A s churches consider
protecting the children and youth given
to the church’s care, certain safeguards
need to exist to help the church develop
a comprehensive child abuse prevention
policy. A child abuse prevention policy
will help churches protect youth and
children plus the churches’ paid and Additional Resources
Various child abuse prevention materials, such as sample
volunteer workers. Most church insurance
policies, applications, and other resources are available
companies require churches to have a through www.churchfinancialservices.org or Church
Financial Services of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
child abuse prevention policy in place
in order to protect the church against
lawsuits. Churches should consider the
suggestions outlined in this brochure
when adopting a policy to protect
Church Financial Services
P
the children. Georgia Baptist Convention
2930 Flowers Road South
Atlanta, GA 30341
www.churchfinancialservices.org
770.936.5295
1.800.746.4422
rotecting
the Children
This document is intended to provide churches, pastors, and staff with current and
accurate information about the subjects covered. However, such information is not
intended to be sufficient for dealing with a particular legal problem, and the
authors and distributors do not warrant or represent its suitability for such purpose.
The reader should not rely upon this document as a substitute for independent
legal consultation or IRS instructions.
S u g g e s t e d S t e ps i n P r e v e n t i n g C h i l d A b u s e i n t h e C h u r ch
Provide Legal Super visory Visits Inter views
Definition to The leadership should supervise on an ongoing basis and Each worker should be interviewed
Workers make unannounced visits into classes or other program personally by the supervisor of the
Any volunteer or paid sites from time to time. ministry area. Documentation of the
worker who works with interview and the application or other
children under 18 years old should be given the Worker’s Application personnel documents must be kept
legal definition of child abuse in writing as well as Every paid and volunteer worker should have an application confidential and in a secure location.
the policy of the church on the reporting of child on file with the church. The application should include
abuse. New paid or volunteer workers should be relative questions pertaining to working in children’s or Identification System
trained in ways to prevent child abuse like viewing youth ministry. The application should include areas of An identification system should be adopted
a child abuse prevention video or reading available current address information, former churches, references, so that the adult who drops off a child is the
materials. The definition and training should help prior instances of child abuse allegations or victimizations, same adult or the adult’s designee who picks
workers identify child abuse in the future if they see and general experience in working in a children’s or youth up the child to reduce the possibility of
signs of abuse. While exact definitions differ from ministry. Also, a legal release statement should be on file kidnapping and liability.
state to state and between military and civilian regu- in the church office authorizing the church to conduct
lations and laws, most definitions agree on several criminal background and reference checks. A volunteer Comply Fully
common elements of an abused or neglected child: should be a member or attending a church for six months Comply fully with Georgia’s child abuse
“… a child whose physical or mental health or before serving with youth and children. reporting statute. Keep the church leadership
welfare is harmed or threatened with harm by informed of any suspicion of child abuse
References
acts or omissions of his/her parent or other and report the child abuse suspicion to the
References should be checked on anyone working with appropriate authorities.
person responsible for his/her welfare.” children or youth. The reference check should be completed
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on all paid and volunteer workers. A reference check
Administration on Children, Youth and Families. includes the references listed on the application plus former
churches of membership. It will be helpful to ask the listed
The Two Adult Rule references for additional references.
The church should adopt the “two adult” rule,
which requires a reasonable number of adult workers Criminal Background Check
to be maintained in each situation involving the A criminal background check should be conducted on all
supervision of children and youth, but with a paid employees and volunteers having contact with children
minimum of two workers at all times. When a under 18 years old. The criminal background check could
husband and wife work together, an additional be accomplished through a local law enforcement agency
worker is needed for the protection of the children or through a web site like www.screenchurchstaff.com or
and workers. www.volunteerselect.com. The criminal background check should
be conducted as a nationwide criminal background check.