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Best Practice Polices for the Protection of Children and Youth

Click here to download the entire policy (34 pages, pdf)

We are, and we always should be, shocked by headlines about the sexual abuse of children--within or outside the church. The Episcopal Church has developed a training program to help protect our youngest members, especially within the setting of the church where we all should experience love and safety.  This training program is now required for all persons involved in any activities where they are in contact with children and youth in our churches. We plan to offer training sessions twice a year at St. Martin’s. Training involves three hours spent watching two videos and discussing the material contained in them.

   
The first video deals with behavior of both abusers and children who have been abused. Interviews with both are included. Some of the dynamics of how abusers approach children, how children might act, and responses of adults are demonstrated. This is really a well done video for all people to view. It can help you be observant of children in all settings, not just church related.  The second video is more focused toward how the institutional church functions to protect children in hiring personnel, interviewing volunteers, monitoring programs, etc. It is important for us to look at how we can best conduct our programs to the benefit and safety of our children--even in our small congregations.

   
Over the years I’ve been to a lot of conferences around issues of child abuse and neglect. I am very impressed with the material as it is presented in this program and I am very pleased that our church has chosen to truly put the emphasis on protecting the children--not on protecting the institutional church.
By Lou Ritter, MD, pediatrician (retired) - parishioner of St. Martin of Tours, Kalamazoo

  

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Resources

   

  

Click here to view The Episcopal Church's Safe Church website

     

 click here to download letter

   

Click here to download the Sample Permission Form (a word document)

Click here to download the Sample Application Form (a word document)

Click here to download the "Code of Conduct" (a word document)

Click here to go to the "ICHAT" website - the State of Michigan's Background check webpage

Click here to go to the State of Michigan's Public Sex Offender Registry

Click here to visit the Preasidium homepage

Click here to download a copy of Preasidium's Safety Bulletin

To subscribe to Preasidium's Safety Bulletin, send your e-mail address to info@PraesidiumInc.com

 

 

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Workshops

   

Certification Workshops

Train the Trainer Seminars

   

    

   

  

Certification Workshop

To register for a workshop:

1. click on the registration link under the date & location, or call the phone number listed. 

   • Please give your e-mail, include name, parish, number attending from parish if more than yourself

  

2. bring with you $10 per person

• Checks are preferred - made payable to the Diocese of Western Michigan with "Safeguarding" in the memo

• Financial assistance is available and must be requested at time of registration

   

The following is a list of certification workshops

                   

    Saturday, February 18

Grace Church, Grand Rapids

9:00am to 12:00pm

Contact: Tina Cumings,

             email:tinacumings@gracechurchgr.org

             Phone: 616 241-4631

     

Tuesday, February 28

Grace Church, Traverse City

341 Washington St

6-9 pm

Contact Ann Hacket

email: ahackett@gracetc.org
231-947-2330

Participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag dinner. Call to register or to find out if weather causes a cancellation.

      

    

Train the Trainer

   

     

  

There are none currently offered  

  

Trainers are needed - click here for information on how to become a trainer

  

Please click here to contact Mary McGuire if you wish to become a trainer in this program