SAFETY IN YOUTH MINISTRY POLICY
Our Religious Education (RE) programs for children and youth entail a high degree of responsibility for the adults working directly and peripherally with the young people. All of us in the congregation teach our children not just how to be Unitarian Universalist but, perhaps more importantly, how to live in a Unitarian Universalist community, a community that gives to, cares for, critiques, affirms, questions, and blesses those within its fold.
Thus, for a people who expect their adults to be faith-keepers, trust-builders, and caregivers, it is easy to see why it is so important for us to be clear about how adults interact with children. Our responsibility to nurture spiritually and emotionally the children in our community is huge. With the stakes so high, we must not fail to guard them adequately against physical and emotional abuse. Will we safeguard against every perceivable abuse? This is not likely. However, we can significantly reduce the risk by creating and following preventative policies
The members and friends of UUErie accept the responsibility to define abuse, educate our congregation about it, and implement policies and procedures that will create a climate of safety, love, and awareness.
Section I: The Policy
Defining Abuse of Children and Youth
- Abuse can be mental, emotional, physical, or sexual. People may be guilty of abuse if they personally inflict the abuse, or if they cause or permit a child to be in a situation, or fail to do their best to protect a child from a situation that results in the abuse.
- A mental or emotional injury is one that “results in an observable and material impairment in the child’s growth, development or psychological functioning.”
- A physical injury is one that results in substantial harm to the child.
- Sexual abuse is any sexual misconduct that is potentially harmful to a child’s mental, emotional or physical welfare. Refer to UUErie Safe Congregations Sexually Safer Congregations Policy.
Education
The successful implementation of these procedures requires that we educate our congregation about what constitutes abuse, situations at our congregation that could put people at risk, and the rules and procedures that we have adopted. As we educate people, we need to make sure that we do so in a way that emphasizes love, awareness and action. It is important that we avoid creating an environment of fear or suspicion.
UUErie will hold annual training for all staff (even non-children’s ministry staff) and regular volunteers about how to spot physical and sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is particularly easy to overlook and presents itself through peculiar behaviors. We must ensure your staff and volunteers know who to go to if they suspect any child is suffering from physical or sexual abuse. The religious educator, minister, or president of the congregation are often designated to talk through concerns. Additional reference material can be found at: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm.
UUErie Board of Trustees:
The Board of Trustees, in consultation with the minister and DRE along with knowledgeable people, selected by education/ experience and willingness to serve, will inform this policy. Qualifications include:
- Professional or volunteer experience in working with children and/or child abuse issues or through special training in said areas;
- Knowledge about available resources and reporting procedures for children, inclusive of applicable Pennsylvania State laws.
The Safe Congregation Committee is responsible to:
- Make available the current UUErie Safe Congregation Safety in Youth Ministry and Sexually Safer Congregations Policies for the congregation library and each classroom.
- Provide a written overview of the procedures to the Membership Committee to be included in the new member packet
- Review screening and application documents and clearances and contact references.
Selection and Screening of Staff & Volunteers
Religious Education (RE) teachers, volunteers and paid staff members working with children and youth and nursery school children, if they are to be considered supervisors of children and youth and nursery school children, must meet the following standards:
- Will be at least 25 years of age to supervise youth of age 13 to 17.
- Will be at least 21 years of age to supervise other RE classes (an 18-20-year-old may supervise as a second adult with someone who is 21 or older).
- Will be at least 18 years of age to provide childcare in the nursery.
- Youth aged 13 to 17, wanting to assist in the nursery will read, understand and sign the Code of Conduct for Older Youth Working with Younger Youth and Children (see Appendix 6). These older youth are not required to be supervisors as defined in this section, as long as they are with two supervisors.
- Will have been an active participant in UUErie for at least six months or have childcare references from the public or private sector.
- Will meet with the Director of Religious Education (DRE) to discuss expectations.
- Will have completed a screening form and applicant’s statement (see Appendix 1).
- Will have read, understood and signed the Code of Conduct for Adults Working with Children and Youth (see Appendices 2).
- Will have read, understood and signed the Possible Indicators of Child Abuse document (see Appendix 3).
- Will have passed the state standard for PA criminal record and child abuse history clearances and if theyhave not lived in PA for the past 10 years, an FBI criminal background check, including a set of fingerprints.
- Submit new background checks every 36 months.
- Complete online “mandated reporter” training.
