VERIFIED VOLUNTEERS CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM ORIENTATION SEMINAR Dr. Jorge A. Ramírez Vice President for Administration Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
A Child is Abused in North America‌
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
The Junc)on City, Oregon Child Abuse Case
Child Protection Program
Are We Prepared?
Statement of Purpose S E V E N T H - D AY A D V E N T I S T C H U R C H
The _______________________ Seventh-day Adventist Church affirms its acceptance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Statement on the Nurture and Protection of Children.
Statement on the Nature and Protection of Children: G C S E S S I O N ( AT L A N TA , G A 2 0 1 0 ) Seventh-day Adventists place a high value on children. In the light of the Bible they are seen as precious gifts from God entrusted to the care of parents, family, community of faith and society-at-large. Children possess enormous potential for making positive contributions to the Church and to society. Attention to their care, protection and development is extremely important.
Statement on the Nature and Protection of Children: G C S E S S I O N ( AT L A N TA , G A 2 0 1 0 ) The Seventh-day Adventist Church reaffirms and extends its longstanding efforts to nurture and safeguard children and youth from persons - known and unknown - whose actions perpetrate any form of abuse and violence against them and/or sexually exploit them. Jesus modeled the kind of respect, nurture, and protection children should be able to expect from adults entrusted with their care.
Statement on the Nature and Protection of Children: G C S E S S I O N ( AT L A N TA , G A 2 0 1 0 ) Some of His strongest words of reproof were directed toward those who would harm them. Because of the trusting nature and dependence of children upon older and wiser adults and the life-changing consequences when this trust is breached, children require vigilant protection.
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
Potential Impacts Damaged Children Loss of Assets Human Resources Financial Resources
Impacted Lives and Reputations Loss of Confidence in Church Leadership Loss of Membership Achievement of our Mission
Making Churches and Schools a Safe Place for Children: EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS The Church also takes seriously its responsibility to minimize the risk for child sexual abuse and violence against children in the congregational setting. First and foremost, church leaders and members must themselves live by a strict code of ethics that precludes even the appearance of evil as regards the exploitation of minors for the gratification of adult desires.Â
Making Churches and Schools a Safe Place for Children: EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS Education regarding what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate interaction between adults and children, the warning signs of abuse and violence, and the specific steps to be followed should inappropriate behavior be reported or suspected are vitally important. Pastors and church leaders who are visible and approachable play an important role in prevention as well as in responding well to the needs of children whose safety may have been jeopardized.
Making Churches and Schools a Safe Place for Children: FA C I L I T I E S Other practical measures toward making church a safe place for children include attention to the safety of the church/school facility and its surroundings and the careful supervision and monitoring of children and their environment during all church/school-related activities.
Making Churches and Schools a Safe Place for Children: CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS Because of the complex nature of the problem of child sexual abuse and violence against children, intervention and treatment of perpetrators requires resources beyond the scope of ministry provided by the local church. However, the presence of a known perpetrator in a congregation calls for the highest levels of vigilance. While perpetrators should be held fully responsible for their own behavior, the supervision of persons
Making Churches and Schools a Safe Place for Children: CONVICTED SEX OFFENDERS with a history of inappropriate behavior is necessary to ensure that such persons maintain appropriate distance and refrain from all contact with children during churchrelated activities. Provision for alternative opportunities for perpetrators to grow spiritually in settings where children are not present greatly enhances child protection.
Child Protection Program
In recognition of its desire to nurture and protect children, the ______________ Seventh-day Adventist Church adopts this Child Protection Plan, which incorporates and expands, as appropriate, the Child Protection and Volunteer Screening policies (FB 20) as voted by the North American Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
NAD Policy FB 20 • Establishes the practices the Church will use in screening and training volunteers who work with children • Provides that screening and training will be done before an individual is allowed to serve • Addresses the challenge of allowing convicted sex-offenders to return to fellowship within the local congregation
Child Protection Program
VOLUNTEER SERVICE COMMITTEE In order to carry out the objectives of this Child Protection Plan, the __________________ Seventh-day Adventist Church creates and empowers the Volunteer Service Committee (5-7 members) to oversee the implementation of this Child Protection Plan, including Verified Volunteers.
Volunteer Service Committee Responsibilities 1. Develop and oversee local church Child Protection Program 2. Ensure facilities provide a safe environment for children 3. Oversee that volunteers go through Verified Volunteers 4. Understand and implement the Convicted Sex Offender Policy
Convicted Sex Offender Policy
Volunteer Service Committee Facilities/Other Minimal Requirements 1. All doors where minors are present must have windows or 
 should remain open 2. As much as possible, two-adult rule (must be unrelated) 3. Six month waiting rule 4. References for volunteers (highly recommended)
Volunteer Service Committee Verified Volunteers (VV) 1. All volunteers working with minors should register with VV 2. All volunteers must take required training from VV 3. All volunteers must complete a background check from VV
 (Some volunteers may be required to complete a DMV check
 as in: Adventurers, Pathfinders and drivers)
Volunteer Service Committee Day/Overnight Activities 1. Advanced planning: transportation, facilities, activities 2. Adequate insurance 3. Activity must be approved by church/school board 4. Adequate gender-appropriate supervision for boys and girls 5. Written parent/guardian consent
Volunteer Service Committee Children’s Privacy 1. Children’s need for privacy should be respected at all times 2. Particular care regarding privacy must be taken when young people are in locations such as changing areas, swimming pools, showers and restrooms 3. Photographs of children or young people must never be taken while they are in changing areas (for example, in a locker room or bathing facility) 4. Tasks of a personal nature (for example, helping with toileting, washing or changing clothing) should not be carried out for children or young people if they can undertake these tasks themselves
Child Protection Program Church Administrator Responsibilities 1. Take CPP orientation seminar from the Conference 2. Verify all volunteers complete Verified Volunteers
 (Register, training and background check) 3. Facilitate Volunteer Service Committee 4. Submit annual CPP compliance report to Conference 5. Monitor 3 year cycle for all volunteers
Making Churches and Schools a Safe Place for Children: W H AT T O D O I F A B U S E O C C U R S 1. Report abuse to law enforcement/child protection services 2. Report abuse to Conference Administration 3. Participate in meeting with local Conference leadership, 
 qualified/trained facilitator, parents of abused victim and 
 ARM claims counsel
Potomac Conference Corporation - Administration Responsibilities 1. Oversee Child Protection Program across the Conference 2. Ensure all pastors, educators and exempt employees comply
 with Verified Volunteers 3. Monitor Convicted Sex Offender Policy across the Conference 4. Training of all Child Protection Program Administrators 5. Facilitate meeting with parents of abused victims
Child Protection Program
Child Protection Program
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers
Step 4: Please provide the information requested on the screen. (Note: Do not click the back button or your registration will be lost).
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers
Step 6: Select your role(s) within the organization. (multiple may be selected).
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers
Note: If you are a volunteer and do not have a social security number, select the “No SSN” box on the first step of the order process.
Verified Volunteers
Verified Volunteers