Grace Presbyterian Church

Child Protection Policy

(As developed from the NCP policy)

PURPOSE

Children are a gift from God and are to be cherished. We are commanded in the Bible to raise our children with love and nurturing care, training them to know and love Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To that end, the Session of Grace Presbyterian Church has adopted a “Child Protection Policy” to ensure our commitment to the safety, welfare, and protection of all children while under the care and protection of volunteers in childcare, our classrooms and nursery, during youth activities, and during any church-sponsored program. This policy sets out to define expectations of good conduct, the rules of proper childcare management and issues of accountability. This policy also includes specific examples of misconduct and inappropriate care, and the guidelines to follow to report such actions.

DEFINITION

For this policy, the terms child, children, and youth are defined as individuals who are less than 18 years of age. This policy is to protect children from all types of abuses including sexual misconduct while under the auspices of activities related to Grace Presbyterian Church. Abuse breaches Christian ethical principles by misusing a trust relationship between someone in authority (i.e. volunteer adult) and a child to gain advantage for personal gratification. Such behavior is not limited to physical contact, but may also include gestures, spoken words, or written contact.

Specifically, at no time will any childcare worker, teacher, supervisor, or leader hit, spank, slap, pinch, shake, verbally or emotionally abuse, or willfully disregard a child in his or her care. Punitive techniques that cause physical pain, such as assuming an uncomfortable position, are not appropriate. Physical restraint of children should be used only when someone’s safety is at risk. Derogatory remarks or comments that humiliate or frighten a child shall not be used.

Additionally, this policy defines any physical contact with a child, for the purpose of sexual stimulation, to be abhorrent, sexual abuse. ANY such behavior, whether consensual or otherwise, that involves a child and an adult, is always inappropriate and will be dealt with according to the laws of Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

At Grace Presbyterian Church:

· Paid and unpaid (volunteer) adults and youth assistants shall not touch or interact with children or youth in any way that is intended to be sexually-stimulating or emotionally demeaning.

· Consenting adults shall not act in a sexually-stimulating way during any church activity.

· Common expressions of affection (hugs), affirmations (a pat on the back), support (prayer, holding hands), or physical care (diaper changing) are appropriate in this caring Christian community. Care must always be taken, however, to ensure that physical expressions of affection are not excessive or imposed upon another individual forcefully.

· To foster and maintain good behavior, appropriate positive methods, such as rewards and incentives for acceptable behavior will be used by all volunteers working with children. If discipline is required, then age-appropriate methods of non-contact discipline (time outs, loss of privileges, redirection to teach acceptable behavior, and calling a parent/guardian to deal with a child personally) are the only appropriate methods of discipline to be used at Grace Presbyterian Church.

· Volunteer adults working with children in any activity or program of the church shall have attended Grace Presbyterian Church for at least 6 months and must be known to the Pastor and at least two (2) current members of the Session. The minimum age for a youth assistant should be 13 ¾ years (in high school). Their family should have been attending Grace Presbyterian Church for at least 6 months and must be known by the Pastor and at least two (2) current members of Session.

· In ordinary circumstances, an unaccompanied adult should not drive a single child (especially of the opposite sex) in a church sponsored activity without the permission of the child’s parent or guardian.

· Teachers in Sunday School and Junior Worship, as well as those caring for children in the nursery and toddler classrooms, may work alone with children IF there is visual access to the classroom (a door with a window, a half-open door, etc.

· Only age-appropriate children should be present in the childcare situation, or in the Sunday school classroom.

· Children should not be out of the classrooms alone without adult supervision, or without parental consent. If a child must go to the bathroom during a class period and they are under the age of 8, the teacher (or a youth assistant over age 13 ¾) must accompany the child to the restroom. If this situation means that there would be no supervision in the classroom of the remaining children, the entire class must accompany the teacher. At no time will a child under 8 years of age be left alone in a classroom. A child in childcare should not be released to anyone but his/her parent or authorized agent. The childcare worker must stay until all children have been picked up.

SUPERVISION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Sunday School is under the purview of the Christian Education (CE) Committee of Session. The CE Elders, with the assistance of the Sunday School Superintendent, are responsible for staffing childcare and classrooms. These individuals will also exercise random supervision and spot-checks to determine adherence to these policies.

