The Impact of Child Sexual Abuse

• Spiritual Crisis
• Financial Costs
• Victimization of Children
• Congregational Disunity
• Shattered Trust
• Damaged Families
• Media Coverage
• Litigation

Why Churches are Being Sued

• New Theories of Legal Liability
• Personal Injury
• Numbers of Victims
• Mandatory Reporting Laws
• Support for Litigation
• Inadequate Response Toward Victims
• Inadequate Response Toward Victims’ Family

Why Churches are Vulnerable

• Community of Trust
• Ignorance of Facts
• Lack of Safeguards
• Numbers of Opportunities
• Easy Access to Children
• Constant Need for Volunteers in Youth Programs
• Attitude that "It Will Never Happen Here"

 

Symptoms of Molestation

Church workers and staff should be alert to the physical signs of abuse and molestation, well as to behavioral and verbal signs that a victim may exhibit. Some of the more common signs are summarized below (Sloan, 1983).

• lacerations and bruises
• nightmares
• irritation, pain, or injury to the genital area
• difficulty with urination
• discomfort when sitting
• torn or bloody underclothing
• venereal disease

• anxiety when approaching church or nursery area
• nervous or hostile behavior toward adults
• sexual self-consciousness
• "acting out" of sexual behavior
• withdrawal from church activities and friends

• I don't like [a particular church worker]
• [A church worker] does things to me when we're alone
• I don't like to be alone with [a church worker]
• [A church worker] fooled around with me

TEXAS CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAW

http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/fatoc.html 
You can follow this direct link to the Texas Legislature OnLine - Family Code.

All references below are to the Texas Family Code
[per-Westlaw search conducted on October 4, 1S94]
http://www.westlaw.com 

34.01. Persons Required to Report

A person having cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect by any person shall report in accordance with Section 34.02 of this code.

34.012. Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Abuse includes the following acts or omissions by any person:

(a) Mental or emotional injury to a child that results in an observable and material impairment in the child's growth, development or psychological functioning:

(b) Causing or permitting the child to be in a situation in which the child sustains a mental or emotional injury that results in an observable and material impairment in the child's growth, development, or psychological functioning;

(c) Physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child, or the genuine threat of substantial harm from physical injury to the child, including an injury that is at variance with the history or explanation given, and excluding an accident or reasonable discipline by a parent, guardian, or managing or possessory conservator that does not expose the child to a substantial risk of harm;

(d) Failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent an action by another person that results in physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child;

(e) Sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or sexual conduct, as those terms are defined by Section 43.01, Penal Code, sexual penetration with a foreign object, incest, sexual assault, or sodomy inflicted on shown to, or intentionally practiced in the presence of a child if the child is present only to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of any person;

(f) Failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent sexual contact sexual intercourse, or sexual conduct, as those terms are defined by Section 42.01, Penal Code. Sexual penetration with a foreign object, incest, sexual assault, or sodomy being inflicted on or shown to a child by another person, or intentionally practiced in the presence of a clue by another person if the child is present only to arouse or gratify the sexual desires of any person;

(g) compelling or encouraging the child to engage in sexual conduct as defined by Section 43.01, Penal Code: or

(h) Causing, permitting. Encouraging, engaging in, or allowing the photographing, filming, or depicting of the child if the person knew or should have known that the resulting photograph, film or depiction of the child is obscene (as defined by the Penal Code) or pornographic.

(2) Neglect includes:

(a) Leaving a child in a situation where the child would be exposed to a substantial risk of harm without arranging for necessary care for the child, and a demonstration of an intent not to return by a parent, guardian, or managing or possessory conservator of the child:

(b) The following acts or omissions by any person:

(i) Placing the child in or failing to remove the child from a situation that a reasonable person would realize requires judgment or actions beyond the child's level of maturity, physical condition, or mental abilities and that results in bodily injury or a substantial risk of immediate harm to the child;

(ii) Failure to seek, obtain, follow trough with medical care for the child, with the failure resulting in or presenting a substantial risk of death, disfigurement or bodily injury or with the failure resulting in an observable and material impairment to the growth, development, or functioning of the child; or

(iii) The failure to provide the child with food clothing or shelter necessary to sustain the life or health of the child excluding failures caused primarily by financial inability unless relief services had been offered and refused: or

(c) The failure by the person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare to permit the child to return to the child's home without arranging for the necessary care for the child after the child has been absent from the home for any reason, including having been in residential placement or having run away.

(3) Person responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare means a person who traditionally is responsible for a child's care, custody, or welfare, including:

(a) a parent, guardian, managing or possessory conservator, foster parent of the child:

(b) a member of the child's family or household as defined by Section 71.01 of this code.

(c) a person with whom the child's parent cohabits:

(d) school personnel or volunteers at the child's school: or
personnel or volunteers at a public or private child-care facility that provides services for the child or at a public or private residential institution or facility where the child resides.

 

 

Test your knowledge; ( true or false.)

• Q1: Child sexual abuse always involves physical contact with children.
• Q2: Most child molesters are male.
• Q3: Child molesters are usually strangers.
• Q4: Victims of sexual abuse suffer no long tern effects.
• Q5: One out of five molesters begin their activity before age 18.
• Q6: Only a small percentage of victims are male.
• Q7: Most churches screen workers for potential molesters.
• Q8: Church leaders can not be held liable for child sexual abuse.
• Q9: Some child sexual abuse victims have won settlements of over $1,000,000 from churches.
• Q10: A child molester who has experienced a religious conversion no longer presents a threat to children.
• Q11: Child sexual abuse is a criminal offense in all 50 states.
• Q12: A child molester may have over 500 victims in a lifetime.
• Q13: Churches have in the past been supportive of victims of child sexual abuse.

