Child Protection PolicyFirst Presbyterian Church

Port Jefferson, NY

Thank Youfor your interest in the children and youth of

First Presbyterian Church ofPort Jefferson.

We share the conviction that these young people are God’s greatest gift, not only to their families but also to the Church and to the community in which we and all God’s people live.

Yet in today’s society we know that danger exists, and that it may be found

– indeed has been found – even in church-related settings.

Some of us can remember a timewhen bringing a child to church or

taking youth on a church-related trip was considered the safest and most secure environment parents

could provide.

In most cases, that’s still true.

In response to this realization, the Session of First Presbyterian Church of Port Jefferson developed

and approved a Child Protection Policy.

As you view this presentation, please have in front of you a copy of the policy.

We will refer to it by page number, section and subsection.

At the end of the presentation, you will be asked to answer some questions to ascertain that you have completed the training, and to sign some required forms.

Using this Presentation

The purpose of this policy is four-fold:

To protect the children and youth from harm

To protect teachers and leaders

To meet insurance regulations, and

To meet the requirements of the law.

WHY A POLICY?

The policy will answer some immediate questions:

When and to whom should I dismiss children? What if a child needs to leave the room? What actions by a teacher are prohibited? If the kids are going outside or on a trip,

what do I need to know? Can I arrange for a child to go home with

another adult?

“Providing a safe environment for children and youth” is the ultimate goal.

That environment is not only here in church while children under our care.

That environment is wherever the children happen to be.

The law defines Child Abuse as follows:

“Any Action that results in physical or emotional abuses or that endangers children ….”

This includes Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse and Maltreatment.

What Is Child Abuse?Page 1, Definitions

Child AbuseChild Abuse is defined on

Page 1,

I Definitions

◦ A.

◦ Read this carefully.

Note that Child Abuse can happen between adult and child, child and child, and between youth and youth.

It includes Communication – thus even how a child is spoken to can be abusive.

Sexual AbuseSexual Abuse is defined

in the policy under

Definitions,Item B.

Read it Carefully.

Note that:the abuser may be another child or adolescent;

An abuser is at least four years older than the victim.

No child under age 17 is deemed capable of consent.

Child Maltreatment Child Maltreatment

may happen anyplace.

Read about it under Item

C. Child Maltreatment.

You do not need to know how the injuries were inflicted - only that you have observed them.

They may be obvious even if the child denies abuse.

How might Child Maltreatment become obvious to you?

II. Receiving Information (page 2)The Policy lists several

ways in which you may become aware of abuse.

Please read them

carefully.

Remember, you are reporting only what you may have observed.

You are not accusing anyone.

It is not your responsibility to do any more than report what you observe.

Reporting Child Abuse

Section B. Items 1 and 2 of the policy outline the steps in reporting child abuse.

It is up to the person to whom you report it to contact the authorities.

You, as a representative of the church, are required to report any situation in which there is reasonable cause to suggest that child may have been abused.

You are considered a “mandated reporter.”

Listed on Page 2, Item II A, are some of the ways you might become aware of child abuse or maltreatment.

In reporting what you see or hear, you are simplystating your observations, not making accusations.

How Will I Know?

Section II-B gives specifics for how to report Child Abuse. Note again the words “Reasonable cause to suggest” and “perceived risk.”

Any observation of this type will be recorded. Whether further action is taken is a decision of the “civil authorities.”

Whom Do I Tell?

In selecting you as a leader for our children/youth, we chose someone who:

Has been a member of First Presbyterian Church, PJ for at least six months.

OR has been active in this congregation for at least one year. AND we require that you:

Complete an application form, and Sign a Sexual Misconduct Information Form.

Screening of Teachers and LeadersPage 2, Section III. A.

Anyone who has been convicted of, pled guilty or no contest to, or is presently under indictment for a crime against children or youth will not be approved.

The Sexual Misconduct Form permits the pastor to make additional inquiries.

We have access to a secure data base established by our Insurance Company to do Background Checks.

Screening of Teachers/leaders (Continued)

Screening of Teachers/Leaders(Page 3 Items 6 and 7)

Anyone who works with children or youth is required to receive training in the Child Protection Policy at least once every two years.

Persons who are assisting with children or youth, for example as drivers or chaperones, may not be designated as leaders unless they have received Child Protection Training and completed necessary forms.

It is important to emphasize that

all persons working with children or youth must be trained,

even if they serve only as helpers, aides or drivers.

Anyone who has not received training may not serve as a teacher or leader of children or youth.