• A copy of the Child Protection Policy will be made available to the congregation on the church web site. It will be made available to anyone who wishes a paper copy.
• A copy of this policy will be posted in all classrooms and childcare rooms (to be determined and posted where very young children will not be exposed to some of the explicit wording) for reference.
• The congregation will be informed and reminded of this policy annually.
• The Child Protection Policy statement and application will be provided to all participants in each new member’s class.
• All volunteers (This includes teachers, caregivers, volunteer helpers in classrooms, and any other person in charge of the care of a child during a church-sponsored activity) will be required to sign a Child Protection statement for the files.
• All volunteers will be requested to review their Child Protection Policy statements on an annual basis.
• A review of the intentions of the Child Protection Policy will be a part of annual teacher training sessions staffed by the Christian Education Committee.

· Anyone who agrees to work with children at Grace Presbyterian Church will be required to state whether he/she has ever been convicted of any crime involving sexual abuse or misconduct, or been terminated from employment for sexual abuse or misconduct, as defined in this Policy Statement, and the National Capital Presbytery Sexual Misconduct Policy, which this church has adopted. If deemed necessary, a background check into his/her arrest (and Bureau of Vehicles records) may be required.

REPORTING MISCONDUCT

The first person to learn of ANY incident of possible sexual abuse or misconduct (either as an eye-witness or learning about the incident from the victim or another person, whether perceived or actual,) should immediately:

• Report this verbally to the Pastor. If the Pastor is not available, contact a CE Elder or any ruling (current) member of Session who will then be responsible for notifying the pastor.
• Maryland law states that allegations of abuse or neglect of children must be reported to the proper authorities immediately: do not delay. The proper State and County child protective services agencies will be notified. The insurance carrier for Grace Presbyterian Church will also be notified.
• It is the responsibility of the Pastor to see that such reports are made, as outlined above. The Pastor will also inform the General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of the National Capital Presbytery of the incident; requesting guidance on the procedure to be followed in processing the allegation.
• If a person is accused of misconduct or abuse of a sexual nature, he/she is subject to inquiry and discipline under the Book of Order, Rules of Discipline. The Session and Clerk of Session are responsible for this inquiry, with the assistance of the Pastor. Further action will be taken by the Presbyterian Church (USA), the legal requirements of Prince George’s County, and the State of Maryland.
• If the Pastor is involved in allegations, the Clerk of Session will assume the role listed above for the Pastor. The Clerk can also request a Moderator for the Session from the National Capital Presbytery.

TO BE SIGNED BY ALL CHILDCARE/YOUTH WORKERS:

Each staff member and volunteer who works with children or youth in any way at Grace Presbyterian Church is expected to read the Child Protection Policy adopted by Session and will signify his/her acceptance of the policy by completing the statement below. This statement will be maintained in the Church Office. Only one signed statement is required by any person working with children or youth at Grace; however, should his/her circumstances change in a way that would negate their affirmation of this policy, they will immediately inform the Pastor.

Applicant verification and release:

I recognize that Grace Presbyterian Church is relying upon the accuracy of the information contained herein. Accordingly, I attest and affirm that all the information that I have provided is completely true and correct. I authorize Grace Presbyterian Church to contact any person or entity as needed, and I further authorize any such person or entity to provide Grace Presbyterian Church with information, opinions, and impressions relating to my background or qualifications. I further authorize Grace Presbyterian Church to conduct a criminal background investigation and /or child abuse investigation if the check is deemed necessary. I voluntarily release Grace Presbyterian Church and any such organization, person, or entity listed herein by me from liability involving the communication of information relating to my background or qualifications.

Adopted by session on November 4, 2008; Clerk: Carol Bellamy

I, ________________________, have read the Child Protection Policy of Grace Presbyterian Church, 5924 Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham, MD, and agree and accept its content. I hereby affirm that I have never been accused of or been convicted of any crime related to abuse, sexual misconduct, child endangerment, or any crime involving children. I have not been accused of any act of child molestation and/or exploitation, abuse or neglect. I have no traits or tendencies that could pose a threat to children, youth or others.

Signed: _______________________________________________

Date:____________________

Witnessed by (name and position):_________________________________

(signature)____________________________________________________

Date:____________________