Child Protection Policy

 

Preamble 

We, the Session of the First Presbyterian Church, of the Presbytery of Utica, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), believe and proclaim that all human beings are created by God in the divine image. Therefore, every person, regardless of age, race, or gender, has inherent worth and dignity in the eyes of God. This God-given worth and dignity should be recognized and respected in all human relationships, especially in those relationships between persons in positions of leadership and authority within the church and those over whom they exercise this leadership and authority. To use the power and authority of a church office or position for any purpose other than to serve those who have been entrusted to one’s care is an abuse of power, a betrayal of trust and God’s love for each of us in Jesus Christ, and a denial of human worth and dignity. Such misconduct must not be tolerated. 

 

In this belief, the Session enacts the following policy on child protection in order to keep our children safe and so that allegations of misconduct may be seriously treated and dealt with promptly, justly, and with compassion toward all affected parties. 

 

General Purpose Statement 

First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown seeks to provide a safe and secure environment for the children who participate in our programs and activities. By implementing the practices outlined below, our goal is to protect the children of First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown from incidents of misconduct or inappropriate behavior while also protecting our staff and volunteers (“workers”) from false accusations.  These policies also apply to outside organizations which are permitted to use our facilities and have followed the Buildings and Grounds application procedures.  (See attached application form.) 

 

Training 

First Presbyterian Church, as required by New York State, will provide training on this child protection policy to all Sunday School teachers, childcare workers, and those who interact with children on a regular basis. All workers are mandated to attend yearly training provided either by First Presbyterian Church or via another appropriate program approved by Session. Training at First Presbyterian Church is expected to be done in late summer before the Sunday School season starts. 

 

Definitions 

For Purposes of this policy, the terms “child” or “children” include all persons under the age of eighteen (18) years. The term “worker” includes both paid and unpaid persons who work with children. The term “volunteer” means anyone involved in Sunday School, in field trips and overnight activities involving minors, in counseling of minors, or in one-on-one mentoring of minors. 

 

Selection of Workers 

All persons who desire to work with the children participating in our programs and activities will be screened. This screening includes the following: 

 

a. Six Month Rule 

No person will be considered for any volunteer position involving contact with minors until that person has been involved with the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown for a minimum of six (6) months. This time of interaction between our leadership and the applicant allows for better evaluation of the suitability of the applicant for working with children. 

 

b. Written Application 

All persons seeking to work with children must complete and sign a written application in a form to be supplied by us. The application will request basic information from the applicant and will inquire into previous experience with children, previous church affiliation, reference and employment information, as well as the disclosure of any previous criminal convictions. The application form will be maintained in a confidential personnel file at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown.   

 

c. Personal Interview 

Upon completion of the application, a face-to-face interview may be scheduled with the applicant to discuss their suitability for the position. 

 

d. Reference Checks 

Before an applicant is permitted to work with children, at least two of the applicant’s references will be checked. Where applicable, these references should be of an institutional nature as opposed to personal or family references, preferably from organizations where the applicant has worked with children in the past. Documentation of the reference checks will be maintained in a confidential personnel file at First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown. 

 

e. Criminal Background Checks 

A national criminal background check is required for all employees (regardless of position) and volunteers as defined above. Session reserves the right (in consultation with the Policy Shepherd) to waive this requirement for long-time members who have served as volunteer Sunday school teachers in the past.  

 

Before a background check is run, prospective workers will be asked to sign an authorization form allowing the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown to run the check. If an individual declines to sign the authorization form, that person will not be allowed to work with children.   

 

A disqualifying offense that will keep an individual from working with children will be determined by the Pastor and Session on a case-to-case basis in light of all the surrounding circumstances. Generally, convictions for an offense involving children and/or for offenses involving violence, dishonesty, illegal substances, indecency, or any conduct contrary to our mission will preclude someone from being permitted to work with children. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction on the application form will also be a disqualifying factor. 

 

The background check, authorization form, and results will be maintained in a confidential personnel file at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown.  

 

Two Adult Rule  

It is our goal that a minimum of two adult workers (one may be a minor at least 14 years old) will be in attendance at all times when children are being supervised during our programs and activities. Some youth classes may have only one adult teacher in attendance during the class session; in these instances, the doors to the classroom should remain open. We do not allow minors to be alone with one adult on our premises or in any sponsored activity unless in a counseling situation.   

 

Teenage Workers 

We recognize that there may be times when it is necessary or desirable to have babysitters (paid or volunteer) who are themselves under age 18 assist in caring for children during programs or activities. The following guidelines apply to teenage workers: 

 

  • Must be at least age 14. 

  • Must be screened as specified under “Selection of Workers,” except for background checks. 

  • Must be under the supervision of an adult and must never be left alone with children.   

 

Open Door Policy 

Classroom doors should remain open unless there is a window in the door or a side window beside it.  Doors should never be locked while persons are inside the room.  

 

Check-in/Check-out Procedure 

Children below third grade should be accompanied by an adult to the Sunday school class or church activity and signed in. In most instances the Sunday school teacher(s) will bring the children to the Sanctuary for worship following their Sunday school class. After the Moments with Children during worship, children below third grade will be accompanied to the child care room. Following worship, children will be picked up by their parent(s) or a designated adult. 

 

Sick Child Policy  

It is our desire to provide a healthy and safe environment for all the children at First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown. Parents are encouraged to be considerate of the other children when deciding whether to place a child under our care. In general, children with the following symptoms should NOT be dropped off. 

