CHILD ABUSE RISK REDUCTION POLICY
- Selection Process
- Employee - anyone who is paid by the church on a full-time or part-time basis, whether or not they work directly with preschoolers, children or youth. Short-term contract (whether written or oral) labor for such things as seminars, conferences, camps, retreats, and special events are not considered employees under this section.
Church employees must meet the following requirements:
Current employee
Every Three Years
- Complete a consent to release confidential information
- Complete a criminal background check
- DHR records check authorization form
- Received letter from State of Alabama DHR stating "meets the suitability" criteria under State statute
- Received appropriate clearances of all checks to work with minors
Every Year: Review and Sign to Indicate Compliance with Lakeside's Child Protection First! Policy.
New employee
- Complete a confidential application form
- Complete a consent to release confidential information
- Complete a criminal background check
- DHR records check authorization form
- Interview by appropriate staff member
- References checked and verified Received letter from State of Alabama DHR stating "meets the suitability" criteria under State statute
- Received appropriate clearances on all checks to work with minors
- Review and sign to indicate compliance with Lakeside's Child Protection First! Policy.
All records, forms and reports will become a part of the employee's confidential personnel file maintained by the Executive Pastor or his designated staff person.
B. Volunteer - anyone who is not paid by the church on a full-time or part-time basis, and is serving in any position involving the supervision or custody of minors. Examples: Nursery, childcare, preschool, grade school, middle school and high school workers, bus drivers, family life center volunteers, weekday education parent volunteers, teachers, chaperones, etc.
Church volunteers must meet the following requirements:
Current Volunteer
Every Three Years
- Complete a consent to release confidential information
- Recommendation Report completed by supervising staff member
- DHR records check
- Criminal records check*
- Received letter from State of Alabama DHR stating "meets the suitability" criteria under State statute
- Received appropriate clearances on all checks to work with minors
Every Year: Review and Sign to Indicate Compliance with Lakeside's Child Protection First! Policy.
New Volunteer
- Complete a confidential application form
- Complete a consent to release confidential information
- Interview by appropriate staff member
- References checked and verified
- DHR records check
- Criminal records check*
- Received letter from State of Alabama DHR stating "meets the suitability" criteria under State statute
- Received appropriate clearances on all checks to work with minors
- Review and Sign to Indicate Compliance with Lakeside's Child Protection First! Policy.
Complete a confidential application form Complete a consent to release confidential information Interview by appropriate staff member References checked and verified
DHR records check Criminal records check* Received letter from State of Alabama DHR stating "meets the suitability" criteria under State statute
*Criminal records check for volunteers will include but may not be limited to any criminal activity involving the following: (1) a minor; (2) child molestation, (3) any type of sexual offense; (4) any type of pornographic or obscene material; (5) any drugs or alcohol; (6) any type of physical violence; and (7) suspected child abuse.
In addition to the above requirements, a volunteer must be a member of Lakeside Baptist Church for at least six months and in agreement with the beliefs and practices of Lakeside Baptist Church as stated in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. A volunteer who does not meet these membership requirements may serve only upon verification of references and approval of the appropriate age-group minister and executive pastor.
All records, forms, and reports will become a part of the church's Child Protection First! confidential filing system. A person designated to administrate the Child Protection First! program or the Executive Pastor or his designated staff person will be the custodian of the files of all volunteers. No other person will have access to the files without the consent of the Executive Pastor or his designated staff person.
C. Minors - When a background check is carried out on a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the authorization form giving his or her permission for the check to be executed. In addition to the above requirements, a minor who is an employee or volunteer must also submit a separate certification from his or her parent or guardian that the parent or guardian "knows no reason why the minor should not be allowed to work directly or indirectly with other minors."
II. PROTECTION POLICY
A. Two Adults
Every attempt will be made to have two adult workers (whether employees or volunteers), preferably unrelated, present with children and youth at all times during church activities. Additionally, age-group ministers, division directors, hall monitors, greeters and/or program directors will be present, or nearby, and available on each floor and in the hallways where minors are present. Every effort will be made to assure that one adult is never left alone with one minor. A husband and wife working in the same room will typically be considered as one adult for purposes of this policy.
B. Teenage Workers
Teenage Workers At times, it may be necessary or desirable for a minor who is an employee or volunteer to assist in caring for children during programs or activities. Teenage workers must be under the supervision of an adult and must never be left alone with minors. Adults only will be allowed to serve in the infant area.
C. Bathroom Proceedure
Two workers must be present when children are taken to the restroom. Male and female workers are allowed to take boys to the restroom. Female workers only are allowed to take girls to the restroom. When a child is taken to a restroom outside the room, someone must check the restroom before the child is permitted to enter to ensure it is safe.
D. View Windows/Open Doors
Reasonable effort will be made to place preschoolers, children, and youth in rooms with view windows or open doors for all teaching/learning activities.
E. Weekday Programs
Because of the professional relationship between teacher and student, parents understand that only one teacher may be present in each classroom and during certain learning or artistic performance programs. All professional teachers shall complete the employee selection process.
