DEVELOPING SAFE DEVELOPING SAFE SANCTUARIESSANCTUARIES

DEVELOPING SAFE DEVELOPING SAFE SANCTUARIESSANCTUARIES

Rev. Julie Hager LoveRev. Julie Hager Lovejlove@kyumc.orgjlove@kyumc.org

KENTUCKY CONFERENCE POLICY

• For ALL LOCAL CHURCHES• Implementation no later than June

30, 2008

WHO NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED?

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

SCREENING• All workers (paid and

volunteer) complete an BACKGROUND SCREENING FORM.

• Contact REFERENCES• Process BACKGROUND CHECK

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

SUPERVISON• Provide TRAINING for staff &

volunteers• 2 Adult Rule. There will be 2

unrelated adults in each classroom.

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.

SUPERVISION• No children will be left

unsupervised.• REGISTRATION MATERIALS

should be collected for all activities & PERMISSION FORMS for transportation

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.

REPORTING• Abuse MUST be reported to

the Kentucky Child Protection Hot Line at (800) 752-6200, the Local CHFS Office or the State Police.

REPORTING“All clergy of The United

Methodist Church are charged to maintain all confidences inviolate, including confessional confidences,

REPORTINGexcept 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

REPORTING• When abuse is reported the

worker shall immediately be removed from contact with children/youth.

REPORTING• If the ACCUSED is CLERGY, OR

THEIR FAMILY, the DS should be contacted immediately.

• Keep a WRITTEN RECORD of the event.

RESPONDING• Quick• Compassionate• Unified• No cover ups

RESPONDING• Contact your District

Superintendent. • Appoint spokesperson (pastor).

Enlist help of Conference Communications Director.

• Pastoral support available to all involved.

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?

INSURANCE• Exactly what is covered—criminal

lawsuits/defendant until found guilty, innocent? Punitive damages are never covered.

• What do you do if there is an allegation?