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click here to download a printable MS Word document version of this policy
STANDARDS FOR CARE OF CHILDREN
First Congregational Church (UCC) of Holden
in
effect September 30,2002; revised June 13, 2006 per vote of Church Council
The First Congregational Church aspires to be a community of faith in which people grow in faith
and discipleship as they participate in the life of the congregation. We recognize the need to provide for the physical and
spiritual well-being of the children who come to our church and participate in its programs and activities, including those
conducted off-site. We are mindful of the need to provide them with religious education in order to foster their spiritual
development but also to maintain a safe environment in which they may grow in faith. These Standards for Care of Children outline
procedures and policies which we believe are important in helping to make the church a safe place for our children. It is
our hope that we will continue to explore ways to offer the safe and nurturing environment that helps children to feel part
of a faithful church community.
In order to see that these standards
are applied effectively, the Church Council shall be responsible for insuring that all committee members are familiar with
the Standards for Care of Children and are able to implement these standards. The Pastor or his/her designee shall be responsible
for providing training to all Caregivers so that they understand and can comply with these standards.
We believe that the primary responsibility for care and supervision of children in the
Church rests with their parents or guardians. These Standards for Care of Children reflect that understanding by making provision
for appropriate care when children are involved in those activities and events intended exclusively for children in which
their parents or guardians may not be present. Parents or guardians are responsible for the supervision of their children
when on the Church property or inside the building unless the children are under the supervision of a Caregiver. Parents or
guardians are expected to instruct their children in the proper way to conduct themselves at Church-sponsored events. They
are responsible for obtaining any needed information regarding Church events and for filling out required permission forms.
They are also responsible for determining the way in which their children get to and from Church-sponsored events.
Definitions
For the purposes of these standards the
following definitions apply:
Child: any
person below the age of 18 years
Adult: any
person at least 18 years old
[These standards for care are not intended to prohibit people younger
than 18 from helping to provide care for younger children. But we feel
that children should not be placed in a position of responsibility and
liability that being a designated Caregiver implies. Therefore, even if
there are people younger than 18 available to provide care, there
need to be at least two adults at the event.]
Caregiver: any adult who has been designated by any Church committee or staff person
to care for and supervise children at events as defined below.
[Designation would mean being placed on a list of approved Caregivers
for specific events.]
CORI Cleared: any adult who has had a no criminal record shown in a Criminal
Offender Record Information check conducted by The Massachusetts Criminal
History Systems Board
Mentor: any adult who
has been designated by any Church committee or staff person to
be involved in a one-on-one relationship with a child as part of a Church-
sponsored program or event
Event:
a Church-sponsored gathering or meeting which by title or function is intended
exclusively for children and which may occur on or off Church property
(e.g., church school, confirmation, youth group, etc.)
[It is important to understand that the term event does not mean that
every group that is meeting at the same time constitutes a separate event
requiring two adult Caregivers. For example, on Sunday morning
there are many various activities going on at the church. For the purpose
of providing care for children, Sunday morning may be considered as one
event.
This means that the minimum number of Caregivers required
would be that which would allow at least two adults to be aware of who is
with each group involving children and where they are located.]
Activity: the specific actions which occur during an event
Criminal Offender Record Information
Checks
The First Congregational Church of Holden (FCC) will conduct
Criminal Offender Record Information checks (CORI) for Church caregivers.
1) The CORI checks will be conducted as authorized
by The Massachusetts Criminal History
Systems Board (CHSB). The FCC has been authorized
by the Massachusetts CHSB to
perform CORI checks under the following conditions:
a) The Coordinator of Children's Ministry, will be the administrator of the CORI checks and
has
been trained regarding this process.
b) Both the CORI application and CORI results will be permanently
maintained in a locked
file cabinet within the FCC office accessible
only by the Coordinator of Children's Ministry
and the Pastor.
c) Electronic CORI reports will be password protected, accessible only by the Coordinator
of Children's Ministry and the Pastor.
2) The CORI application
and review process is outlined below:
a) The CORI application and review process must be completed
prior to the applicant
becoming a caregiver.
b) Upon expressing interest to be a caregiver to the children of FCC, the potential caregiver
will receive a CORI application and a copy of the Standards for Care of Children from the
Coordinator of Children's Ministry.
c) The CORI application must be completed by the potential
caregiver and returned to the
Coordinator of Children's Ministry.