Supervision
- Events where the congregation assumes responsibility – the “Two Adult Rule”:
The “two adult rule” will be used and is defined as requiring at least two adults who are not married to one another* (and who are both supervisors, as defined above to be present during any activity where the congregation is taking responsibility for the care of children/ youth. Religious Education teachers, nursery, and substitute volunteers must meet all of the requirements in Section C. For purposes of complying with the “two adult rule.” Adults who are willing to substitute are required to meet the criteria in Section C. Adults who are not supervisors are permitted to visit RE classrooms to give presentations or otherwise assist RE supervisors with the permission of the RE director. Under no circumstances may an adult who is not a supervisor be with a child without two supervisors being present as well.
*Note: it is important to avoid teams with adults who are married to each other unless the team includes at least one additional supervisor.. Married people cannot testify on behalf of or against their partner in court. In a conflicted or litigious situation, they do not count as a second set of eyes in the room.
The DRE, or designee with clearances, may need to assist to ensure the implementation of the “two adult rule.” Classes may need to be combined to meet the requirements. If the” two adult rule” is unable to be implemented, the RE class(es) and/or nursery will be canceled for that day.
The “two adult rule” applies when diapering children and during bathroom trips as well. Diapers should be changed in the nursery, where two unmarried adults are present. Under no circumstances should one volunteer take a child into a bathroom or other separate room for a diaper change. Children over the age 4 who need assistance for the bathroom will be accompanied by a parent.
While our congregation is not responsible for screening members of other congregations, we do require that our safety policy of the “two adult rule” be followed. At least two adults who accompany youth from other UU congregations to attend district youth activities held at UUErie will be screened by their home congregations according to their own policies.
Supervision shall be maintained before and after the event until all children are in the custody of their parents or legal guardians.
The RE director will establish a clear check-in and check-out procedure for children that includes documentation of who is authorized to pick up a child, all appropriate registration/permission forms, emergency contact information, medical release and media release forms.
2. Events where the parents assume responsibility:
The “two adult rule” does not apply to congregation events where the parents have responsibility for their own children and youth.
3. Transporting children and youth:
The UUErie will not assume responsibility for transporting minors. If there is a UUErie sponsored event, parents or guardians will be responsible for arranging transportation for their children.
4. Childcare:
UUErie paid childcare staff and/or volunteers will be responsible for the children in the nursery. Procedures shall be implemented for the nursery that clearly identifies the child and the child’s parent or guardian. Children shall only be released to a properly identified and authorized adult.
5. Restricted Access
A list of those who have restricted access to children should be provided to the RE director and the Nursery worker.
Section II. Implementation of Policy
Education
- Documentation
The Safe Congregation Committee must ensure that supporting documentation exists that teachers have read and signed the Code of Conduct and the “Possible Indicators of Child Abuse” documents. The documents can be scanned and kept in an electronic file or locked in the office. RE Director, Child Care staff, Teachers and child care volunteers and substitutes will provide documentation of completing PA free online “mandated reporter” training.
Selection and Screening of Staff and Volunteers
- Interview
The DRE will meet with potential volunteers to describe the duties and screening requirements and determine the genuine interest of working with children and youth.
- Documentation
The Safe Congregation Committee must ensure supporting documentation exist demonstrating completion of required documents: Screening, Applicant’s Statement, Code of Conduct, Indicators of Child Abuse, PA clearances, and 30-day waiver, if needed.
- Criminal Background Check
Confidential PA criminal record and child abuse background checks and Federal criminal background checks, including a set of fingerprints will be required in accordance with PA laws and regulations. For volunteers who have a financial need, clearances will be at the expense of the UUErie.
The Safe Congregation Committee will review these background
check reports to base approval status for each applicant. All relevant laws pertaining to confidentiality and destruction of documents will be strictly followed. If a volunteer has a reviewed application, and criminal record check and child abuse history clearance, they may begin to work with children and youth as supervisors.
- Disqualifying offenses
Any applicant who has ever been convicted of any disqualifying offense, or who is currently on probation or received deferred adjudication or who is presently pending any criminal charges for any disqualifying offense against a child or youth, will automatically be given a “non-approval” recommendation by the Safe Congregation Committee. (See list of disqualifying offenses in Appendix 1)
Supervision Documentation
The DRE and/or Minister will monitor the appropriateness of the volunteers’ interactions with the children or youth. This supervision includes high school youth working as assistants in RE classes or nursery.
Adopted April 2024
APPENDICES
1. Screening Form and Applicant Statement
2. Code_of_Conduct for Adults Working with Youth and Children
3. Possible Indicators of Child Abuse
4. Personal and Organizational Reference Form
5. Code of Conduct for Older Youth Working with Younger Youth and Children
