Safeguarding God's Children

In the Diocese of Western Michigan

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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

• A Pastoral Letter from the Bishop    

 click here to download letter

• Sample Forms

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)

• Background Checks

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

• Preasidium(the national leader of Abuse Risk Management, and creators of Safeguarding)

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. e-mail Mary McGuire one week before workshop

   • 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, April 17, 2010

Grace, Grand Rapids

(Click here to find a link to their website and to a map and directions)

9:00am - 12:00pm

     

    

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Emmanuel, Petoskey

(Click here to find a link to their website and to a map and directions)

1:00pm - 4:00pm

  

  

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Grace, Grand Rapids

(Click here to find a link to their website and to a map and directions)

6:00pm - 9:00pm

     

    

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Holy Cross, Kentwood

(Click here for their website with a map and directions)

9:00am - 12:00pm

      

   

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Grace, Traverse City

(Click here for their website with a map and directions)

6:00pm - 9:00pm

  

  

Saturday, October 9 , 2010

Grace, Traverse City

(Click here for their website with a map and directions)

10:00am - 1:00pm

 

     

 Train the Trainer

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

The following is a list of train-the-trainer seminars

There are none currently scheduled.  Thank you for your interest

Please click here to contact Gennie Callard if you wish to become a trainer in this program