Northern Light United Church
Safe Sanctuaries Procedures
For all community groups using the building that include
Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults
Northern Light United Church is called by God to ensure the building is a safe space for all persons. Therefore, the policy of NLUC for all community groups using the building with children, youth, and vulnerable adult participants are as follows:
Supervision
The church building is open to the public, and children, youth and vulnerable adults should be supervised and not left unattended while in the facility.
Group of Three Rule
A child, youth or vulnerable adult shall not be alone with another unrelated adult or child or youth or vulnerable adult. Everything should be done in groups of at least three: at least two adults and child, youth or vulnerable adult; or two children, youth or vulnerable adults and an adult. The ideal to strive for is two unrelated adults to be with those being protected at all times. (A vulnerable adult is a person 18 years of age or older who is unable to meet his/her own needs or to seek help without assistance.)
Classrooms Classrooms in the church building are equipped with windows and/or windows in the entry doors so that the adults and children or youth inside the classroom may, at any time, be observed from outside the room. In the event of only one adult present for a class or function, the adult should leave the classroom door open or conduct the function in a common area such as the Fellowship Hall.
Restrooms. An adult should monitor from the hallway outside the restroom, or follow the rule of three so they are not alone with children behind closed doors.
After Events. If an adult is alone with a child, youth or vulnerable adult who is awaiting pick up, they should wait in the front door entry area visible to the street or outdoors. Children, youth, and vulnerable adults should not be left alone or unattended after events. Responsible adults should assure that safe passage from the building has been completed for everyone before leaving.
Overnight events. At any event where both boys and girls will be spending the night, there will be at least one chaperone of each sex for the respective groups. For high and/or middle school events, the participant to chaperone ratio will not exceed 15 to 1. Separate ‘sleeping areas (rooms or divisions within a room) will be provided for each gender. Adults and vulnerable participants at an overnight event should not shower at the same time. [note: currently, NLUC has only one shower; this means that only one person at a time may be in the restroom with the shower.] If a planned overnight event will not be in conformity with the above requirements, the pastor and each child or youth’s parent or guardian must approve, in advance, of the exception to the requirements in order for that child or youth to attend.
Age Differences For the protection of all, when possible there will be a minimum five-year age difference between the oldest participant and the youngest responsible adult-in-charge at youth and children’s events. In most circumstances, those under the age of 18 will not be left in sole charge of children, youth or vulnerable adults.
Discipline
No form of corporal punishment shall be used by any adult in any situation, even if a parent requests or recommends it. If a child or youth is too disruptive for an adult to continue with a function, they should be returned to the care of their parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian is not immediately available, the child or youth shall be placed in the care of the Pastor or designated adult until a parent can be located.
Reporting Incidents
Any incident in which there is evidence or suspicion of
- non-accidental physical injury, sexual abuse, activities of child prostitution or pornography, maltreatment, or mental injury to a child; or.
- harm from abandonment, abuse, exploitation, neglect or self-neglect to a vulnerable adult shall be reported within 24 hours of the incident to the
- Pastor and
- the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services,
- Office of Children’s Services or Adult Protective Services, by the person first made aware of the incident. Incidents in violation of the above prohibition on corporal punishment shall be immediately reported to the Pastor.
Screening
Adults who work with children, youth or vulnerable adults that use the building on a regular basis without their guardians present shall complete a background check, and provide a copy of the documentation to NLUC, or a letter from their sponsor organization stating the adult has a reviewed background check on file at the organization. The background check must be clear of proven or alleged commission of a crime of any kind of theft, violent action against another individual, pornography, child molestation, or for a court-ordered restraint issued for fear of commission of such acts. When the screening reveals charges but no conviction for any of the afore-mentioned acts, the screener will investigate as to why there was no conviction and take that into consideration when deciding if the person being screened will be authorized to supervise children. Completed background screenings for staff and volunteers will be reviewed by the pastor, and maintained in a locked confidential file.
Training
Adults providing supervision to children are invited to attend training offered by NLUC on recognizing signs of abuse, avoiding situations where abuse might take place, avoiding conduct that might be perceived as abuse, reporting requirements and media response procedures. First Aid training is also highly encouraged for adults supervising children, youth, and vulnerable adults.