1. * Training Slides* Effective: September 2016
CHILD AND YOUTH SAFE MINISTRY PROGRAM for Faith Lutheran Church of Andover, Inc.
* Training Slides*
Effective: September 2016

2. “SAFE MINISTRY”- WHAT IS IT?
A Child and Youth Abuse Prevention Program built around an existing policy already used by other churches for the ultimate protection of children in church-sponsored events / programs.
Provides a framework for background checks to be conducted on church employees and volunteers alike (every 2 years) -- and approve those individuals in advance of any activity relating to minors.
Sets ground-rules on who is authorized to be around children in church-sponsored events / programs
Establishes a proper code of conduct in that environment.
A Safe Ministry policy has been in effect at Faith since June 2012– so far, so good!
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

3. PURPOSE OF SAFE MINISTRY
To proactively reduce the risk of child sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and economic exploitation in order to:
Provide a safe and secure environment for children, youth, adults, members, volunteers, visitors, and paid staff.
Assist FLC in evaluating a person's suitability to supervise, oversee, and/or exert control over the activities of children and youth.
Satisfy the concerns of parents and staff members with a screening process for paid staff and volunteers.
Provide a system to respond to alleged victims of abuse and their families, as well as the alleged perpetrator.
Reduce the possibility of false accusations of abuse made against volunteers and paid staff.
SUMMARY: If we can protect just one kid… it’s worth it!
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

4. Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church
TYPES OF ABUSE
For purposes of this training, “abuse” is as described below, or as otherwise defined by applicable law.
Physical abuse is a non-accidental act which causes or creates a substantial risk of causing physical injury to a Child or Youth.
Sexual abuse perpetrated by an Adult is any contact or activity of a sexual nature that occurs between a Child or Youth and an Adult.
Sexual abuse perpetrated by another Child or Youth is any contact or activity of a sexual nature that occurs between a Child or Youth and another Child or Youth when there is no consent, when consent is not possible, or when one Child or Youth has power over the other Child or Youth.
Emotional abuse is a non-accidental act (verbal or non-verbal) which causes or creates a substantial risk of causing emotional injury to a Child or Youth.
Neglect is the failure to provide for a Child or Youth's basic needs or the failure to protect a Child or Youth from harm.
Economic exploitation is the deliberate misplacement, exploitation, or wrongful temporary or permanent use of a Child’s or Youth's belongings or money
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

5. Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church
DEFINITIONS (1 of 2)
Paid Staff: Any pastor, minister, preacher, cleric, or Adult employee who is paid by Faith Lutheran Church. Youth who perform church tasks for pay, such as the nursery, yard work or other services, are not included in this definition unless/until they have reached adulthood.
Children/Child/Youth/Minor: Any person who has not reached his/her 18th birthday or the age of majority as defined by state law.
Adult: Any person who has reached his/her 18th birthday or as defined by state law.
Volunteer: Any unpaid Adult engaged in or involved in activities and who is entrusted with the care and supervision of minors, or who directly oversees and/or exerts control or oversight over minors or Adults and has substantial contact with minors. This also includes Minors who reach their 18th birthday while still participating in Youth Programs.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

6. Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church
DEFINITIONS (2 of 2)
Chaperoned or Volunteer-Led Event: A Church-sponsored event/program having formal designated Volunteers/chaperones who have undergone a Background Check and with the understanding that these Volunteers/chaperones (along with possibly other Paid Staff) will be the Adults responsible for providing supervision at the event.
Parent Participation Event: A Church-sponsored event in which parents (and other relatives or friends-of-the family and other members of the Church or the public) are broadly invited to attend -- potentially including some who may NOT have undergone a Background Check.
Background Check: Reference checks, criminal records checks, sex offender registry checks, driving or motor vehicle reference checks, and/or any other background checks as judged necessary or appropriate by the Safe Church DECISION Team.
Trips or Off-site Events – Any Church-sponsored event not held on the physical property of Faith Lutheran Church.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

7. SAFE CHURCH DECISION TEAM
A three-person team consisting of the Senior Pastor, the Church Council President and the Church Council Vice President. NOTE: While the Senior Pastor is the key focal point, note that the other positions are elected positions -- and change annually
These are the only church officials who will have access to CONFIDENTIAL BACKGROUND CHECK results and will make the ultimate final decisions on who can and cannot interact w/ children at church-sponsored events.
The Safe Church MAINTENANCE team, Youth Director, Associate Pastor, Sunday School Directors and others (as needed) will be provided a list of approved volunteers to work with.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

