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GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE


PLEASANT VIEW MENNONITE CHURCH




Adopted by the Pleasant View Mennonite Church Council
March 21, 2006
Effective September 1, 2006








PURPOSE

It is the purpose of the members and staff of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church to provide a safe and secure environment for preschoolers, children, youth and mentally handicapped persons entrusted to our care. We do this to encourage these persons and their families to grow in their relationship with God and one another.

A safe and secure environment includes a formal, written policy to help prevent the occurrence of child abuse. The following policy and procedures are for the protection of our preschoolers, children, youth, mentally handicapped, employees, volunteers and our entire church family at the Pleasant View Mennonite Church.
SCOPE

This policy shall apply to all current and future workers, compensated and or volunteer, who will have the responsibility of supervising the activities of preschoolers, children, youth, and mentally handicapped persons.
DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this policy the following definitions shall apply:

1.       ``Preschooler,'' ``child,'' ``children,'' ``youth,'' and ``minor'' shall be defined as any individual under the age of eighteen (18) or whose mental capacity is that of a minor.
2.       ``Adult'' shall be defined as any individual at least eighteen (18) years of age.
3.       ``Worker'' shall be defined as any adult who serves as a volunteer and/or paid person given the responsibility of working with or caring for minors.
4.       ``Teenage Worker'' shall be defined as any worker at least thirteen (13) years old or older, but under the age of eighteen (18) enlisted to assist with the care of minors.
5.       ``Child Abuse'' shall be defined as verbal, physical, emotional abuse of a preschooler, child, youth, or minor.
6.       ``Criminal Background Check'' (CBC) is the procedure used by the Pleasant View Mennonite Church to check the background of adult volunteers and or employees for criminal activity.
7.       High-risk situation shall be defined as when these three risk factors are present: Isolation, Lack of accountability and an unbalance of power and control.





WHAT IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE?

Any sexual activity with a child in any setting, by any person known or unknown to the child. The abuser may be an adult, an adolescent, or another child.

Child sexual abuse may be violent or non-violent. All child sexual abuse is an exploitation of a child's vulnerability and powerlessness in which the abuser is fully responsible for the action.

Child sexual abuse is criminal behavior that involves children in sexual behaviors for which they are not personally, socially, and developmentally ready.

Child sexual abuse includes behaviors that involve touching and non-touching aspects.
WORKER ENLISTMENT

1.       All paid employees of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church will be required to complete an Employee/Volunteer Application.
2.       Each adult or teenage volunteer desiring to work with minors, will also be required to complete the appropriate application form which is specifically designed for workers who will be working with minors. Those who volunteer occasionally must also go through the screening and training process.
3.       After an application is received, prior employment/ volunteer service and personal references will be checked. It is suggested that, at a minimum, personal references be telephoned and a written memorandum be made of the contents of those telephone conversations, and that prior employment and church service references be contacted.

4.       Any prospective worker that has prior incidents of sexual misconduct or child abuse should not be allowed to serve in any capacity where they would have contact with minors



5.       Criminal background checks may be performed on each application after the applicant has signed the waiver, and prior to being enlisted as a worker. Criminal background checks may be performed on workers, randomly or as deemed necessary. Only qualified representatives of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church will have access to the criminal background check report. The Pleasant View Mennonite Church Council will appoint qualified representatives.
6.       A separate personnel file will be maintained permanently on each worker, whether paid or a volunteer. These files shall remain confidential in a secure location.
7.       No volunteer will be allowed to work with minors until they have been a member of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church for a minimum of six (6) months, or a regular attendee for a minimum of six (6) months, or they can show documentation of compliance within their home congregation..
8.       At the applicant's request, Pleasant View Mennonite Church shall allow the applicant to review his/her criminal history record transcript at the church, but in no event shall the church allow the applicant to retain and /or copy his /her transcript.
9.       The church shall immediately notify the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) if an applicant dispute is filed by an applicant because of incorrect information or other reasons related to criminal histories provided by the agency. The church shall submit in a reasonable time period the ``Criminal History Record Resolution Request'' or similar document to the agency.
10.      Whether disclosed voluntarily or by result of the security background check, the following items may disqualify an applicant from filling a leadership, sponsorship or supervisory role in any activities or programs with minors. All charges for these crimes or charges or convictions for any other crimes not listed below will be reviewed by those qualified representatives and professional council as deemed necessary.









Ø         Criminal homicide;
 Ø         Aggravated assault;
 Ø         Crimes related to the possession, use or sale of drugs or controlled substances;
 Ø         Sexual abuse;
 Ø         Sexual assault (rape);
 Ø         Aggravated sexual assault;
 Ø         Injury to a child;
 Ø         Incest;
 Ø         Indecency with a child;
 Ø         Inducing sexual conduct or sexual performance of a child;
 Ø         Possession or promotion of child pornography;
 Ø         The sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor;
 Ø         Employment harmful to children;
 Ø         Abandonment or endangerment of a child;
 Ø         Kidnapping or unlawful restraint;
 Ø         Public lewdness or indecent exposure;
 Ø         Enticing a child.




