In order to keep our students and the children we interact with safe, and in order to meet the requirements of our insurer, we must guarantee that:
- One InterVarsity staff or official volunteer on your program (hereafter referred to as "the trainer") completes the Sexual Misconduct Liability Training Powerpoint presentation and the short quiz that follows.
- This must be done before leading your students through the mandatory risk mangament discussion on your program.
- All Urban Program Directors agree to the following policies/actions (found below).
- Add them to your mandatory risk management discussion with staff and students on your program, and document in your program notes the day and time that you gave them this information.
- You log on to report training on sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and child abuse.
- Plug your name in, the date you did the training, and the names of the students that had background checks that you trained. It takes only a few minutes, but is a requirement.
Sexual Misconduct Policy for Urban Programs
[Include this information in your mandatory risk management discussion with staff and students on your program. Feel free to add in any additional information the trainer has learned from the Sexual Misconduct Liability Training Powerpoint presentation]
I agree to advise Urban Program volunteers, staff and students of our policies regarding the protection and correct treatment of children (under 18) and vulnerable adults (developmentally disabled/mentally impaired) in our programs. This includes:
- I will advise each staff, volunteer and student as to prudent physical boundaries to be maintained with children, youth and vulnerable adults on our programs, the parameters of which are to be worked out in consultation with host agencies and UP Directors.
- I will advise staff, volunteers and students to never be alone with a child, youth or vulnerable adult in a room with a closed door, without another volunteer or staff person present.
- I will encourage staff, volunteers and students to make arrangements whenever possible to transport children only of the same gender as the volunteer or staff and whenever possible go out of their way to avoid transporting individual children.
- I will advise staff, volunteers and students to immediately report any complaint, accusation or suspicion of sexual misconduct to the host agency we are working with and/or appropriate authorities. I will call the legal department at the NSC to report that a complaint has been made.
- I agree to check the references of all staff, volunteers and students to our program, using reasonable, appropriate and accessible means to screen those who represent a threat to children. I will perform comprehensive (national, state, county) criminal background checks through an IVCF approved source on every staff, volunteer and student who will be assigned to work with children or vulnerable adults. (Background checks must be completed once a year.)
- I agree to abide by the practices summarized below which are gleaned from the most relevant aspects of 2003 Church Law and Tax Report Reducing the Risk II: Making Your Church Safe from Child Sexual Abuse.
Create an environment that reduces risk and increases accountability. Follow the specific guidelines listed above. As risk increases, supervision should increase. The greatest factor in risk is isolation. A daytime classroom or Bible club with lots of people is a low-risk setting. An overnight/"lock in" event is a higher-risk setting. The degree of potential isolation indicates the level of risk. A volunteer taking a child to the bathroom represents a higher degree of risk. Risk increases as isolation increases. Risk decreases as accountability increases. We should practice the "two or more" principle when working with children or vulnerable adults. There is an imbalance of power when one child is with one adult. Two children escorting each other to the bathroom represent a more preferable option. A second adult adds accountability.
Be watchful for inappropriate behavior. Predatory pedophiles can appear helpful, nice, willing to serve, etc., but their one objective is to get children alone, either through an assignment ("I'll drive Julie home") or through mere opportunity. Be observant for a pattern of this kind of attempt. Opportunistic child molesters are far more common and will seize an opportunity if it presents itself. Creating an environment that guarantees accountability is the only defense. By far, the most predominant opportunistic child molester is a male, 20-30 years old.
How to respond to allegations of sexual misconduct:
- Communicate to the victim in a supportive manner, affirm that they have done the right thing, and assure them that their complaint will be taken seriously.
- Do not practice denial, saying anything like "I can't believe so-and-so would do such a thing.”
- Collect their information (name, address, phone, age and gender) and the name and gender of the person they are accusing.
- Write down the essential nature of their complaint, i.e. what happened in their words, including date/s and location(s).
- Report the accusation to either the agency or church that is hosting your group, or the department of social services, and contact the Urban Programs Office and InterVarsity's General Legal Counsel,
- Immediately restrict the volunteer’s activities that put them in contact with or proximity to children or vulnerable adults until the proper authority conducts an investigation.
- Work with your host church or agency to provide support for the victim.
