Safe Congregations: Sexual Health Assessment Checklist
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Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Do you: | Have a Safe Congregations Committee or a Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Response Team with primary responsibilities for these issues? | ||||
Have a written policy on safe congregations? | |||||
Have a disruptive person's policy and procedure? | |||||
Have written overall policies and procedures specifically on preventing sexual harassment? | |||||
Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | ||
Is the Safe Congregation Policy: | Posted on the web site? | ||||
Run in the newsletter once annually? | |||||
Included in new members materials? | |||||
Posted on a bulletin board? | |||||
Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | ||
Is the disruptive person policy: | Posted on the web site? | ||||
Run in the newsletter once annually? | |||||
Included in new members materials? | |||||
Posted on a bulletin board? | |||||
Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | ||
Is the sexual harassment policy: | Posted on the web site? | ||||
Run in the newsletter once annually? | |||||
Included in new members materials? | |||||
Posted on a bulletin board? | |||||
Reporting and Screening | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
Do you make sure that the Minister, the Director of Religious Education, and the Board Chair know the state laws for reporting concerns about abuse to children? | |||||
Do all volunteers in the Religious Education program receive annual training on what to do if they suspect child abuse or child sexual abuse? | |||||
Do you have a screening form for all employees, regardless of position? | |||||
Do you have a screening form for all volunteers who work with children and youth asking them directly about possible histories of sexual offenses? | |||||
Sexual Offenders | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
Do you have a draft of a limited access agreement or check list for convicted or accused sex offenders? | |||||
Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | ||
Do you have a written policy in place for a process for responding to an allegation of sexual abuse: | Against a Member? | ||||
Against a Visitor? | |||||
Against a Staff Person? | |||||
Education | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
Do you include education about child sexual abuse prevention in the religious education program at least twice during elementary school? | |||||
Once during middle school? | |||||
And once for your teen group? | |||||
Do you hold an annual adult education program on sexual abuse prevention for parents/guardians and families? | |||||
Do you have two adults present in each class or program for children and youth? | |||||
Do you have two unrelated adults required for cars transporting young people to activities? | |||||
Do all leaders of youth groups sign the Code of Ethics for Adults and Youth in Leadership Positions (PDF)? | |||||
Childcare | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
Does everyone (including teens and young adults) who provides childcare at church functions: | Fill out the screening form? | ||||
Receive training on sexual abuse identification and prevention, both by others and by self, including guidelines on appropriate touch? | |||||
Are youth babysitters encouraged in writing and in a course to speak with minister or DRE if they have been sexual abused? | |||||
Understand two childcare providers must be present at all times with younger children? | |||||
Prohibit childcare providers at church functions who have not been screened and educated about sexual abuse? | |||||
Pastoral Care | Yes | No | Don't Know | Plans for Improvement | |
Do you make sure the minister has a referral list of community organizations and therapists who specialize in sex abuse prevention and treatment in case you need them? | |||||
Have support groups available to those who have survived child sexual abuse? | |||||
Do you offer pastoral care for those who have survived child sexual abuse? | |||||
Do you offer pastoral care for those who have survived or are currently experiencing domestic violence and/or sexual assault? | |||||
Do you offer pastoral care for sexual offenders |