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Legal
Counsel > For Congregations >
Caring for Staff and Volunteers > Sexual
Misconduct by Non-Rostered Persons
I. Web Resources:
Safeguarding
Children, Youth and Members
Called to be a Safe Place: Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Our Church -
A Web site
containing a variety of resources dealing with sexual misconduct
issues offered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Early in the life of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, this church expressed clearly its intention to take
whatever measures it could to help prevent sexual abuse and misconduct
within the ELCA. In other words, the church is Called to be a Safe
Place.
Safe Haven for
Children an ELCA Initiative for a New Century
Safe Haven
Packet
Creating Safe
churches: Addressing Sexual Misconduct - A Web site containing a variety of resources
dealing with sexual misconduct issues is offered by the
Presbyterian Church.
The theme of the site is "Safe Churches."
The Web site contains sexual misconduct-related definitions,
awareness-raising resources, guidelines for creating sexual
misconduct policies for congregations, protocols for reporting
incidents of sexual misconduct, resources for rebuilding trust
that has been shattered in a religious community by incidents of
sexual misconduct.
II. Books and Pamphlets:
Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of
Child Abuse in the Church
by Joy Thornburg Melton
This 80-page book provides guidance to help develop policies and procedures for reducing the risk of child abuse in the church. The book defines the scope of child abuse, outlines the different types of abuse, notes the indicators of abuse, discusses the legal requirements for reporting abuse, and provides guidelines for screening and hiring workers and volunteers. The book also outlines basic
procedures of safe ministry with children and youth and outlines a congregational plan for responding to allegations of abuse. Sample forms included for screening workers, requiring background checks, doing reference checks and reporting suspected abuse. A suggested training session plan for people who work with children and youth is outlined, and a bibliography of suggested resources is included.
To order:
This book (order number DR220) can be purchased for $13.00 from Discipleship Resources, P. 0. Box 1616, Alpharetta,
Georgia 30009-1616,
Telephone: 800-972-0433;
Web Site:
http://discipleshipresources.org
The Season of Hope: A Risk Management Guide for Youth-Serving
NonProfits
by John Patterson
A 156-page soft cover book includes information about protecting children in a nonprofit's charge from harm, whether they are program participants, employees or volunteers. Build your own plan from examples of risk management strategies for violence, health, injuries and accidents, and Internet access., child
mistreatment; child abusers and child molesters; what to do if abuse happens; training employees and volunteers; educating youth and their parents; overview of legal issues, developing child abuse prevention strategies.
To order:
This book can be ordered for $30.00 + shipping [discounts will apply to larger orders] from Nonprofit Risk Management Center, 1130 Seventeenth St. NW Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20036-5504, Telephone: 202-785-3891;
Web Site:
http://www.nonprofitrisk.org
III. Resource Kits:
Reducing the Risk II : Making Your Church Safe From Child Sexual
Abuse Kit
Includes six training videos on DVD, a reference book, and a
training manual for only $49.95. Plus your congregation receives a
1-year FREE membership to the reducingtherisk.com Online Training
and Resource Center!
Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse
in Your Church
This kit is produced by Christian Ministry Resources and includes:
DVD: This DVD communicates the menace child sexual abuse poses and the need for your church to take action. It includes testimonials of victims, church leaders, and experts to alert churches to the problem. It also illustrates
procedures that can be used to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse and offers a convenient way to educate leaders, workers, and congregations.
Guide Book: This 90-page guide offers a blueprint for a prevention plan. It
provides detailed guidance on enlisting the support of key church leaders, formulating policies and procedures, hiring and training workers (paid and
volunteer), and implementing a plan at the local congregation. The book is filled
with illustrations and examples and includes sample screening forms.
Training Manual: Effective education is the heart of a successful prevention program. The training manual provides insights and guidance on how to use the Resource Kit to educate and train church leaders, workers, and congregation.
To order:
This kit can be purchased for $49.95 + shipping through
Christian Ministry Resources
P.O. Box 2600
Big Sandy, TX 75755
Telephone: 800-222-1840
Fax: 800-882-6643
Web Site:
http://www.churchlawtoday.com
IV. Videos:
Somebody Told
by VideoNet
This 23 minute video is created to train your staff to prevent child sexual abuse. It helps you protect your children and your organization. You'll learn how to
establish appropriate conduct, boundaries and job descriptions. Review potentially damaging liabilities, and screen staff and volunteers. [THIS VIDEO IS NOT INTENDED FOR VIEWING BY CHILDREN OR TEENAGERS.]
To order:
This video can be purchased for $79.00 + $3.00 shipping, from VideoNet, 1011 Western Ave., Suite 503, P. O. Box 70525, Seattle, Washington 98127,
Telephone: 206-632-2378;
e-mail
herogroup@aol.com - Carl Pearson.
A similar resource list dealing with screening, hiring, and supervising
non-rostered employees and volunteers is also available. Prepared by
ELCA General Counsel's Office
October 2004 |
frequent
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