To prevent physical or emotional abuse, staff and serve team members are to use positive interactions when working with children and youth. If a staff member or serve team member is having difficulty with a child, they should contact their supervisor or pastoral overseer for assistance.
The following discipline/control methods may not be used: Actions which inflict pain, such as spanking, slapping, pinching, shaking, hair-pulling or hitting Personal or emotional attacks, such as name-calling, humiliation, ridicule or insults
Children must be under the supervision of two or more adults at all times. Children may never leave a room, field trip, bus, etc. by themselves. There should always be two adults with classes, groups, teams, etc.
In classroom settings, there can be one adult with a helper in the classroom--when there is an adult supervisor monitoring the area. All classrooms must have uncovered windows on the doors. Children may not be in the room alone with the adult nor may they leave the room, take part in a field trip, ride a bus or participate in any activities by themselves or with the single adult.
For younger children, who need assistance with the bathrooms, female serve team members and staff only may take boys or girls to the bathroom. Female adults may assist younger children with hygienic needs-washing hands, cleaning faces, wiping bottoms, etc. if help is needed only with another adult or junior helper (over the age of 12) present. Males are not to assist any child in the restrooms.
At no time may an employee or serve team member be alone with children or youth (with the exception of the above classroom rule). This includes travel and transportation—two adults must be in the car, van or bus. All conversation, mentoring, tutoring and instruction must take place in a public setting where two or more adults are within view. Adults may not be alone with children or youth in any location that is not in full public view—including the home of the adult, youth or child; secluded office or classroom locations; bathrooms or workrooms; secluded parks, trails or recreation areas; and any other areas not in public view.
The only exception to the "two adult" rule is that you may transport youth to and from church when two or more youth (ages 12 and older) are in the car together. There must be two youth present at all times.
The only exception to the "two adult" rule is that you may transport youth to and from church when two or more youth (ages 12 and older) are in the car together. There must be two youth present at all times.
Staff and serve team members may not invite children, youth or mentally/physically challenged adults to visit or stay alone with them in their home overnight or for extended periods of time Staff and serve team members may not hand out their personal email address or phone number to minors for anything other than an express ministry purpose. No staff or serve team member may contact a child by email or phone without the permission and knowledge of the parent. Reminder phone calls to minors for an event may be made from the church building or from an observable location.
Washington State law requires the mandatory reporting of all suspected child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services within 24 hours. In our desire to protect and serve children, Church For All Nations fully supports and cooperates with this mandatory reporting requirement. Church For All Nations and its staff and serve team members are not required to investigate or prove abuse; however, they are required to report all suspicions of abuse.
“Child abuse or neglect" means the physical or emotional injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or mistreatment of a child or vulnerable adult by any person. If serve team members or employees see indications of suspected abuse, they are required to report to their pastoral overseer or an Elder immediately. Indicators may include the following:
Unusual or frequent bruises or cuts, welts, fractures, burns, internal injuries, injuries to genital or anal areas, injuries that are not consistent with the child's explanation, injuries inconsistent with the child's age and developmental phase, presence of multiple injuries in various stages of healing, age inappropriate sexually explicit conversations, drawings and/or descriptions, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge or interest in sexual activity, comments from the child indicating physical or sexual harm.
The presence of any of the above indications may be just a simple childhood issue, injury, or an accident, but even suspected abuse must be reported to your supervisor. This information should be considered sensitive and extremely confidential. Do not discuss your observations with other teachers, the child, or the parents. In all situations, the person bringing a report of suspected child abuse should be assured that Church For All Nations takes these allegations very seriously and is grateful that the person making the report had the courage to speak out.
If the pastoral overseer is not available, the serve team member is to inform another pastoral staff member. If the serve team member or staff member is uncomfortable reporting suspicions to the staff member responsible for the program, they may also report to another pastoral staff member.
The pastoral staff member who receives the report is responsible for reporting the facts and the condition of the child. This will be done as soon as possible and within 24 hours of receipt of the report. The staff member should complete the Abuse Suspect Report Form and submit a copy to Elder Karl Zetterberg for the Council of Elders, as soon as possible and within 24 hours of receiving the initial facts.
Staff and serve team members should review any observed or alleged child abuse incidents with the responsible full-time staff before going directly to Child Protective Services. If there is an emergency situation, however, the law protects from liability those who report in good faith what is believed to be an incident of child abuse. In the case of an emergency, staff or serve team members should proceed to protect the child and call the appropriate authorities, including CPS (1-800-422-7517—24-Hour Access Number).
In the event of suspected child abuse, staff and serve team members should not attempt to investigate the situation or interview the possible victim. In-depth questioning of suspected victims of child abuse can hinder the legal process and may be considered interference with the child's testimony.
As Christians, we can keep each other accountable. If you see another employee or serve team member engaging in inappropriate behavior or violating the policies in these guidelines, you should discreetly discuss your concern with the pastoral overseer or an Elder. We do not want to create a climate of mistrust and suspicion, but the safety of our children is of utmost importance.
I, a serve team member of Church For All Nations, hereby acknowledge that I have read and fully understand the Church For All Nations Child Abuse Prevention Policy. I agree to abide by the guidelines and policy statements. I further agree that I will not act in a manner at variance with these guidelines and policy statements unless clearly authorized in writing by a superior. If at any time I am uncertain as to the application of any policy statement to a particular situation, I will seek advice from a superior before taking action