  • Fever, diarrhea, or vomiting within the last 48 hours; 

  • Green or yellow runny nose; 

  • Eye or skin infections; and/or 

  • Other symptoms of communicable or infectious disease. 

 

Children who are observed by our workers to be ill will be separated from other children and the parent or guardian will be contacted to request that the child be picked up as soon as possible. 

 

Medications Policy 

It is the policy of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown not to administer either prescription or non-prescription medications to the children under our care. Medications should be administered by a parent at home.  

 

Exceptions to the medications policy may be granted to parents of children with potentially life-threatening conditions (such as asthma or severe allergic reactions). Parents of such children should address their situation with the child care leader to develop a plan of action. 

 

Restroom Guidelines 

Children five years old or younger shall be escorted to the bathroom. The workers should check the bathroom first to make sure it is empty, and then allow the children inside. The workers should then remain outside the bathroom door and escort the children back to the classroom. If a child is taking longer than seems necessary, the worker should open the bathroom door and call the child’s name. If a child requires assistance, the workers should prop open the bathroom door, and leave the stall door open as they assist the child. 

 

For protection of all, workers should never be alone with a child in the bathroom with the door closed and never be in a closed bathroom stall with a child. Parents are strongly encouraged to have their children visit the bathroom prior to each class. 

 

Discipline Policy 

It is the policy of First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown not to administer corporal punishment, even if parents have suggested or given permission for it. There should be no spanking, grabbing, hitting, or other physical discipline of children. Workers should consult with the Chair of the Growth and Nurture Team if assistance is needed with disciplinary issues.  

 

Accidental Injuries to Children 

In the event that a child or youth is injured while under our care, the following steps should be followed: 

 

1. For minor injuries, scrapes, and bruises, workers will provide First Aid (Band-Aids, etc.) as appropriate and will notify the child’s parent or guardian of the injury at the time the child is picked up from our care. 

 

2. For injuries requiring medical treatment beyond simple First Aid, the parent and/or guardian will immediately be summoned in addition to the worker’s supervisor. If warranted by circumstances, an ambulance will be called. 

 

3. Once the child has received appropriate medical attention, an incident report will be completed in the case of injuries requiring treatment by a medical professional. 

  

Use of Images  

Any use of photos or videos of minors at church activities is not permitted without the written permission of a parent or guardian. 

 

Child Abuse 

For purposes of this policy, “child abuse” is any action (or lack of action) that endangers or harms a child’s physical, psychological, or emotional health and development. Child abuse occurs in different ways and includes the following: 

 

  • Physical abuse – any physical injury to a child that is not accidental, such as beating, shaking, burns, and biting. 

 

  • Emotional Abuse – emotional injury when the child is not nurtured or provided with love and security, such as in an environment of constant criticism, belittling, and persistent teasing. 

 

  • Sexual Abuse – any sexual activity between a child and an adult or between a child and another child at least four years older than the victim, including activities such as fondling, exhibitionism, intercourse, incest, and pornography. 

 

  • Neglect - depriving a child of his or her essential needs, such as adequate food, water, shelter, and medical care. 

 

Child care workers may have the opportunity to become aware of abuse or neglect of the children under our care. In the event that an individual involved in the care of children at this church becomes aware of suspected abuse or neglect of a child under their care, this should be reported immediately to the Policy Shepherd for further action, including reporting to authorities as may be mandated by state law. 

 

Procedures for Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse 

In the event that an incident of abuse or neglect is alleged to have occurred at the church or during our sponsored programs or activities, the following procedure shall be followed: 

 

1. The appointed Policy Shepherd receives a complaint. 

2. The Policy Shepherd will notify the designated response team (to be determined). 

3. The parent or the guardian of the child will be notified. 

4. The following steps will be taken immediately: 

 

a. The clergy, staff, or church member alleged to be the perpetrator of the abuse or misconduct will immediately be placed on paid leave if on the church payroll, unpaid leave if not, pending an investigation and instructed in writing to remain away from the premises during the investigation. The person should be instructed in writing to have no contact with the alleged victim or with witnesses. 

 

Should the allegation be brought against the Senior Pastor, another staff person will be designated to function in this role. As of the writing of these recommendations, Peter Deysenroth will serve in this role. Each year, it will be Session’s responsibility to designate a staff person for this role and to reevaluate their decision whenever staffing changes occur. 

 

b. All allegations of abuse should be reported to Otsego County Child Welfare Services, and the church will comply with the state’s requirements regarding mandatory reporting of abuse as the law then exists. The church will fully cooperate with the investigation of the incident by civil authorities. 

 

c. The Presbytery of Utica will be informed of the allegation(s). 

 

d. Parents of children are informed by the Policy Shepherd/ Pastor/ Session that an allegation has been made and an investigation is underway. 

 

5. The insurance company will be notified, and the church will complete an incident report.  Any documents received relating to the incident and/or allegations will immediately be forwarded to the insurance company. 

 

6. The church will designate a spokesperson to the media concerning incidents of abuse or neglect. The advice of legal counsel will be sought before responding to media inquiries or releasing information about the situation to the congregation. All other representatives of the church should refrain from speaking to the media. 

 

7. A pastoral visit will be arranged for those who desire it. This should be for the purpose of providing pastoral support during the time of crisis and not for the purpose of investigating the incident or influencing the investigation. 

 

8. Any person who is not found innocent of the alleged abuse or misconduct will be removed from their position working with children or youth. 

 

Approved by Session January 17, 2021, changes approved by Session March 14, 2021