DEVELOPING SAFE SANCTUARIES Rev. Julie Hager Love jlove@kyumc.org

KENTUCKY CONFERENCE POLICY For ALL LOCAL CHURCHES Implementation no later than June 30, 2008

WHO NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED? Pastor(s) & staff Key volunteers (teachers, leaders) Parents Board of Trustees Administrative Council/Board

SCREENING All workers (paid and volunteer) complete an BACKGROUND SCREENING FORM. Contact REFERENCES Process BACKGROUND CHECK

SCREENING Develop a RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM for forms, checks, etc Must be active with the church at least 6 months prior to supervising children/youth

SUPERVISON Provide TRAINING for staff & volunteers 2 Adult Rule. There will be 2 unrelated adults in each classroom.

SUPERVISION If this is not possible, there will be a roving teacher who moves amid the rooms during the program period. All ministries should occur in OPEN VIEW. Window, half door or door shall remain open.

SUPERVISION No children will be left unsupervised. REGISTRATION MATERIALS should be collected for all activities & PERMISSION FORMS for transportation

Supervision No person under the age of 18 shall supervise younger children & those over 18 shall be at least 4 YEARS OLDER THAN THE CHILDREN. “Putting children in charge of children invites disaster.” Joy Melton. “Safe Sanctuaries.” Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1998. page 32.

REPORTING Abuse MUST be reported to the Kentucky Child Protection Hot Line at (800) 752-6200, the Local CHFS Office or the State Police.

REPORTING “All clergy of The United Methodist Church are charged to maintain all confidences inviolate, including confessional confidences,

REPORTING except in the cases of suspected child abuse or neglect or in cases where mandatory reporting is required by civil law.” The Book of Discipline, 2004. ¶341.5

REPORTING When abuse is reported the worker shall immediately be removed from contact with children/youth.

REPORTING If the ACCUSED is CLERGY, OR THEIR FAMILY, the DS should be contacted immediately. Keep a WRITTEN RECORD of the event.

RESPONDING Quick Compassionate Unified No cover ups

RESPONDING Contact your District Superintendent. Appoint spokesperson (pastor). Enlist help of Conference Communications Director. Pastoral support available to all involved.

QUESTIONS ABOUT INSURANCE How much coverage do you have? What are the limits? Do you specifically have “SAM” insurance? Who is covered/Who is not covered?

INSURANCE Exactly what is covered—criminal lawsuits/defendant until found guilty, innocent? Punitive damages are never covered. What do you do if there is an allegation?