Child Protection Policy & Procedure
I. Purpose
Jeremiah Project seeks to establish reasonable procedures to reduce the risk of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children as they participate in The Jeremiah Project home repair ministry weeks and weekends, and to protect staff and volunteers from false allegations of misconduct.
II. Biblical Foundation
Jeremiah Project seeks to express God’s love of young persons and to provide for their personal wholeness. This mission based organization seeks to provide an environment which is caring and secure for all persons. The Bible is foundational to our understanding upon which all policies, procedures and ministries must stand.
And they were bringing children to Him, that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuke them. But when Jesus saw it He was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them. Mark 10:13-16
Jesus teaches us explicitly that young persons have the right and the keys to the Kingdom of God. He demonstrated this through blessing and touch. Our goal in response to this Biblical mandate is to maintain a safe, secure and loving place where children may grow.
“Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in,so that my house may be filled.” - Luke 14:21 (NRSV)
In the Parable of the Great Banquet, Jesus reminds us that God is in the business of inviting all people to the table, where they can be nurtured and transformed to be Christ to others. Today, we continue to recognize that each individual is a child of God and must be allowed to live free of fear, surrounded by love. As Christian adults, we must establish and maintain a nurturing, loving, safe and secure Christian environment, providing support and assistance to our children, youth, and at-risk adults, remembering that our mandate is not only a responsibility, but an opportunity to protect the gift that God has bestowed upon us.
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” - John 13:34 (NIV)
"Blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." - Matthew 13:16
III. Commonwealth of Virginia Statutes
Under Section 63.2-100 of the Code of Virginia, an abused child is defined as one who is less than eighteen years of age,
1. Whose parents or other person responsible for his care creates or inflicts, threatens to create or inflict, or allows to be created or inflicted upon such child a physical or mental injury by other than accidental means, or creates a substantial risk of death, disfigurement, or impairment of bodily or mental functions, including but not limited to, a child who is with his parent or other person responsible for his care either (i) during the manufacture or attempted manufacture of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, or (ii) during the unlawful sale of such substance by that child's parents or other person responsible for his care, where such manufacture, or attempted manufacture or unlawful sale would constitute a felony violation of § 18.2‑248;
2. Whose parents or other person responsible for his care neglects or refuses to provide care necessary for his health. However, no child who in good faith is under treatment solely by spiritual means through prayer in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination shall for that reason alone be considered to be an abused or neglected child;
3. Whose parents or other person responsible for his care abandons such child;
4. Whose parents or other person responsible for his care commits or allows to be committed any act of sexual exploitation or any sexual act upon a child in violation of the law;
5. Who is without parental care or guardianship caused by the unreasonable absence or the mental or physical incapacity of the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in loco parentis; or
6. Whose parents or other person responsible for his care creates a substantial risk of physical or mental injury by knowingly leaving the child alone in the same dwelling, including an apartment as defined in § 55-79.2, with a person to whom the child is not related by blood or marriage and who the parent or other person responsible for his care knows has been convicted of an offense against a minor for which registration is required as a violent sexual offender pursuant to § 9.1-902.
IV. State of West Virginia Statutes
Section 49-1-3 of the Code of West Virginia
§49-1-3. Definitions relating to abuse and neglect.
(a) "Abused child" means a child whose health or welfare is harmed or threatened by:
(1) A parent, guardian or custodian who knowingly or intentionally inflicts, attempts to inflict or knowingly allows another person to inflict, physical injury or mental or emotional injury, upon the child or another child in the home; or
(2) Sexual abuse or sexual exploitation; or
(3) The sale or attempted sale of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian in violation of section sixteen, article four, chapter forty-eight of this code; or
(4) Domestic violence as defined in section two hundred two, article twenty-seven, chapter forty-eight of this code.
In addition to its broader meaning, physical injury may include an injury to the child as a result of excessive corporal punishment.
(b) "Abusing parent" means a parent, guardian or other custodian, regardless of his or her age, whose conduct, as alleged in the petition charging child abuse or neglect, has been adjudged by the court to constitute child abuse or neglect.
(c) "Battered parent" means a parent, guardian or other custodian who has been judicially determined not to have condoned the abuse or neglect and has not been able to stop the abuse or neglect of the child or children due to being the victim of domestic violence as defined by section two hundred two, article twenty-seven, chapter forty-eight of this code, which domestic violence was perpetrated by the person or persons determined to have abused or neglected the child or children.
