God's Blessings in your large task. It was 9 or 10 years ago that i started on the safe church (abuse prevention) initiative. I often compare Abuse prevention to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Province Ontario) as it is all about policy and procedures, followed up with tons of documentation and training. Initially this can seem overwhelming, but it becomes part of the culture and expectation of providing a safe environment. There is a lot of very good information and training available (Ontario). Much has been written lately on the Network about various 'situations', and yet little is shared around training and signing off on expected activities and behaviors. Leaders in the church have the responsibility to protect the vulnerable, but maybe as important, is protecting the staff and the volunteers. All 3 groups must be protected .... I would encourage you to raise the legal, moral, and Christlike responsibility in creating a safe environment for all.
PS. If you are in Ontario, feel free to be in touch, and I'll flood you with ideas, videos, and documents. [email protected]
Our church has been using Sterling Backcheck. Combined with an application form called a 'volunteer profile' and a sign off on our abuse prevention policy. Each ministry leader is still responsible for documenting the reference checks.
Sterling is very simple and can be easily set up so the church can pay for each application. In Canada, any church that is a member of Plan to Protect, receives a discount from Sterling as well.
I only know what we do in our church. The Insurance Co. requires background check every 5 yrs. We are in year 7 or 8 with approx 215 approved volunteers. We renew 30-40 per year which is not difficult or very expensive. All the best to you ...
i've enjoyed reading the 'loaded/important' questions, and the wonderful responses. In addition to the comments already made, i assume you are in the US Kory, based on some of your questions, and i have no knowledge of US laws and insurance as it relates ...
As a starting point for a safe church, i often refer to the safe church 'stuff' very much the same as the Occupational Health and Safety Act here in Ontario. As a factory owner, our staff is engaged in constant education, as we try to create a mindset of safety in the workplace. Our safe church team at church is also trying to create a mindset of a safe environment for our vulnerable members and our volunteers. Of course we have policies, vulnerable sector checks, procedures, annual mandatory training, etc. etc. but through all this, it is a mindset that we all want to create in our volunteers. By creating a mindset of safety, the policies, procedures are less of an issue, and Love can then prevail much easier.
Posted in: Best Materials to Give Overview of Safe Church?
God's Blessings in your large task. It was 9 or 10 years ago that i started on the safe church (abuse prevention) initiative. I often compare Abuse prevention to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Province Ontario) as it is all about policy and procedures, followed up with tons of documentation and training. Initially this can seem overwhelming, but it becomes part of the culture and expectation of providing a safe environment. There is a lot of very good information and training available (Ontario). Much has been written lately on the Network about various 'situations', and yet little is shared around training and signing off on expected activities and behaviors. Leaders in the church have the responsibility to protect the vulnerable, but maybe as important, is protecting the staff and the volunteers. All 3 groups must be protected .... I would encourage you to raise the legal, moral, and Christlike responsibility in creating a safe environment for all.
PS. If you are in Ontario, feel free to be in touch, and I'll flood you with ideas, videos, and documents. [email protected]
Posted in: Using a Background Check Service
Our church has been using Sterling Backcheck. Combined with an application form called a 'volunteer profile' and a sign off on our abuse prevention policy. Each ministry leader is still responsible for documenting the reference checks.
Sterling is very simple and can be easily set up so the church can pay for each application. In Canada, any church that is a member of Plan to Protect, receives a discount from Sterling as well.
Hope this helps ...
Posted in: Using a Background Check Service
I only know what we do in our church. The Insurance Co. requires background check every 5 yrs. We are in year 7 or 8 with approx 215 approved volunteers. We renew 30-40 per year which is not difficult or very expensive. All the best to you ...
Posted in: Questions on Implementing Background Checks
i've enjoyed reading the 'loaded/important' questions, and the wonderful responses. In addition to the comments already made, i assume you are in the US Kory, based on some of your questions, and i have no knowledge of US laws and insurance as it relates ...
As a starting point for a safe church, i often refer to the safe church 'stuff' very much the same as the Occupational Health and Safety Act here in Ontario. As a factory owner, our staff is engaged in constant education, as we try to create a mindset of safety in the workplace. Our safe church team at church is also trying to create a mindset of a safe environment for our vulnerable members and our volunteers. Of course we have policies, vulnerable sector checks, procedures, annual mandatory training, etc. etc. but through all this, it is a mindset that we all want to create in our volunteers. By creating a mindset of safety, the policies, procedures are less of an issue, and Love can then prevail much easier.
Posted in: Homosexuality and Holy Uncertainty
Thank you for your article Syd.