The Coordinator of Children's Ministry will also
photocopy the
applicant's driver's license or other valid government issued picture
identification.
d) The Coordinator of Children's Ministry will electronically process the
CORI application.
e) The results of the CORI check will be provided electronically to the Coordinator
of
Children's Ministry from the Massachusetts CHSB. In all cases,
the Coordinator of
Children's Ministry will closely compare the
CORI results to the information on the CORI
application and any other
identifying information provided by the applicant, to ensure
the record
relates to the applicant.
i) If there is no criminal record, the applicant
will be informed by the Coordinator of
Children's
Ministry that they have been "CORI cleared" and are able to be a caregiver
to the children of the FCC.
ii) If a criminal record is received from
the Massachusetts CHSB, the Coordinator of
Children's
Ministry shall inform the applicant that they have not been "CORI cleared".
The
applicant will be provided with a copy of the CORI report, informed they have not
been "CORI cleared", and given the opportunity to dispute the accuracy and relevance
of the CORI record. Applicants challenging the accuracy of the CORI will be provided
a copy of the Massachusetts CHSB's Information Concerning the Process in
Correcting a Criminal Record.
Should the applicant rectify misinformation contained in the CORI, the applicant shall
have
the right to resubmit an application to be re-CORI checked as outlined in this
policy.
In addition, the applicant will have the option to meet with the Coordinator of
Children's Ministry and the Pastor to review the criminal record. If the applicant chooses
not to meet with the Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor, the applicant will
not become a caregiver. If the applicant chooses to review the criminal record with the
Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor, the following will apply:
(a) The Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor will listen to the explanation
from the applicant and ask relevant questions as needed.
(b) The Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor will discuss the criminal
charges and the applicant's explanation. Other factors which shall be considered are
included in Exhibit A of this policy.
(c) If the
Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor agree, the following
will occur
1. If the
Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor agree that the individual
can be a caregiver, the applicant will be notified by the Coordinator of Children's
Ministry that s/he can be a caregiver to the children of the FCC.
2. If the Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor agree that the individual
cannot be a caregiver, the applicant will be notified by the Coordinator of
Children's Ministry that s/he cannot be a caregiver to the children of the FCC until
s/he is "CORI Cleared".
(d) If
the Coordinator of Children's Ministry and the Pastor do not agree, the following
will occur
1. The applicant
will be informed that a decision could not be reached and s/he has
the
option to have Church Council vote as to whether or not s/he can be a
caregiver to the children of the FCC.
i. If the applicant does not want the criminal offense presented to the Church
Council, s/he will not be allowed to be a caregiver to the children of the FCC
until s/he is "CORI cleared".
ii. If the applicant does want the criminal offense presented to the Church Council,
the facts of the criminal offence and factors from Exhibit A of this policy will be
presented to the Church Council by the Coordinator of Children's Ministry and
the Pastor. The applicant's name will be kept confidential.
iii. The Church Council must vote with 2/3 majority in order for the applicant to
become a caregiver to the children of the FCC. This vote will be recorded
in the minutes of the Church Council meeting.
iv. The applicant will be notified by the Coordinator of Children's Ministry whether
or not the Church Council voted the applicant able to be a caregiver to the
children of the FCC.
f) All caregivers
of children of FCC will be required to resubmit a CORI application every
two (2) years and be "CORI cleared"
g) Should it become known that a "CORI cleared"
individual has been accused of a criminal
offense since being "CORI
cleared" it is at the discretion of the Coordinator of Children's
Ministry and the Pastor to determine if that individual can still be a caregiver to the children
of FCC. If not, the individual will be notified by the Pastor that they are being placed on a
caregiver leave of absence pending the investigation of the criminal offense. Prior to being
reinstated as a caregiver, such individual will have to resubmit a CORI application even if it
has not been two years since the individual was last "CORI cleared".
Supervision
At least two Caregivers shall be present at any event; any exceptions to this require specific
written permission from parent(s) or guardian(s).
No Caregiver
shall place him/herself in a compromising situation by being alone with one child out of sight of other adults without proper
notification being given to other nearby Caregivers or other adults.
All children participating in any event are expected to remain under the supervision of the Caregivers involved throughout
the event. No children shall be unsupervised, and if there are no available Caregivers, or if a child refuses to remain under
such supervision, then his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be notified. Note that although children should be aware that
they are expected to remain under the supervision of the Caregivers, it is the responsibility of the Caregivers to insure
that all children remain under supervision.