8. SAFE CHURCH MAINTENANCE TEAM
A two-person volunteer team consisting of the Church Council Christian Education liaison and one other volunteer.
This team will handle administrative responsibilities in tracking and maintaining the necessary filing of Background check and training data on staff and volunteers.
This team will NOT have access to the CONFIDENTIAL results of the Background checks -- only the details of who has been checked and/or who needs to be checked per the defined schedule.
This team will also ensure adequate and up-to-date supplies of the policy document, consent forms and training slides are available, both in print form and on the Faith Lutheran website.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

9. BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES (1 of 2)
Please refer to policy document for more information, as well as specific examples of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors with children or youth in a ministry setting:
Do NOT provide alcoholic beverages, tobacco, drugs, contraband (anything that is prohibited by law to minors).
To the extent possible, FLC events that are co-educational will have both male and female chaperones.
At NO time should an Adult Paid Staff member or Volunteer have contact with a minor alone in a room with a closed “windowless” door. When talking to a minor or conducting a class, there should be a minimum of two minors present at all times. Only with two minors present can an Adult close the “windowless” door for the remainder of the class or meeting.
Avoid all inappropriate touching with minors.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

10. BEHAVIORAL GUIDELINES (2 of 2)
Never engage in physical discipline of a minor. Volunteers and Paid Staff shall not abuse minors in any way, including but not limited to physical abuse, verbal/mental abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse of any kind.
If you recognize an inappropriate relationship developing between a minor and Adult, promptly report the concerns to an uninvolved Program or Pastoral Staff member.
When one‑on‑one pastoral care of a minor is necessary, avoid meeting in isolated environments.
Anyone who observes abuse of a minor will take appropriate steps to immediately intervene and provide assistance. Promptly report any inappropriate conduct to the proper authorities and officials of Faith Lutheran as outlined in the Reporting guidelines of this policy.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

11. Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church
REPORTING (1 of 2)
All accusations of abuse will be taken seriously. It is important to be appropriately respectful to the needs and feelings of those who allege abuse and those who have been accused of abuse. 1. Ensure that the child is in a safe environment, and in case of a medical emergency, immediately call Immediately report the known or suspected abuse to appropriate authorities in accordance with the state mandatory reporting laws, and may make such a report even if it is not required. 3. Immediately report the suspected or known abuse to any member of the Safe Church DECISION Team who is not the alleged offender and consult the Team about the guidelines and the procedures to be followed. 4. The Team or appointed person(s) will promptly report the matter to Faith Lutheran’s insurance carrier and attorney, if appropriate. 5. The Team or appointed person(s) may contact the Child’s family as appropriate.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

12. Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church
REPORTING (2 of 2)
6. The Team, appointed person(s), and the Paid Staff member or Volunteer will fully cooperate with authorities, the insurance carrier and the church attorney, and will coordinate any Church investigation of the matter with authorities as appropriate. 7. If the alleged offender is a Paid Staff member, Faith Lutheran may suspend (with pay) the alleged offender while an investigation is being conducted. 8. If the alleged offender is a Volunteer, Faith Lutheran may suspend the alleged offender from any Volunteer duties while an investigation is being conducted. 9. The Team or appointed person(s) will meet periodically with members of the Church Council of Faith Lutheran as appropriate to inform them of the allegations, the status and results of their review and the investigation, and recommendations of actions. 10. The names of the child, the alleged offender, and the Paid Staff member or Volunteer making the report shall be held confidential as much as possible except as reasonably necessary to protect other Children and except that if a Paid Staff member is the alleged offender, the Church Council shall be informed of his/her identity.
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church

13. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!!!
SUMMARY
Thank you for being such an important volunteer at FLC!
We have a framework in place that seeks to protect our kids while also protecting FLC paid staff and volunteers by providing guidance on appropriate behavior
Please
Read the policy completely…ask questions
Sign the consent form that says you understand the policy…will abide by the policy…and consent to a quick background check
Turn in the consent form / personal info sheet – it will go immediately to the DECISION Team where it will be kept under lock and key. Background check is an online process that takes only minutes.
RESULTS are also confidential – you will only be contacted if there is an issue
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!!!
Effective: 9/2016
Child and Youth Safe Ministry Program for Faith Lutheran Church