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The BIG questions....
Question: What are the current requirements for staff/volunteers who are working with young people (babies through the age of 17 or 18 if they are still students in a high school).
Answer: All persons who work with young people need to have completed a criminal background check and successfully completed Safeguarding God's Children as a minimum.
- Staff/Volunteer files should also have; an application, at least three references, a signed copy of the Code of Conduct (part of the safeguarding policy), proof that they have read and understand the diocesan policy.
Question: Where should the records be kept.
Answer: All staff/volunteer files need to be kept in a central location that can be secured. A copy of the Criminal Background Check and Safeguarding God's Children must be at the diocesan Office.
Question: What is required of a vestry member?
Answer: Vestries are required, by the Safeguarding policy to have a copy of a "vestry signature page" on record both at their congregation and at the Diocesan Office.
Question: Is all of this really a big deal?
Answer: Yes, our goal with the education and background checks is intended to reduce or eliminate risks of a young person getting hurt. Failure to comply with these rules may result in an injury to a young person or child. |
Safeguarding God's Children is now available online. This class is FREE and is really open to anyone. Once you register there is a three to five business day waiting period while we generate a Personal Identification Number for you at the Diocesan Office. Once we have that, we will send you what you need to take this free online class.
In my opinion, our church would be a safer place if we all took the class. So, if you are wondering if or when you should sign up I would encourage you to make the decision right now. Education is free, ignorance is not....
To pre-register, or learn more about the opportunity click here |
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Criminal Background Checks:
To be or not to be....
- A note to leaders - what is less expensive, a line item in your budget for criminal background checks or a never ending law suit with no end in site? The question may seem rhetorical, however it really is not. Think about the question, write something down. Writing can force a person to think.
Question: Who really NEEDS to have this done?
Answer: Anyone who "occasionally" or regularly works with children or youth.
Question: How often do I need to have this done?
Answer: Currently, the diocese recognizes a valid background check for five years. After five years (this includes Clergy), all qualified persons must re-do their background check. If however, the staff person/volunteer is gone for any extended period of time, they must also do another background check.
Question: How do I arrange to have a background check done?
Answer: You really need to begin at your congregation. These background checks are not free, so when they are completed a bill will be sent to your church. The average cost for a check can be $55.00 - $85.00 dollars depending on how many counties you have lived in over the last seven years. So working through your local parish office is important.
Question: Do background checks form other organizations count the same as what the diocese requires?
Answer: Probably not. Any check needs to include; (a social security trace - this helps to establish where a person has lived, a criminal county search and a national criminal background directory check). Ultimately, any exception must be approved by the diocesan office.
Question: What kind of help can we get from the diocese with all of this?
Answer: The person to contact regarding any of these policies is David Campbell, Camp/Christian Formation Director. While the diocese does not have a budget to cover background checks, David is there to help with training and or to help a congregation get their staff/volunteers through a background check. |
