supervision, guidance and care of children, youth, or vulnerable adults, I have met to review this information confidentially with the Minister and the Director of Religious Education.

Further, I agree to notify the Minister and the Director of Religious Education immediately should I be accused of sexual abuse, sexual offenses, sexual harassment, or other sexual improprieties in the time that I am working with child and you in this congregation.

Signed: _________________________________________ Date: _______________________

APPENDIX D: ADDENDUM #3

INTEGRATION INTO THE CHURCH OF A PERSON ACCUSED

OR CONVICTED OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

All Souls Church is committed to maintaining the safest atmosphere possible for our children, youth and adults. We are also committed to being a religious community open to those who are in need of worshipping on Sunday morning with us, especially in times of serious personal troubles. We believe in the worth and dignity of all people, even those who may have made serious mistakes in their lives. When someone has broken trust with our congregation and its principles, and that person wants to regain trust with us, we will work toward reconciliation under these rules.

When someone who has been officially accused or convicted of child sexual abuse seeks to attend our Sunday morning services or participate in our church activities it is our responsibility to address both the needs of being a welcoming congregation and the needs of maintaining as safe an environment as is possible. We require the accused or convicted person to take precautions which would keep him or her from any actions or accusations of improper behavior with children or adults and would make it evident that we were acting at all times with the safety of our congregation in mind. The accused or convicted person will agree to:

Make no attempt at any time to interact with our children and youth anywhere either on or off church property.
Have a companion of the same sex, approved by the Board of Trustees of All Souls Church, with him or her at all times on church property and at church sponsored events;
Inform the Board of Trustees of All Souls Church of the final disposition of his or her criminal case. [If charges have been dropped or the accused person has been exonerated, the restrictions of this policy would no longer apply concerning that person’s particular incident.]

Depending on the circumstances, the Board of Trustees of All Souls Church may decide to inform the congregation that someone charged or convicted of child abuse will be attending Sunday Services. That person will always be accompanied by a responsible adult and will have no personal contact with any of our children or youth.

The Board will appoint a church member to form and coordinate a group of companions. These companions will accompany the person while he or she is participating in All Souls Church events. The person coordinating the companions will have the responsibility of reporting on the implementation of this policy to the Board at its monthly business meetings. This policy will be in effect for six months from its date of adoption and then reviewed by the Board.