(d) "Child abuse and neglect" or "child abuse or neglect" means physical injury, mental or emotional injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, sale or attempted sale or negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian who is responsible for the child's welfare, under circumstances which harm or threaten the health and welfare of the child.
V. Act of Child Abuse
The Commonwealth of Virginia and State of West Virginia Statute information provided above is not all inclusive but represents the underlying legal definitions and criteria used by those states as it relates to child abuse. As it relates to the activities of the Jeremiah Project, an act of child abuse may be committed by any person responsible for the care of another individual who is less than eighteen years of age. It does not matter whether the person caring for the child under the age of 18 (hereinafter referred to as a "Child" or "Children", which term as used in this Policy also includes youth ages 12-18) is a compensated or a volunteer worker. It does not matter whether the person routinely is entrusted with the care of children or whether such individual only occasionally comes in contact with children. It does not matter whether the person was entrusted with the care of a child for an hour or only a moment. It only matters that a child was abused or neglected by the person who, on the occasion in question, was responsible for the child's care.
VI. Types of Child Abuse
Definition
Child abuse refers to an act committed by a parent, care giver or person in a position of trust (even though he/she may not care for the child on a daily basis) which is not accidental and which harms or threatens to harm a child’s physical or mental health or welfare. The following definitions and explanations in this section are from the Virginia Department of Social Services and apply to any location where the Jeremiah Project operates.
B. Types of Abuse
1. Physical Abuse
A physical injury, threat of injury or creation of a real and significant danger of substantial risk of death, disfigurement or impairment of bodily functions. Such injury or threat of injury, regardless of intent, is inflicted or allowed to be inflicted by non-accidental means. Examples: asphyxiation; bone fracture; brain damage, skull fracture, subdural hematoma; burns, scalding; cuts, bruises, welts, abrasions; internal injuries, poisoning; sprains; dislocations; gunshot, stabbing wounds.
2. Physical Neglect
The failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, or supervision for a child if the child’s health or safety is endangered. Physical neglect may include multiple occurrences or a one-time critical or severe event that results in a threat to health or safety, such as a toddler left alone. Other types of neglect include abandonment, inadequate supervision, inadequate clothing, inadequate shelter, inadequate personal hygiene, inadequate food and malnutrition.
3. Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse includes any act defined in the code of Virginia which is committed, or allowed to be committed, upon a child by his/her parent or other persons responsible for the child’s care. Examples of such abuse are: sexual exploitation, sexual molestation, intercourse/sodomy and other sexual abuse.
4. Medical Neglect
Refusal or failure by caretaker to obtain and/or follow through with a complete regimen of medical, mental or dental care for a condition, which if untreated, could result in illness or developmental delays.
5. Failure to Thrive
A syndrome of infancy or early childhood which is characterized by growth failure, signs of severe malnutrition, and variable degrees of developmental retardation. Children are considered to be in this category only when the syndrome is diagnosed by a physician and is caused by non-organic factors.
6. Mental Abuse/Neglect
A pattern of acts or omissions by the caretaker which result in harm to a child’s psychological or emotional health or development.
7. Educational Neglect
The child’s caretaker is directly responsible for the failure of the child to attend school or an approved alternative program of study.
8. Bizarre Discipline
Any actions in which the caretaker uses eccentric, irrational or grossly inappropriate procedures or devices to modify the child’s behavior.
VII. Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse
In an effort to create the safest possible environment within Jeremiah Project, several abuse prevention measures will be utilized. These measures include screening of paid and volunteer workers for past child abuse convictions or expungements, provision for regular training on child abuse issues to paid and volunteer staff members and adequate supervision.
1. Staff Screening
Before beginning the first year of staff work with children at the Jeremiah Project Home Repair Mission camps, each employed or volunteer leader for children will be asked to sign: JP Staff Work Camp Covenant and a statement indicating that he/she has never been convicted of child abuse nor had such a conviction expunged. Also, the screening form will ask for the following: general information, criminal convictions, church membership, prior volunteer work, and prior experience with children or youth. Anyone who has had a child abuse conviction or expungement, as well as anyone refusing to sign the statement, will not be permitted to work with children or youth. Each such person shall also undergo a criminal record check at the beginning of their first year of work and every 5 years thereafter. Within three months of the adoption of this policy, all existing JP staff and workers with children and youth will comply with this paragraph in order to continue in their positions.
