Child Abuse Prevention Policy - Cabot United Methodist Church

Cabot United Methodist Church seeks to protect our children from immoral or criminal conduct within the church by exercising care in accepting volunteer workers who will be in contact with them. Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the children in our care. The need for adequate help in children's programs cannot outweigh our responsibility to screen workers.

1. All employees who desire to work with children on a regular basis must complete a worker application, provide three written references (which will be checked), and receive their PA Child Abuse History Clearance through the PA Department of Public Welfare and a Criminal Record Check through the PA State Police (Act 33/34 clearances) before they will be permitted to work in an area that involves direct contact and interaction with children. Cabot United Methodist Church will pay for all fees regarding these clearances but only for applicants who are hired as employees of the church. An applicant awaiting a criminal record check and child abuse history clearance process is permitted to work while supervised by a cleared adult, provided follow-up phone calls of personal references are completed. All paid staff members, regardless of their position, must receive these two clearances as a condition of their employment. These two clearances must be renewed every five years.
2. All adult volunteers who desire to work with children on a regular basis must receive their PA Child Abuse History Clearance through the PA State Police (Act 33/34 clearances) before they will be permitted to work in an area that involves direct contact and interaction with children. They also must provide written references upon request. The church will pay for the cost of both clearances.
3. If any applicant for employment or volunteer holds a current Act 33 and/or Act 34 clearance, that clearance shall be accepted.
4. A minimum of three references must be returned by the applicant. The pastor or screener will review and contact the references. They will then be placed in a confidential locking file.
5. Any individual who is found to have a prior conviction for any form of child abuse will not be permitted to work in any area that involves direct contact with children. Such an individual will meet with the pastor to determine how he/she can be involved in other areas of the church.
6. The pastor or Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) will have the right to reject an applicant if legitimate concerns are raised about their history or suitability to work with children. Such individuals may be encouraged to serve in a different area. The pastor will discuss the matter with applicant.
7. Anyone under 18 years of age working with children will be required to fill out a youth volunteer application and obtain written permission from their parents or guardian.
8. Cabot United Methodist Church will not allow anyone who has been found guilty of child abuse in the past to serve in a position that involves access to children.

Even though reasonable care was used in selecting volunteer workers, churches may still be liable for injuries sustained due to negligent supervision. The church must reduce the chances of sexual abuse or false accusations by monitoring the activities of volunteer workers and providing guidelines for behavior. Once again, our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the children in our care.

1. Each classroom, activity area, or office used for children should have a window with unobstructed viewing. In rooms without windows, the door must be left open far enough that activities can be seen.
2. During any "outside of classroom" activity, on or off church property, which involves children, a two adult rule should be followed, if practical. That means two unrelated adults should be present (by definition, "related adults" are a married couple so "unrelated adults" includes any individuals not married to each other).
3. Supervision of children will be maintained before and after activities until all are in the custody of their parents/guardians or designated adult. Parents or designated adults are required to pick up children at their Sunday school classrooms for children up through the elementary Sunday school class. Teachers will not leave their classroom until children are with their parents or designated adult.
4. Anyone under 18 years old who desires to work as a volunteer will be required to complete a Volunteer Application Form.
5. In the event that the adult in charge of a children's area or class, etc. is absent, the pastor shall serve as the supervisor for anyone working that area.

Cabot United Methodist Church must understand the potential danger of child abuse. It is necessary that we educate our workers about this issue and the prevention policy. Each worker shall be informed of what is expected of him/her by the church and what is required by law. Effective education provides the foundation for an effective program.

1. Church leaders (all members of the Church Council) will be informed about the issue of preventing child abuse in the church, our legal liability, and how to handle allegations. The pastor and SPRC will be responsible for such briefing.
2. All paid staff and workers will be required to attend a training session outlined above. This training session will be required at the time of employment and annually thereafter. Training shall consist of the review of this policy and how to recognize signs of abuse. All employees and workers shall sign-off on a document acknowledging they have attended the training and agree to abide by the dictates of this policy. The pastor and SPRC will be responsible for such training.
3. Child abuse, generally defined, can take on several forms including, but not limited to physical abuse - deliberately and intentionally inflicting bodily harm; emotional abuse - exposure to spoken and/or unspoken violence or emotional cruelty; neglect - endangering a child's health, safety, or welfare through negligence; sexual abuse - any sexual contact between the child and an adult or older and more powerful youth, including fondling, intercourse, or exposure to pornography; and ritual abuse - physical, sexual, or psychological violence inflicted on a child regularly, intentionally, and in a stylized way by a person responsible for the child's welfare (Melton, Safe Sanctuaries; 12-13). These present examples of abuse only and should not be understood to include all possible types and examples of possible abuse.

