Volunteer serving and children All Church Members, employees, and volunteers Guidelines for interacting with youth or children…………9 Safe Numbers Safe Environment Safe Ages Safe Transportation When abuse is suspected………………………………….11 Mandatory reporting requirements in Illinois Warning signs of abuse How to react if a child tells us s/he is being abused What to do if a child tells us s/he is being abused Toll-Free Child Abuse Reporting Numbers Allegations of abuse involving a staff member………….14 Discovery and reporting Support Legal Issues Insurance Issues Appendices………………………………………………15 Appendix A Employee Disclosure Form and Authorization for Background Check Appendix B Volunteer Application Form Appendix C Volunteers’ Authorization for Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) check Appendix D Acceptance of Safe Child Policy Form by Employees and Volunteers Appendix E Report of Suspected Incident of Child Abuse / Follow-up by Pastor or Moderator General Information on Abuse What is a child? “Child” means any person under the age of 18 years, unless legally emancipated, according to law. A “youth” is a child who is in junior high school or high school. What is are four main types of abuse perpetrated on children: Physical - Using physical force that results in physical pain or injury. Neglect - Failure to meet basic essential needs of a child. Emotional abuse – Verbal assaults, humiliation, threats, harassment, intimidation, or other abusive behavior. Sexual abuse - Sexual molestation or exploitation. Definition of sexual and physical abuse in Illinois
First Congregational has set the following guidelines to foster safe interactions while working with youth or children: Safe Numbers All volunteers and full-time employees will strive at all times to observe the “two adult or two children“ rule when meeting with youth. The two adults will preferably be unrelated and unmarried/unpartnered. If an adult is teaching or supervising a group of youth alone, he or she will adhere to the rules outlined in this document. Adults should avoid one-on-one meetings with youth in private. Safe Environment At church Doors will remain open when meeting with a child or youth, regardless of either party’s gender. If the door to be closed for privacy reasons, the meetings must be held in rooms with a window so that parties in the room are visible from the outside. Meetings outside church Meetings held outside church-for example, of a mentor and confirmand- will be in a public rather than one-on-one in the mentor’s home unless prior parental/guardian approval is given, preferably in writing. Parents will always be aware of meetings and will have given prior approval, preferably in writing. Overnights Will have at least two adult chaperones (at least one male and one female). Will have separate sleeping accommodations for male and female youth. In cases where there is only 1 large room available, males will be supervised in an area by male chaperones and females in another section by female chaperones. Will have private changing/bathroom facilities for youth Parents will give prior approval in writing. At no time will sleeping accommodations include only one adult and only one youth sleeping in the same room. Safe Ages All volunteers will be over the age of 16, or work the supervision of an adult over the age of 18. We follow the “five years older” rule. Any leader or volunteer working with youth should be at least five years older than the oldest youth in the group. The use of older youth volunteers will occur only when there is adult supervision. Safe Transportation