2. Staff Training
All paid and volunteer leaders will be required to read the Jeremiah Project’s child protection policy and sign a form indicating that they have read and that they understand the policy and agree to abide by it. Anyone failing to do so will not be permitted to serve until the policy has been read and the form signed.
3. Adequate Supervision
Adequate supervision will be provided at all times: At a minimum, one (1) adult to eight children, ages twelve to under eighteen years. The specific needs of individual children may require a change to these guidelines.
4. One-on-One Meeting, Mentoring or Consultation
Any one-on-one mentoring or consultation between a non-related adult and a child will be conducted in a room or area that is in plain view of others and at a time when others are readily present to provide additional observation.
5. Child Protection Committee
The Child Protection Committee shall include the Executive Director and not less than two Board of Directors members. The Child Protection Committee shall annually review and propose any revisions to this Policy, and shall be responsible for the administration and interpretations of this Policy.
VIII. Reporting Child Abuse
Should there be an allegation of child abuse during any Jeremiah Project sponsored events, the following procedures shall be followed:
1. Any allegation of child abuse shall be treated seriously.
2. Camp Director should take the necessary steps to protect the accuser and the accused.
3. Pray for Jeremiah Project and all persons affected by the allegation.
4. Immediately begin documenting all events which occur in handling the allegation.
5. Immediately notify the Youth Leader of the child’s sponsoring church, Jeremiah Project Executive Director, and current week’s Camp Director, of the substance of the allegations, unless the allegations involve one of the positions listed. The person(s) notified shall immediately contact the other members of the Child Protection Committee. As many members of the Board of Directors as are immediately accessible shall be convened either in person or by telephone and the allegations shall be evaluated initially to determine whether there is a reason to suspect that child abuse may have occurred. The function of the Child Protection Committee at this stage is not to conduct an investigation, but to determine, based upon the allegations and the information then in the possession of the Child Protection Committee, whether a reason to suspect exists. In making such a determination, the Child Protection Committee shall avail itself of such counsel as it deems necessary and as is immediately available, including, but not limited to, consultation with an attorney, with a representative of Jeremiah Project’s insurance company, and anonymously with the Virginia Department of Social Services.
a. If the allegations involve the Executive Director or Camp Director, the President of the Board of Directors shall be notified immediately and he or she shall immediately notify the remaining Child Protection Committee Members who shall direct the next steps taken by Jeremiah Project in responding to the allegations. The provisions of this Policy shall continue to apply except as the Child Protection Committee members direct that other steps be taken.
6. If the Child Protection Committee Members determines that there is a reason to suspect that child abuse may have occurred, then the following steps shall be taken:
a. Immediately notify the Virginia Department of Social Services or West Virginia Department of Social Services of the allegation.
b. Immediately notify the parents if it is not known that they have previous knowledge.
c. Immediately notify Jeremiah Project’s insurance company.
d. Immediately notify the Youth Leader of the child’s sponsoring church.
7. Do not confront the accused with the allegation. If the accused has assigned duties within the organization of Jeremiah Project, either as a staff volunteer or other volunteer and the Child Protection Committee determines that the steps outlined in paragraph VIII (6) above are appropriate, that person must be temporarily relieved of their duties until the investigation is concluded.
8. The Current JP Camp Director should extend whatever care and resources are necessary to those impacted by the allegation, but under no circumstances should the JP Camp Director investigate the allegation. In providing care to the principals (alleged victim and the accused) and their families, the JP Camp Director or staff members, should under no circumstances be drawn into a discussion of the truth or falsity of the allegation which could contaminate the investigation. Do not assign blame or take any steps that involve establishing or refuting the allegation.
9. It is appropriate to show care and comfort for the alleged victim. This should be the Sponsoring Youth Leader(s)’ objective from the moment the allegation is received or otherwise made known.
10. Observe confidentiality for both the alleged victim and the accused until advised to the contrary by a member of the Child Protection Committee.
11. There shall be a single spokesperson for the Board of Directors who shall be designated by the Child Protection Committee.
IX. Policy Review
The Child Protection Policy and Procedures of Jeremiah Project shall be reviewed annually by the Child Protection Committee and then by the Board of Directors. A verification follow-up report will be made each year at Board of Director’s Meeting to ensure the integrity of the policy and procedures.