Trinity United Methodist Church 237 N. Water St. Idaho Falls, ID 83402, office@tumcif.org, 208-522-7921mailto:office@tumcif.orgshapeimage_1_link_0
 
Safe Sanctuary Training - May 2008 • Purpose and Objectives •TUMC Abuse Prevention Policy     –Introduction     –Purpose and Scope     –Definitions     –Screening Procedure     –Supervision     –Reporting and Response     –Training     –Policy Review     –Forms     –Conclusions • Questions and Answers • The purpose of the TUMC Abuse Prevention Policy is three fold:     –Protect the children, youth, and vulnerable adults     –Protect the adult leaders     –Protect TUMC from the liability of abuse TUMC Abuse Prevention Policy • 1.0 Introduction     –States the overall policy of TUMC members     –Protect children, youth and vulnerable adults from abuse     –Provides a secure and safe environment • 2.0 Purpose & Scope –General Conference of the United Methodist Church adopted a             resolution (Resolution 65)
 –Aimed at reducing the risk of abuse of children, youth and vulnerable adults in the church.
 –Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference established minimum standards for abuse prevention
 • 3.0 Definitions –Defines key terms used in the Policy     • Abuse     • Active Participation     • Activities     • Adult     • Child     • Youth     • Person-in-Charge (PIC)     • Volunteer     • Etc. •4.0 Screening Procedures –All staff or volunteer persons who have regular and direct contact with children, youth or vulnerable adults shall be required to complete the application process and sign Participation Covenant Form
     –Defines the minimum background screening process         • Reference checks         • Check of the sexual offenders lists         • State and/or National background check • Requirements can be waived provided the applicant is an active member of an organization that already completed a comparable background check (i.e., Boy Scouts of America, Jack and Jill Nursery, etc.)
     –Abuse Prevention Policy Includes • Staff and volunteers with regular and direct contact shall submit to the screening procedure.
 •A Safe Sanctuary Review Committee shall be established by Church Council
 –Consist of Pastor, SPRC Chair, Program Ministries Director, and Scouting Coordinator –Committee shall review and approval each application prior to the individual begins working with children, youth, or vulnerable adults –Committee shall determine if rescreening of an individual is required at the end of the 5 year period –All records are CONFIDENTIAL and shall be maintained in a locked file and only accessible by the SSRC •A Safe Sanctuary Review Committee shall be established by Church Council –All safe sanctuary application records shall be kept for a period of 5 years after termination of services –Staff or volunteers must be a member of TUMC or an active participant (see definition) for a minimum of six months before beginning an assignment with children or youth »The Safe Sanctuary Review Committee can waive this requirement •5.0 Supervision –All staff and volunteers are required to complete initial policy training and annual refresher training –Compliance with the “two-adult rule” is the preferred policy 
 • The two adults will be unrelated
 
 •If two trained adults are not available, then the open space policy is used for that activity and another adult will periodically observe the activities
 • The Safe Sanctuary Review Committee will establish and maintain a list of screened and trained adults that can work with children, youth and vulnerable adults • The list of screened and trained adults shall be kept in the Church office for easy access. –The expectation is that a second adult can be identified and asked to support a child, youth or vulnerable adult activity or class. • No person shall supervise an age group, a group of children or youth unless he/she is at least 5 years older •6.0 Reporting and Response (IMPORTANT)     –Any adult observing or hears of alleged abuse shall:         • Take the victim very seriously         • Make sure the victim is safe and watched over • Do not confront the accused abuser with anger or hostility, but remove that person from further involvement with the group
 
 • If there is a situation of immediate risk or danger, call the police at 911 otherwise report immediately to the Pastor
 –Idaho Code §16-1619 provides: • Any physician, resident on a hospital staff, intern, nurse, coroner, school teacher, day care personnel, social worker, or other person having reason to believe that a child under the age of eighteen (18) years has been abused, abandoned or neglected or observes the child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse, abandonment or neglect shall report or cause to be reported within twenty-four (24) hours such conditions or circumstances to the proper law enforcement agency or the department [ of health and welfare]. –The Pastor or other designee shall:     • Ascertain the details necessary for an accurate report     • Within the first 24 hours –Write an incident report • Contact the appropriate state or city law enforcement agency. List of agencies provided in the policy.
 
 • Report the suspected abuse to the victims family and any other agency required by law.
 –The alleged perpetrator(s) are to be excluded from future events until the incident report is resolved. • All such exclusions SHALL be handled in a discreet manner and with confidentiality
 
 • 7.0 Training –Each TUMC committee and program person, in leadership or support positions who work with children, youth or vulnerable adults, shall participate in training. • Initial training is completed prior to beginning work with the children, youth, or vulnerable adults
 
 • Refresher training shall be held annually and should be held prior to the start of the fall programs in September
 
 • The Safe Sanctuary Review Committee shall annually review and revise the TUMC Abuse Policy.
 • 8.0 Policy Review –Annual review by the Safe Sanctuary Review Committee
 –Revise the TUMC Safety Sanctuary Abuse Prevention Policy if required by the review
 –Revise the Training slides
 –Obtain Church Council approval of the revised TUMC Abuse Prevention Policy.
 •9.0 Forms –Form TUMC-1, “Employment Application”
 –Form TUMC-2, “Authorization and Request for Criminal Records Check”
 –Form TUMC-3, “Volunteer Application”
 –Form TUMC-4, “Reference Check”
 –Form TUMC-5, “Participation Covenant for all Workers with Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults”
 –Form TUMC-6, “Report of Suspected Incident of Abuse
 –Form TUMC-7, “Accident Report”
 • 10.0 Conclusions –We are committed to the safety and protection of all children, youth and vulnerable adults
 –Effective date –May 13, 2008
 • Safe Sanctuary Review Committee Members –Pastor
 –SPRC Chair
 –Program Ministries Director
 –Scouting Coordinator
 • Local Authorities –District Seven Health and Welfare –522-0310
 –Idaho Falls Police Dept.
 •529-1200 (non-emergency) 
 •911 (emergency)
 –Bonneville County Sheriff Dept. 
 •529-1350, ext 1310 (non-emergency)
 •911 (emergency)
 –Idaho CareLine
 •1-800-926-2588
 •211
 • Victim Resources     –Rape Response & Crime Victim Center, Inc •24 hour hotlines –521-6018 or 521-6426 –An Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Collection (Aardvarc)         •http://aardvarc.org/rape/states/idrp.shtml –Safe Place Ministries, Boise Idaho         •208-323-2169 or 1-888-776-4443 –Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence         •208-384-0419 or 1-888-293-6118 • Questions and Answers http://aardvarc.org/rape/states/idrp.shtmlshapeimage_2_link_0
Safe Sanctuary