Child abuse thrives when it goes unnoticed and unreported. A reporting procedure enhances our efforts to protect our children and youth. Ordinarily, child molesters will not remain in a church where workers can identify abuse symptoms and are encouraged to report suspicious behavior. The Child Protective Services Law, Title 23 PA, Chapter 63, Sec. 6311 specifically includes "a member of the clergy" in the list of persons required to report child abuse. Sec. 6312 also states "in addition to those persons and officials required to report suspected child abuse, any person may make such a report if that person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused child". Sec. 6319 states that "a person or official required by this chapter to report a case of suspected child abuse who willfully fails to do so commits a summary offense for the first violation and a misdemeanor of the third degree for the second and subsequent violation".

1. If a worker has reason to suspect a child has been abused (whether inside or outside church programs), he/she must report those suspicions to the pastor. It is the right of that worker to also report directly to the PA Childline and Abuse Registry at 1-800-932-0313.
2. Once a report is made to the pastor, it is ultimately his responsibility to take action. If there is any doubt as to whether to report to state authorities, our local office of children and Youth may be contacted at 724-284-5156. Simply ask to speak to an intake worker. ONE NOTE OF CAUTION: IF THE CALLER IS IN NEED OF ADVICE ONLY, HE/SHE MAY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES BUT SHOULD NOT INDENTIFY THE CHILD OR SUSPECT AT THAT POINT. ONCE EITHER NAME IS GIVEN, THE WORKER IS REQUIRED TO INVESTIGATE.
3. In addition to reporting suspicions to the PA Childline, a report will also be made to the Butler County Sheriff's Department, or the appropriate police jurisdiction (where the alleged abuse took place).
4. Documentation of all actions taken by volunteers and paid staff is required and will be kept indefinitely in a confidential locking file accessible only to the pastor.

An accuser of abuse may occur in any church. Wrong reactions can multiply the pain and liability inherent in an abuse case. Our congregation and community will know that Cabot United Methodist Church takes all allegations seriously and will handle them forthrightly with due respect for people's privacy and confidentiality.

In addition to the Reporting steps 1 through 4 above, additional steps must be taken (not necessarily in this order) if the suspect is a church worker.

1. The pastor and/or SPRC chairperson will notify the parents/guardian if they are not already aware of the allegation.
2. The accused will be treated with dignity. However, the worker will be temporarily removed from his/her position by the pastor until an investigation is completed. The church will refrain from judging the individual as guilty or innocent and will continue to offer support and care while the investigation is ongoing. This applies to any allegation of abuse within or outside of Cabot United Methodist Church.
3. The incident will be reported to our attorney, insurance company, denominational officials, the SPRC chairperson, and the alleged victim's parents/guardians. Whether the alleged victim's notification is in person or not, the parents will be given a written notification of the allegation of abuse.
4. Pastoral resources and support for the victim, the accused, and the families of each will be provided. The care and safety of the child/youth is our first priority.
5. Information regarding allegations and accusations is extremely sensitive material and must remain confidential. Therefore, this information will be shared only with those affected or involved in the incident (see #3 above). All information will be typed and maintained by the pastor. All inquiries by media or others will be referred to the Resident Bishop's office at the Conference Center (1-800-886-3382) using the following statement, "I have no comment, as our church and Annual Conference policy is to refer all inquiries on matters such as this to our Bishop for his/her comment and/or action, at his/her discretion."

Establishing who is responsible for carrying out certain parts of the policy will help to ensure its effectiveness. Also, an annual review of the policy will tell what works, what does not work, and what should be changed.

1. Responsibility for the implementation of the Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy will belong to the Staff-Parish Relations Committee.
2. It will be the responsibility of the pastor and/or their designated screener to screen applicants and to examine references.
3. Only the pastor will have access to the confidential locking file where information is kept.
4. This policy will be evaluated annually to amend or supplement the policy as needed.
5. Ultimate responsibility for the enforcement of this policy rests with the pastor.