Safe Sanctuaries
Summary of the Safe Sanctuaries Policy at First United Methodist Church - Cary
FUMCC’s Safe Sanctuaries Policy, approved by our Administrative Board in August, 2007, is an outgrowth of our concern for the safety of all children and youth so that they can grow in an environment that offers security from sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect to the fullest extent possible. With it, we are fulfilling the North Carolina Annual Conference’s Safe Sanctuaries resolution of 2004.
All persons interesting in becoming a volunteer in either the Children’s or Youth Ministries must be either a constituent or member of FUMCC for at least six months and are required to read the Safe Sanctuaries Policy before registering. The Policy takes about 20 minutes to read.
Download the FUMCC Safe Sanctuaries Policy
Key elements of the policy include screening, training, and risk management.
Screening
There are two levels that workers may interact with children and/or youth:
Regular Volunteer. Regular volunteer workers have supervised interaction with children or youth. Examples could include nursery workers, Sunday school teachers or youth program helpers, Vacation Bible School volunteer workers and children’s church volunteers. Apply as a Regular Volunteer >>
Lead Volunteer. Lead volunteer workers have unsupervised interaction with children or youth. Examples include youth or children’s group leaders, overnight retreat chaperones, Sunday school leaders, nursery staff, and youth mission leaders. This level will require several background checks, including: criminal background, sex offender, Social Security Number verification and driving record.
Background checks will be done by an outside agency, Protect My Ministry. Lead volunteers are required to supply personal information for use during the application process, including Social Security Number and Driver's License number. This information will be encrypted so that only the background check agency will have access to it; no one at FUMCC will have access to this information. Apply as a Lead Volunteer >>
We estimate that there will be approximately 120 lead volunteers at FUMCC. The cost of screening lead volunteers will be borne by the church at an average cost of $12 per person.
Training
All staff and volunteers of children and youth will be required to participate in a comprehensive abuse awareness training event. CPR and first aid training are encouraged for regular volunteers and strongly encouraged for lead volunteers. The Health Ministries Committee at FUMCC will periodically offer this training.
Risk Management
Persons who are deemed a threat based on our screening will not be permitted to volunteer, be employed or be accepted as a volunteer or paid worker in any church-sponsored program for children or youth. A number of risk management strategies are included in the policy:
- The six-month rule - All volunteers must be either a constituent or member of FUMCC for at least six months before they may work with children or youth.
- Two adult rule - We will strive to have two adults present in each classroom or at a minimum have a lead volunteer on site to monitor classes.
- Relatives working together - If the two adult volunteer working together are spouses or members of the same immediate family, a third adult must monitor the classroom.
- Overnight activities and trips – These require two Lead Volunteers who will serve as supervisors/chaperones.
- Parental permission is required for all church-sponsored activities and programs.
- Proper identification procedures and staffing for childcare must be in place.
- Classrooms are to be open to visits by parents without prior notice.
- All workers, both volunteer and staff, must adhere to set disciplinary procedures for children and youth.
- Proper monitoring and visibility in hallways and classrooms will help ensure security.
The Safe Sanctuaries Review Committee will oversee the implementation of the policy and will be comprised of the Chair of Trustees (or designate) and the Chairperson of SPRC (or designate), a member of FUMCC clergy, the Business Administrator, the Director of Children's Ministries and the Director of Youth Ministries.
Special forms have been developed which will be used to report accidents and incidents of suspected abuse. Incidents will be reported to the Safe Sanctuaries Crisis Response Team comprised of the Senior Pastor, chairpersons of FUMCC’s Board of Trustees and the Staff Parish Relations Committee and outside consultants as needed.
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