WORKER TRAINING
Each     new worker will be given the legal definition of child abuse in writing, as well as the policy of the church on reporting of child abuse. New workers will also be required to view child abuse prevention video(s) and read the written materials available on this subject to help them gain an appreciation for the reality of the concern. This will help workers identify child abuse in the future if they see signs of it.

Each worker will be required to attend a refresher course every year. Teenagers or those who volunteer occasionally must also go through the screening and training process.









SUPERVISION OF WORKERS & VOLUNTEERS

 1.       The church will adopt the ``two adult'' rule, which means no adult shall be left alone with a child and requires a reasonable ratio of adult workers to children,
 2.       Workers need to be aware of who drops the children off. Children will be expected to leave with the same adults that they arrived with unless prior arrangements have been made with those in charge.
 3.       Parental permission shall be obtained in advance for involvement in church sponsored programs, activities counseling sessions, or whenever an adult might be spending time alone with a child in an unsupervised situation or the two adult rule shall apply.
 4.       A door without windows shall remain open at all times.


SPECIFIC ACTS AND OMISSIONS IN
VIOLATION OF THE POLICY

The following acts of omissions are violations of this Policy and will not be tolerated or accepted during any activity or program and are to be immediately reported to the designated program staff after the safety of the child, children, youth, or minor involved has been assured.

 ü         Any direct observations or evidence of sexual activity in the presence of or in association with a minor.
 ü         Any display or demonstration of sexual activity, abuse, insinuation of abuse, or evidence of abusive conduct towards a minor.
 ü         Sexual advances or sexual activity of any kind between any person and a minor.
 ü         Infliction or physically abusive behavior or bodily injury to a minor.
 ü         Physical neglect of a minor, including failure to provide adequate supervision in relation to the activities of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church.
 ü         Mental or emotional injury to a minor.
 ü         The presence or possession of obscene or pornographic materials at any function of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church.
 ü         The presence, possession, or being under the influence of any illegal or illicit drugs.
 ü         The consumption of or being under the influence of alcohol, illegal or illicit drugs while leading or participating in a function for minors at the Pleasant View Mennonite Church.


REPORTING ABUSE

Any person having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect shall report that concern using the following procedure.

If a sponsor, a volunteer, or a paid employee of minors suspects a case of child abuse, he or she must report his/her suspicions within 24 hours to the Department of Human Services (DHS). It is the policy of the Pleasant View Mennonite Church that it also be reported immediately to the paid staff minister(s) of the church. No suspicions will be treated as frivolous.


The volunteer or employee who observes or suspects child abuse is responsible to:

1.       Assure the safety of the victim. If an emergency situation exists, call the Henry County Sheriff at 319-385-2712 or 911.
2.       Notify the child's parents (if the parents are not suspected to be involved).
3.       Call DHS 319-986-5157.
4.       Call Pastor John Zimmerman Church office: 319-385-8562 Home: 319-385-3667

Volunteers and employees of Pleasant View Mennonite Church are expected to:

A.       Maintain confidentiality of the investigation as much as possible. Emphasize confidentiality of the victim and any accused.
B.       Cooperate fully with law enforcement officials and DHS.
C.       Do not treat any suspicion as frivolous.

The Pleasant View Mennonite Church Council appointed designee will be responsible to:

1.       Assist in filing the necessary reports with the law enforcement personnel and/or DHS.
2.       Contact the church's insurance company.
3.       Contact the church's attorney.
4.       Promptly take steps to plan for a response to the media and attempt to speak to the media only through one contact person so that the church can emphasize through the media to the public the church's position on child abuse, its concern for the victim, and the extensive steps the church is taking to address the present occurrence and to reduce the risk and provide a safe environment for other children.
5.       Suspend any accused from the performance of duties involving children until the investigation has been completed.
6.       Inform the victim and the victim's family of the steps that are being taken, and continue to keep them advised of the status of the investigations. If child abuse is confirmed, ask the victim and the victim's family what action they would like to take in the matter, and fully cooperate to address their request within the bounds of a legal and prudent response (church attorney should assist in this determination).
7.       In instances where child abuse is confirmed, the church should immediately dismiss the worker from that position. In instances where the evidence is inconclusive, the church must take action depending on the strength of the evidence available and after consideration of the victim's family's request.
8.       Keep the congregation informed of the investigation with respect to matters which are not confidential, so that the congregation will hear about the investigation from within the church rather than from the news media.
CONCLUSION

Pleasant View Mennonite Church desires to be ``a church that cares''. We believe it is better to develop policies as a means of prevention. Adoption of these provisions enables Pleasant View Mennonite Church to provide a safe and secure environment for each individual of our church family and its guests.

Fri, 6 Oct 2006 15:31:58 GMT