CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTION CODE OF CONDUCT
New Song Nashville is committed to protecting and releasing in our children the calling God has placed on their lives. We look to 1 Thessalonians 5:23 as a guide: "...may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete..." (NASB). We have been charged by God with the responsibility of protecting each child's spirit, soul, and body; we will do everything possible to fulfill that charge.
We are committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment that fosters spiritual, emotional, and physical health for all children who participate in our ministries. We are also committed to protecting staff members and volunteers from unwarranted accusations. To that end, all staff members and volunteers who work with our children must abide by this "Child and Youth Protection Code of Conduct."
Staff Members and Volunteers of New Song Nashville will
- Treat children with respect and fairness at all times, regardless of the child's race, sex, age, or religion.
- Respond with Christian love and understanding in all situations.
- Act as a positive role model for children by maintaining an attitude of respect, loyalty, patience, courtesy, and maturity.
- Dress appropriately and avoid wearing provacative and/or revealing clothing.
- Engage in appropriate displays of affection, as defined in PDF download on confirmation email once application is completed.
- Refrain from inappropriate physical interactions as defined in PDF download on confirmation email once application is completed.
- Refrain from using inappropriate corrective measures as defined in PDF download on confirmation email once application is completed.
- Refrain from swearing or telling offensive or vulgar jokes.
- Avoid involving children in inapproprately burdensome or disturbing problems or issues.
- Refrain from sharing or keeping secrets with children.
- Not abuse alcohol or drugs.
- Refrain from discussing sexual encounters in the presence of children.
- Not have or view sexually explicit materials, including any type of pornography.
- Refrain from staring at or commenting on a child's body.
- Refrain from perpetrating any kind of abuse upon any child; this includes, but is not limited to to, the following:
- Verbal abuse: degrading, threatening, cursing
- Physical abuse: hitting, shaking, slapping, unneccessary restraint
- Sexual abuse: inappropriate touching, exposing oneself, sexually-oriented conversations
- Emotional abuse: shaming, humiliating, cruelty
- Neglect: withholding or denying food, water, clothing, shelter, medical care, freedom of movement, or failure to protect
Abuse of any kind will not be tolerated. Allegations of abuse may result in immediate removal of the staff member or volunteer from duties, and may result in permanent dismissal at the sole discrection of New Song Nashville. New Song Nashville will fully cooperate with authorities if allegations of abuse are made and investigated.
- Immediately report concerns or complaints, including suspicions of abuse, about a staff member, volunteer, or child to the immediate director of the program and to a member of the ministerial staff.
As an applicant for employmemnt or for a volunteer position with access to children at New Song Nashville and its ministries, I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the "Child and Youth Protection Code of Conduct". I further agree to abide by all policies, procedures and rules regarding children and as otherwise deemed applicable to me. I further understand that any violatiuon of this code of conduct may result in my immediate and potentially permanent dismissal.
I declare that I will not abuse (physicaly, verbally, sexually, or emotionally) or neglect any child or adult and that I have never been convicted of abuse of, indecency with, or injury to a child or adult.