F. Off-Site Trips and Events and Out-of-Town Activities
All Employees and Volunteers will be required to comply with all of the Child Protection First! Policies during all off-site and overnight events and out-of-town Lakeside Baptist Church sponsored activities. The two-adult rule must be followed throughout the trip with any foreseeable exceptions clearly stated and approved in advance by the parent/guardian. The total number of adults on each trip will be adjusted according to the requirements of the planned activities and age-appropriate adult/child ratios. Under no circumstances may one adult alone take or accompany minors on an overnight outing.
All participants should have a notarized parental consent form and a notarized medical/photo release form on file with the church before the activity. Medical/Photo release forms may be completed for a one-year period, should be renewed annually, and will be considered valid until renewed. A notarized parental consent form must be completed prior to each activity.
G. Security Identification System
Lakeside Baptist Church will utilize and maintain an appropriate security identification system for dropping off and picking up children from programs, activities, and events sponsored by Lakeside Baptist Church. The system will ensure that only custodial parents/guardians or others designated by the custodial parents/guardians have access to children once they are in the church's care. The security identification system will also provide overall controlled access to children's ministry areas.
III. REPORTING PROCEDURES
Observed or reported child sexual abuse or child molestation should be reported immediately to the police, then to the Senior or Executive Pastor. Indications of possible sexual abuse or child molestation should be reported immediately to the Senior or Executive Pastor. (In compliance with applicable law, abuse will be reported to DHR or other duly constituted authority. Individual ministers employed by the church and workers/employees of the church's weekday children's program have an individual obligation to report abuse to DHR or other duly constituted authority The reporting person will complete an Abuse/Molestation Incident Report Form.
Upon an accusation being made, a designated representative of the Church Staff will notify and consult with the Executive Pastor, the church attorney, and the liability insurance carrier representative for the church. Recommendations received from these sources should be adhered to. A report will be made to the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) immediately if required by statute. The validity of any accusation is to be determined by DHR. It is the intention of Lakeside Baptist Church to comply with all child abuse reporting laws.
Reporting abuse can precipitate severe consequences to a family, SO it should never be done casually or thoughtlessly, and certainly not for malicious purposes. At the same time, failing to report abuse can have severe consequences to a child at risk. Therefore, if you have reasonable cause to suspect abuse, you should talk with the Executive Pastor who will take the appropriate action.
IV. RESPONSES TO ALLEGATIONS
A. The church staff will not deny, minimize, or blame any individual involved in allegations. Lakeside Baptist Church staff will minister to all involved and cooperate with authorities.
B. All allegations will be taken seriously and church staff will take appropriate action in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama, insurance policy requirements, and based upon advice of legal counsel.
C. The official spokesperson for the church in any of these matters will be the Senior Pastor or such person as may be designated by the Senior Pastor. No other staff members or church members shall speak to the media or congregation in an official capacity.
D. The church staff will document (in writing, with date and signature) all efforts in the handling of any incident.
E. The accused party will be presumed innocent until proven guilty, but will be prohibited from working with minors at Lakeside Baptist Church until all investigations are completed. In an appropriate case, an accused party may be placed on paid or non-paid leave.
F. Besides any other investigative process that may ensue, the church itself will implement the following procedure for investigation of the incident. When required by statute, the church will contact the Alabama Department of Human Resources and conduct its own investigation in full cooperation with DHR. DHR shall be the lead agency and provide guidance to the church regarding the church's investigation. It is recognized that DHR has expertise and knowledge of local resources that will be of benefit in an independent investigation. Church staff should not attempt to personally interview the accused, the accuser, or any other involved party without professional assistance. This may cause harm to the investigation and the individuals involved, and requires professional skills. The church may take other steps as deemed prudent by the Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, Church Staff, church attorney, and church insurer.
G. The church will, on a regular basis, keep all interested parties notified of the progress in the investigation and other matters, subject to counsel from the church's lawyer or insurance company.
H. If the investigative process, or the church's own investigation, shows a high probability that the accused is in fact guilty of the incident, then the church will take all reasonable steps to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in any action they may take against the accused. The church staff will attempt to minister to all involved.
I. Responding to the Media and to the General Public
- The church shall prepare a written statement based on the advice of the church's attorney. This statement will serve as the only official word about the matter.
- Periodic official written statement(s) and update(s) may occur, with the advice of the church's attorney.
- No questions and answers will be permitted on the part of the media due to issues of confidentiality, safety, and the health of the involved parties.
- Official statement(s) may only be read by the Church spokesperson(s)
J. Responding to the Congregation
- Discretion is to be exercised by the church pastoral staff for reasons of confidentiality and the safety of the parties involved.
- Each accusation and allegation is to be considered individually and confidentially, and shall be assessed as to its value for church-wide dissemination.
- Upon the request for information, the party addressed shall respond with the recognition of the problem, and communicate the need to respect the confidentiality of the matter and the safety of those involved.
- Every effort will be made to route all queries to the attention of the Church spokesperson(s)