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How to Establish a Youth Protection Policy for Your Church

Written by: Jon Vincent Forehand

Reputation Level 12

Child Abuse Family

Posted about 3 years ago. 1 helpful vote, 0 comments

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Screen All Childcare Workers

By screening all childcare workers your church can avoid claims of negligent hiring. Screening should include a written application process, interview, personal reference checks and a criminal record check.

Train Employees on Operating Policies

Your church can avoid a claim for negligent supervision by establishing sound operating policies and training your workers regarding the policies. For example, most churches adopt a two deep rule so that two adults are present with children at all times. Your church should also provide annual training to its workers to review the policies and procedures.

Operate & Monitor

Make sure that all workers follow the policies. Monitoring to make sure that the youth protection policy is being implemented is crucial.

Establish a Response Team

How should a church respond to an accusation of abuse? Planning for the churches' response is critical because each state has mandatory reporting requirements. Every church should designate a response team and make plans of how to address the parents of the child and the alleged abuser.