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1.0 Child Protection Policy

• Adult employees and volunteers, who work with minors must be screened and undergo a criminal background check prior to beginning work.
• Adults who have been convicted of either sexual or physical abuse of children/youth or that have a history of inappropriate conduct with children will not be employed and shall not volunteer service in any church­ sponsored activity or program for minors.
• Employees and volunteers who work with children and youth shall observe the “two­ person rule” or the “open door policy” at ALL times. The “two ­person rule” requires that employees, volunteers and supervisors shall make every reasonable effort to avoid situations where an employed or volunteer worker is alone with children or youth without a partner. The “open door policy” requires the door be open at all times.
• All employees and volunteers working with children and youth are required to be active participants of UUCA for a minimum of six months or have been vetted by UUCA leadership before they begin their work.
• We will report suspected incidents of abuse, or any behavior, which seems abusive or inappropriate as described in “Child Protection ­ Reporting Suspected Incidents of Abuse”.

• We will respond to reported incidents of abuse as described in “Child Protection ­ Responding to Reported Incidents of Abuse”.

2.0 Child Protection – Reporting Suspected Incidents of Abuse

The law requires a person to immediately report suspected and reported child abuse to the authorities and at UUCA to the Director of Faith Development, the Minister or the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Failure to do so may result in criminal charges and exposes one to civil liability for monetary damages.

Therefore, all employees and volunteers at UUCA must adhere to the following procedures:

1. In the event of suspected, reported or discovered child abuse or violation of the child Protection Guidelines of UUCA, the employee or volunteer shall immediately notify the Minister or, in the absence of the Minister, the Director of Faith Development, or the Chair of the Board of Trustees. In addition, the employee or volunteer will also immediately make a report to Erie County Child Protection (716) 858­6437.
2. Reports shall be documented in writing with the date of the report, the time of the report, the telephone number to which the report was made, the name of the recipient of the report, and a brief synopsis of the report. If at all possible, all oral reporting will be done in the presence of a recorded witness.
3. All church employees and volunteers working with minor children will receive training at the beginning of each church administrative year regarding the signs of child abuse, including child sexual abuse, and the steps to report any and all suspected child abuse.

Physical signs of molestation may include:

• lacerations and bruises
• irritation, pain or injury to the genital area
• difficulty with urination
• discomfort when sitting
• torn or bloody underclothing
• venereal disease

Behavioral signs of molestation may include:

• anxiety when approaching the church building or nursery or preschool area
• (beyond normal separation anxiety)
• nervous or hostile behavior toward adults
• sexual self­consciousness or acting out of sexual behavior
• withdrawal from church activities and friends

Verbal signs of molestation may include statements such as:

• “… does things to me when we’re alone.”
• “I don’t like to be alone with …”
• “… fooled around with me.”

3.0 Child Protection Policy – Responding to Reported Incidents of Abuse

• The official spokesperson for UUCA shall be the Minister, or in the absence of the Minister, the Chair of the Board of Trustees. All inquiries or requests for information from the media, attorneys or any other parties shall be referred to the official spokesperson. No person other than the official spokesperson is to release any information regarding any alleged incident of child abuse without the express approval of the official spokesperson.
• The official spokesperson shall immediately report any alleged incident of child abuse to the Erie County Child Protection (716) 858­6437, our insurance carrier ­ Emery & Webb Insurance (800) 942­5818 and the UUA Central East Region Primary Contact ­ Rev. Renee Ruchotzke (330) 554­0828.

• The care and safety of the victim is our first priority. We will not confront the accused without the approval of the Child Protection Service or law enforcement authorities.

• We will not prejudge any person accused, but we will take any allegation of child abuse seriously and will reach out with love and respect to support to the victim and the victim’s family, extending whatever pastoral care resources are needed. We will fully cooperate with any authorities investigating an allegation of child abuse.

• We will treat the accused with dignity and respect. If the accused is a church worker, that person shall be temporarily relieved of his or her duties until the investigation is finished and the person cleared by the authorities. If the accused is a paid employee of our church, his or her income will be maintained, until allegations are cleared by authorities or until criminal charges.

• All communication by the official spokesperson to the media, congregation, and public will protect the privacy and confidentiality of all involved.

• All efforts in responding to the alleged incident of child abuse shall be documented by the Minister or, in the absence of the Minister, by the Chair of the Board of Trustees and maintained in a secure and confidential file.

4.0 Sexual Misconduct Policy

Purpose: Sexual Misconduct Policy establishes proper preventative measures to protect individuals against sexual misconduct as well as to specify courses of action in the case of allegations or an actual incident regarding sexual misconduct

Standard of Conduct: All workers, volunteer, paid,  full time and part-time, of UUCA are expected to comply with the established policy on Sexual Misconduct. Any actions contrary to the church policy will be dealt with swiftly and may include disciplinary measures up to and including termination, as well as legal ramifications when applicable.

Definitions:

Child Sexual Abuse – any sexual activity with a child–whether in the home by a caretaker, in a 

day care situation, a foster/residential setting, or any other setting, including on the street by a person unknown to the child. The abuser may be an adult, an adolescent, or another child, provided the child is four years older than the victim. Sexual activity – may be violent or non­violent, touching or non-touching, and is an exploitation of a child’s vulnerability and powerlessness. It involves children in sexual behaviors for which they are not personally, socially, and developmentally ready.

Sexual Misconduct – inappropriate behavior relating to or involving a sexual nature.

Pre­screening of Workers

• All paid workers, part time and full time, will fill out an application and a primary screening for volunteer worker application.
• All volunteer workers will fill out a volunteer worker application.
• All workers­ volunteer, paid, full­ time and part-time, will be interviewed by the Minister, Director of Faith Development or a designated representative.
• All workers, volunteer, paid, full ­time and part-time, will provide a valid form of ID (i.e., state driver’s license, social security card, or other acceptable form of ID).
• All workers, volunteer, paid, full­ time and part-time, will provide at least two (2) professional/personal references upon application to be conducted prior to any service with the church. The references are to be contacted by an authority within the church. The authority should note any information they tried to secure but could not verify or obtain.

• All workers, volunteer and paid, full­time and part-time, will sign a release for Criminal Records Check to be used at the church’s discretion.
• All employees and volunteers will sign a release for Criminal Records Check and undergo a criminal background check prior to any activity of employment with the church.
• All workers in a leadership position with direct relation to children must have been active participants with the Church for a minimum of six (6) months prior to filling the position or have been vetted by Church leadership.
• No applicant or volunteer ever convicted of a sexually related crime is eligible for service in a position with direct relation to children.

Created April 13, 2016                 Updated August 10, 2016[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]