Correct answers: 1.F, 2.T, 3.F, 4.F, 5.T, 6.F, 7.F, 8.F, 9.T, 10.F, 11.T, 12.T, 13.F.

Rules to Control the Relationship between Church Workers
and Volunteers who deal with Children

1. You are not to act as the child's "friend" in a children's friendship manner. You are his or her teacher/supervisor. You must always appropriately maintain your proper respect and authority status and act accordingly. This does not mean that you cannot act "friendly", but it does mean that you at all times act with the respect and dignity which is befitting to your position of ministry.

2. Adults in the church should endeavor to never touch any child inappropriately. Inappropriate touching would include

(a) Making contact with the child's private body areas

(b) Causing the child to come in contact with you in a way that could be considered sexual.

(c) Any contact or gestures that would be considered "romantic" or sexual.

(d) Contact or gestures that would be considered abusive, physically intimidating, or violent.

3. If it is necessary to touch a child, it should be from the shoulders up whenever possible.

4. Workers, especially men, ought to be hesitant about having children sit in their lap. This type of contact should be reserved for comforting a hurt or distraught child as needed, and ALWAYS in the presence, of other adults.

5. As much as possible, no person should ever be alone with a child. If at all possible, always have at least two adults present.

6. Children should never stay overnight at a church worker's home (outside of a sleep-over with the workers child). Any organized "sleep-overs" as a church activity must be approved by the Senior or Associate pastor.

7. Church nursery workers and volunteers who deal with diapers should adhere to the following procedures:

(a) Always endeavor to wear rubber gloves.

(b) Never apply lotion or powder with your bare hand

(c) A cloth or wipe should always be between you and the child. Under oath, you must be able to testify that you did not inappropriately "touch" the child directly.

*** Note: All nursery workers will be female.

8. If possible avoid assisting a non-nursery, older aged child who has wet or soiled his or her clothes. Endeavor to instruct him or her on how to clean himself or herself without your direct assistance (as frustrating as that may be). You may hand him or her what he or she needs, but do not directly clean or wash non-nursery, older aged child, unless absolutely necessary.

9. Avoid helping a young boy with his zipper or a young girl with her skirt, unless absolutely necessary.

10. Do everything you can to keep the parents informed about and involved in their child's activities at your church. Remember the children are the responsibility of their parents. You cannot assume the responsibilities of the parents even if the parents are not treating their children as well as you feel they should.

11. Each time a youth program or group meets (Sunday School, Children's Church, AWANA, Children's Choir, or any extra- curricular activity involving one of these groups) the following should be done:

Video Seminar Outline:

(The following material is covered in detail in the video re-certification seminar)

I.       Introduction

A.    Why Screen Workers

1.     Church = Community of trust, makes us a target.

2.     As a parent, you should expect Safety & Guidance from your church.

B.    Purpose for training/screening

1.     Protect Children

2.     Protect Workers

3.     Protect Berean Baptist Church

II.    Key issues.

A.    Lose the attitude “It can’t happen here”.
Be aware, Child Abuse can happen at Berean Baptist Church.

1.     Why are churches a target?

a.      Community of trust

b.     Open doors

c.      Few safeguards

d.     Usually help is needed, immediate access to children

B.    What to do if you suspect a case.

1.     Contact Senior Pastor or Ministering Staff member immediately

2.     Let them handle it.

C.    If a case is reported to you personally. What should you do?

1.     Very important to give benefit of doubt to the victim.

a.      Never argue against the accusation.

b.     Be sympathetic to victim and family.

2.     Take notes on everything that is said.

a.      Documentation helps the truth.

b.     Sometimes alleged victims will change their story.

3.     Notify Senior Pastor as soon as possible.

a.      No matter the time of day.

b.     Do not notify anyone else.

c.      Never contact the media.

D.    Reporting forms. Three are mandatory.

1.     Attendance (sample)

2.     Description of Today’s Class Activities (Sample)

a.     Significant events

b.     Unusual behavior by children.

c.      Accidents

d.     Fights

e.     Aggressive Behavior

f.        Sexual behavior or speech by children

g.     Eating disorders

h.      Withdrawal

3.     Disciplinary Report (Sample)

4.     Always document anything unusual (Be Aware)

5.     Two Adult Rule

6.     Medicines

a.     Unless you are a Doctor, you may not issue or apply any medication of any kind to a child under your supervision.

b.     In the event of an injury, the correct procedure is to clean the wound with soap and water, rendering first aid and immediately summon the child’s parent.

c.      If the wound is too significant, get to a phone and dial 911 immediately.

d.     Only a parent of an injured child or trained professionals may apply medications. (Including over the counter  “non-prescription” medicines).

e.     If you issue something as simple as an aspirin to a child or rub neosporin on a minor injury, you are technically practicing medicine without a license. Both yourself and Berean Baptist Church can be sued.

III.  Review: FOUR specific areas included in Berean’s policy.

A.    Worker screening

1.     Application and Interview

2.     Yearly re-certification and renewal

B.    Supervision

1.     2 Adult rule

C.    Reporting Process

1.     Documentation helps the truth

D.    Plan for response

1.     Investigate immediately as if true

2.     Take it serious

3.     Be sensitive