We at First Presbyterian Church PJ employ Nursery Care workers. They must be over 21, and they must complete Child Protection Training and submit a Sexual Misconduct Form.

Often parents wish to help in the Nursery. Parents may do so for no longer than one year. Then they must complete an application form and sign a Sexual Misconduct Information Form.

Nursery Workers and Helpers (Page 3: # 8, 9, 10)

Please Note that Nursery Workers or aides are not permitted to give any food or drink to children, except for a bottle provided by a parent for a particular child.

No snacks are served in the nursery.

Teens often want to help in the Nursery or Church School. However, for the protection of the children, the church and the teenagers them- selves, there are conditions listed under Item 10.

Please be aware of these. Don’t ask or allow your own child or others to serve as Teen Assistants unless they have met these requirements.

Teen Assistants (Page 3, Item 11)

Parents who register their children are given a copy of this section of the policywhen they complete the registration form.

Completed Registration Forms and MedicalRelease Forms are kept on file in theChurch Office.

Requirements of Parents (P. 3, III B)

Supervision of Children and YouthPage 4 section IV.

Here are some specific restrictions.

◦ NEVER allow a child under third grade to leave the classroom unaccompanied.

◦ NEVER release a child to anyone not specifically authorized, even if you know the person.

◦ NEVER dismiss a child before the end of class unless prior arrangements have been made with the parent.

◦ .

ALWAYS provide two leaders, (either 2 adults or an adult over 18 with a trained assistant who is at least 14 years old) for each classroom.

ALWAYS make classrooms visible, either by a window in the door or leaving the door open.

ALWAYS provide you with a list of potential students.

What we will always try to do

Items IV - G and - H apply any timechildren or youth leave Church grounds, even if only around the corner or to the beach.

Note requirements regarding Drivers, Passengers and Vehicles.

Leaving Church Grounds

For overnight events, there must be:

At least 2 adults, regardless of the number of children.

At least 2 leaders over 21 who are at least 5 years older attendees.

At least 1 adult for each six children/youth.

One adult of each gender if both boys and girls are in attendance.

Adult: Child Ratios

If there are 4 girls, and 2 boys, there must be 1 adult male and 1 adult female.

If there are 10 boys and 2 girls, there must be 2 male adults and 1 female adult.

If there are just 3 girls, there must be two adults, at least one of whom is a female.

For Example:

Section V gives further information about how background checks are done.

Information from Background Checks is treated with the highest level of security.

A Social Security Number is required for doing background checks, but that information will not be stored in a computer data base.

Background Checks

In your packet there are forms:

◦ Driver’s Covenant – to be completed by all drivers.

◦ Permission Slip/Medical Release forms - to be signed by parents - one for Church School, one for Youth Groups

◦ Leaders will be given copies of these forms whenever you leave the church property with children or youth.

Consent Forms

If anything happens, such as an injury or illness, no matter how trivial it may seem, you must report it to the Church Office immediately, and within no longer than 24 hours.

AND REMEMBER

A child of 15 is abused. Can the victim say he/she consented to the abuse? Why?

A child’s brother, age 12, comes to pick up a 3rd grader. What do you do?

A second grader needs to leave the room to go to the bathroom. It’s right down the hall. What do you do?

So How much do you remember?

A parent of a 13 year old tells you her daughter would rather help in the Nursery than attend class. What is your response?

A mother tells you a child can’t come next week unless she has a ride. What do you do?

Your regular classroom is unavailable and you need to use a classroom without a window in the door. What do you do?

You’ve completed the Child Protection Policy Training for First Presbyterian Church.

In your packet you will find :◦ A Certification of completion of Child Protection Training.◦ Christian Education Information Application.◦ Certification, Consent and Release Form for Child/Youth

Workers.◦ Release of Information Authorization.

◦ Complete all of these forms.

Congratulations!

If you are going to be serving as Youth Advisor,◦Complete an Adult Advisor/Driver Covenant

Form

If you are going to be driving children or youth◦Complete a Driver Covenant

Other Forms

Put all the necessary forms in the enclosed envelope, seal it up and hand it to the Church Secretary or mail it to the Church Office.

All completed forms are kept in a locked file in the Church Office, to which only the Pastor and Church Secretary have access, and only when needed.

All adults must submit appropriate forms before they will be allowed to serve as teacher/leader.

Wrap it up!

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

The terminology changes, but the fact remains: Danger exists. We want to do all we can to protect our children from it.

As Paul says:

We are grateful to all who respond to the call to lead and protect children and youth.

Our goal is that every child knows the love of God, and the security that comes with faith.

And Thank You