Child, Youth AND Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
Child, Youth & Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy Rationale
For years now, the news cycle has been filled with stories of children abused by people who were supposed to be nurturing them and helping them to grow in the faith. Abuse in churches - by clergy, other church staff and volunteers - has ruined lives, damaged the relationships of children and adults with the God who loves them, and set up tremendous obstacles to the mission and ministry of Jesus’s church. This is true of all denominations. Our Savior’s has prepared and wants to adopt a Child, Youth & Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy in order to prevent abuse occurring in any part of our congregation’s ministry.
Our Protection Policy is based on materials provided by the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA and has been reviewed by two legal professionals who are members of our congregation. It will seek to prevent abuse by:
1. Training adults and youth who work with children, youth and/or adults who are particularly vulnerable to abuse or exploitation in appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Staff will lead two training events each year. Volunteers who cannot attend the group training can check out a training DVD to ;
2. Creating safe settings for adults and youth to work with our children, youth and vulnerable adults. For example, Sunday School Shepherds work in teams with Sunday School teachers and staff and volunteer chaperones work together at overnight or off-site events.
3. Requesting background checks for those volunteers and members of our staff whose work with children, youth and/or vulnerable adults puts them in positions where there is increased risk that abuse might occur. Background checks have become relatively affordable (about $10 for a check appropriate for our needs) and we do not need to perform many of them. Some years, we will not need to request any checks; other years we may need as many as 15, but the average yearly cost is not great when compared to the dangers we avoid if we prevent even one instance of abuse.
4. Setting up a clear policy and procedure for when and how to report abuse or suspicion of abuse.
Our Protection Policy does not mean that we distrust our staff or volunteers. Rather, it reflects our belief that the safety and healthy development of our children, youth and vulnerable adults is vitally important to how we share in Jesus’s mission in the world. We also believe that having a policy like this in place will equip our staff and volunteers to be better servants of children, youth and vulnerable adults and will protect them from situations that put them at risk of a misunderstanding or false accusation. Very few volunteers will require background checks and we will protect the privacy of those who do require them by storing safely or destroying documents containing personal information.
For years now, the news cycle has been filled with stories of children abused by people who were supposed to be nurturing them and helping them to grow in the faith. Abuse in churches - by clergy, other church staff and volunteers - has ruined lives, damaged the relationships of children and adults with the God who loves them, and set up tremendous obstacles to the mission and ministry of Jesus’s church. This is true of all denominations. Our Savior’s has prepared and wants to adopt a Child, Youth & Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy in order to prevent abuse occurring in any part of our congregation’s ministry.
Our Protection Policy is based on materials provided by the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA and has been reviewed by two legal professionals who are members of our congregation. It will seek to prevent abuse by:
1. Training adults and youth who work with children, youth and/or adults who are particularly vulnerable to abuse or exploitation in appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Staff will lead two training events each year. Volunteers who cannot attend the group training can check out a training DVD to ;
2. Creating safe settings for adults and youth to work with our children, youth and vulnerable adults. For example, Sunday School Shepherds work in teams with Sunday School teachers and staff and volunteer chaperones work together at overnight or off-site events.
3. Requesting background checks for those volunteers and members of our staff whose work with children, youth and/or vulnerable adults puts them in positions where there is increased risk that abuse might occur. Background checks have become relatively affordable (about $10 for a check appropriate for our needs) and we do not need to perform many of them. Some years, we will not need to request any checks; other years we may need as many as 15, but the average yearly cost is not great when compared to the dangers we avoid if we prevent even one instance of abuse.
4. Setting up a clear policy and procedure for when and how to report abuse or suspicion of abuse.
Our Protection Policy does not mean that we distrust our staff or volunteers. Rather, it reflects our belief that the safety and healthy development of our children, youth and vulnerable adults is vitally important to how we share in Jesus’s mission in the world. We also believe that having a policy like this in place will equip our staff and volunteers to be better servants of children, youth and vulnerable adults and will protect them from situations that put them at risk of a misunderstanding or false accusation. Very few volunteers will require background checks and we will protect the privacy of those who do require them by storing safely or destroying documents containing personal information.
| oslc_child_youth_and_vulnerable_adult_protection_policy.draft.pdf |
| counseling_suicide_social_media.pdf |
| types_of_abuse.pdf |
| undesireable_behaviors.pdf |
| 2019_volunteer_authorization_form.pdf |