Appropriate written
procedures shall be in place for transitions between parent(s) or guardian(s) and Caregivers.
If any personal injury requiring first aid or any property damage occurs during an event, it shall
be reported to the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child(ren) involved as soon as possible and a written report given to the
Pastor to be filed in the church office.
The use of alcoholic
beverages by any Caregiver on Church property or at any event is prohibited. The use of tobacco by a Caregiver shall not occur
within view of children.
Mentoring Relationships
No
mentoring process between an adult and a child shall start before the parent(s) or guardian(s) meet the prospective Mentor
and give written consent for the mentoring relationship between the Mentor and child.
[Note that this does not prohibit
mentoring relationships; rather, it requires that any such relationships have written parental consent.]
Parents or guardians shall give written consent for any activities in which Mentors
and children engage which are not part of scheduled activities and events of the Church. This would include consent for any
transportation by Mentors or involvement in events occurring off church property.
Bathroom Supervision
Caregivers who accompany a child to the bathroom shall wait outside the bathroom
door unless a child needs assistance, in which case two Caregivers or adults shall be present, or the door shall be left open.
Diapering of infants and toddlers shall
be done by Caregivers only when advance written consent of parent(s) or guardian(s) has been given.
Transportation
Only Caregivers who are at least 21 years of age shall transport
children to or from events. Permission of parent(s) or
guardian(s) shall be obtained for any events occurring off Church property.
A Caregiver shall be aware of the arrangements made for each child's transportation home from events.
Transportation of children by a Caregiver requires the written permission of a
parent or guardian. The consent form shall include all specifics as to location of the event, emergency numbers, and transition
from the event to home.
When traveling to or from events off
Church property, there only needs to be one Caregiver per vehicle provided that the vehicles travel together.
Following an event, no child shall be left alone or with only one Caregiver while waiting
for transportation.
Acceptable Discipline
Children
at events shall be treated in a manner which encourages mutual responsibility, respect, and cooperation.
Caregivers are encouraged to listen to the child, communicate expectations of
appropriate behaviors, and use non-abusive forms of behavior management. No form of spanking, hitting, slapping, or other
physical punishment, or destructive criticism or insults are allowed.
If a child is continually disruptive, or refuses to cooperate, a Caregiver may be sent to locate an appropriate supervisor,
and/or the parent(s) of the child may be contacted.
Appropriate
Activities
Information regarding planned activities shall be made available to parents and guardians who inquire,
and all events are open to any parents and guardians who wish to attend.
Setting boundaries is the responsibility of the Caregiver.
No
Caregiver shall initiate inappropriate and unnecessary physical contact with any child, nor shall they engage in inappropriate
verbal communication.
Appropriate activities do not force any
unwanted physical contact or emotional sharing from or between children.
Appropriate activities do not include any highly risky or violent contact activities.
Parental Consent
Written permission of parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be obtained for:
- any events occurring off Church property
- any event at which there is only one Caregiver
- any overnight
events
- transportation of children by a Caregiver
- a mentoring relationship between a Mentor and child
- activities
in which Mentors and children engage which are not part of scheduled
activities and events of the Church, including permission for transportation by Mentors
- diapering of infants and toddlers by Caregivers
Exhibit
A (from CORI section) 1. Relevance
of the crime to the position sought;
2. The nature of the caregiving to be performed;
3. Time since the conviction;
4. Age of the candidate at the time of the offense;
5. Seriousness and specific circumstances of the offense;
6. The number of offenses;
7. Whether the applicant has pending charges;
8. Any relevant evidence of rehabilitation or
lack thereof;
9. Any other relevant information, including information submitted by the candidate
or
requested by the Church
All
Caregiver are required to sign the following statement and return it to the Coordinator of Children's Ministry before
working with children at our church:
************************************************************************
I have read and understand the Standards for Care of Children document of the First Congregational
Church of Holden and agree to abide by the standards set forth in it.
____________________________________
_____________________
Signature
Date
___________________________________
Printed
Name
____________________________________
Your Role with children of the Church
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Have a question? Need more information? Contact us!
1180 Main Street Holden MA 01520 (508)829-5411
email: churchoffice@fccholden.org
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