EVERY TEN SECONDS, A CHILD ABUSE incident is reported in North America.1 As a parent, I am troubled when I look at the sinful world we live in. Although our churches and schools continue to protect children proactively, we must remember what we can do to provide a safe environment for children.
INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF OTHERS
A bystander is a person who is present when an event takes place but is not directly involved. Bystanders might be present when sexual assault or abuse occurs, or they could witness the circumstances that lead to these crimes. Most crimes are committed by someone the victim knows, and a bystander intervening may be the only way out. Many people see abuse or sexual misconduct taking place, but nothing is done or reported due to fear or lack of education on how to report an incident. Your actions matter! If you suspect that someone has been sexually assaulted, take action.
SCREEN YOUR VOLUNTEERS
Protecting the children in our ministries is every leader's moral and ethical responsibility. To provide an added layer of protection around those who attend our churches and schools, the North American Division (NAD) Working Policy, Section FB20, includes language outlining the steps for selecting and screening volunteers who work with children in Adventist churches and schools. According to this policy, all adult volunteers
are required to participate in a screening procedure that includes personal references and a criminal background check before they begin to serve. Background checks for each person must be updated every three years. Your division might have other policies, and I encourage you to follow them. If none exist, use these methods to develop local church policies.
ALWAYS HAVE VISIBILITY
Secluded rooms and areas with low visibility can be danger zones, creating the potential for abuse or bullying to take place. Minimize these danger zones by making sure to have visibility windows on all doors in your facility and be sure the visibility panes are not blocked or covered. Always lock rooms when not in use so they are inaccessible to others.
FOLLOW THE "TWO-ADULT RULE"
Establish a "Two-Adult Rule" for all child and youth ministry activities and interactions to ensure proper adult supervision. Two or more adult ministry leaders should always be with children. Whether it is an afterschool activity, a church Bible study, or any other situation, an adult should never be alone with a child or young person. Children should never be left without adult supervision.
ALWAYS PROVIDE SUFFICIENT, QUALITY SUPERVISION
Depending on the day or the activity, your ministry may work with a large group of children or a smaller group. In any case, it is essential to provide not only sufficient supervision but also quality supervision.
This means the on-duty volunteer is engaged and attentive to the children in their care. The volunteer should be alert, aware of any potential risks, and prepared to intervene. If you know you will be working with many children, make sure the staff/ leader-to-children ratio is sufficient to supervise the entire group. The team must be adequately trained to provide quality supervision for that designated day. Review steps to take should a staff member encounter inappropriate behavior between children or between a staff member and a child.
These procedures are designed to protect children but can also help shield volunteers from inappropriate situations or false accusations.
1 https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuseÂstatistics/
RESOURCES
https://www.rainn.org/articles/your-rolepreventing-sexual-assault
https://adventistrisk.org/en-US/Safety-Resources/Solutions-N ewsletter /2018/May / How-You-Can-Stop-Sexual-Abuse-in-YourMinistry
