YOUTH PROTECTION POLICY

PURPOSE, APPLICABILITY, SCOPE AND POLICY TERMS

Purpose

This policy is intended:

  • To provide a safe and secure environment for children and youth at 2XSALT.
  • To protect children and youth from sexual, physical, and emotional abuse while participating in 2XSALT activities.
  • To provide a mechanism to deal with reported concerns and subsequent actions.
  • To guide 2XSALT as an institution in the conduct of its employees and volunteers and prevent incidents and allegations of child abuse.
  • To protect adult volunteers and employees from unwarranted allegations of child abuse.

This policy addresses five components of children and youth protection:

  • Screening applicants for employment and volunteer service for a history of behavior potentially detrimental to children and youth.
  • Training both employees and volunteers and children and youth in the child and youth protection policy.
  • Reporting and responding to incidents of abuse.
  • Reporting and responding to concerns.
  • Addressing known offenders as members of 2XSALT

Applicability

This policy applies to persons including 2XSALT employees and volunteers participating in all children and youth programs of 2XSALT, including but not limited to:

  • 2xSalt After School Program
  • 2XSALT Board of Directors
  • Women of 2XSALT
  • Any and all sports camps, academies, leagues, and personal training
  • Children and youth fellowship programs
  • Ministry sponsored retreats, mission trips, etc

Scope

Who is covered by this Policy?

This policy supersedes all prior 2XSALT child and youth protection policy statements.

All employees of 2XSALT, Inc and the groups mentioned above, are governed by this policy.  With regard to any employee(s) of 2XSALT, perceived conflicts or ambiguities in interpretation and application of this policy shall be resolved by the President and or the Administration Coordinator.

Generally, 2XSALT does not directly control independent contractors, however, all independent contractors who work with 2XSALT children and youth are governed by this policy.

All volunteers of 2XSALT, Inc. who work with children and youth are governed by this policy.

What Does the Policy Require?

1. All employees and volunteers shall abide by the Code of Conduct.

2. Each person must assume responsibility for his/her own actions in working with children and youth and for attending training offered on child and youth protection.

3. An individual may be terminated from employment and/or volunteer service for failure to observe and abide by this policy.  This action may be taken regardless of the outcome of any investigation if the President and or the Administration Coordinator determine that the Child and Youth Protection Policy and procedures have not been followed.

Outside Groups Using 2XSALT Facilities

All leaders, both adults and leaders under the age of 18, of non-2XSALT children and youth groups using 2XSALT facilities are expected to adhere to these policies.  Upon receipt of the policy from 2XSALT, the leaders must review the Child and Youth Protection Policy and sign the Outside Group Leaders Release Form to acknowledge their review of it and to confirm their agreement to follow the policy.

Given the nature of the outside groups that use 2XSALT facilities, 2XSALT will not perform background checks, seek personal and professional references, review employment records, or obtain civil and criminal records for such groups.  2XSALT will not offer training to leaders of non-2XSALT youth groups.  Outside groups are expected to conduct their own due diligence in this regard.

Policy Terms (glossary):

  • Employee - Any person who works for salary or wages at 2XSALT, Inc. (2XSALT) i.e. staff, 2XSALT, Brookstone Schools, custodians, etcâ
  • Volunteer - Any person who gives of their time and participates in a 2XSALT, Inc. sponsored activity.
  • Ministry Sponsored Activity - Includes any and all gatherings that arise from 2XSALT- mentoring, education, sports, or recreational events.  These events include on-campus and off-campus gatherings.
  • Child or Youth - Persons under 18 years old and considered a minor under the law.  This term shall also include legally incompetent persons.
  • President - the President of 2XSALT, Inc.
  • Child and Youth Protection Review and Implementation Committee -  A Committee appointed by the Board of Directors which regularly reviews concerns, provides appropriate feedback, and assists in the implementation of Child and Youth Protection Policy and the associated Best Practices and Operating Procedures handbook. The members of this committee are:  President, Administration Coordinator, Mentor Coordinator, Principal, and Head Master.
  • Best Practices and Operating Procedures - this handbook, maintained by the Child and Youth Protection Review and Implementation Committee, providing practical guidance for working with children and youth.
  • Child Abuse - A non-accidental injury or pattern of injuries to a child.  Child abuse may include:
  • Neglect - Occurs when the adults responsible for the well-being of a child fail to provide for the child.  Neglect may include not giving food, clothing, shelter; failure to keep children clean; lack of supervision and withholding medical care.
  • Physical Abuse - An injury or pattern of injuries that happen to a child that are not accidental.  These injuries may include beatings, burns, bruises, bites, welts, strangulation, broken bones or death.
  • Sexual Abuse - Sexual abuse is the sexual assault or exploitation of children. Sexual abuse may consist of numerous acts over a long period of time or a single incident.  Children can be victimized from infancy through adolescence.  Typically, the perpetrator keeps the child from disclosing the abuse through intimidation, threats, and rewards.
  • Emotional Abuse - Chronic and persistent acts by an adult that endanger the mental health or emotional development of a child including rejection, ignoring, terrorizing, corrupting, constant criticism, mean remarks, insults and giving little or no love, guidance and support.

SCREENING OF EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS

Personal interviews, application forms, personal and professional references, employment records, background checks (both criminal and civil) are required for all employees.   Background checks may be done on any 2XSALT volunteers at the direction of the President and or Program Coordinator and or the Mentoring Teacher.   Background checks are ordinarily required on any volunteer accompanying children and youth on overnight trips.  Information gained by these means will be used to determine eligibility to work with children and youth.

Interviews, reference checks, employment records, and criminal and civil background checks, are to be documented in writing, and become confidential ministry property.  These records will not be released to any party except with the written approval of the President.  These records will be made available to the employee, but not a candidate for employment, if a written request is made to the President.

In addition, all current and potential employees and volunteers will be required to sign the Employee and Volunteer Release Form, agreeing to follow the policies and procedures of 2XSALT, Inc. pertaining to child and youth protection.  This statement is a supplement to the personal application, and is maintained in the employeeâ™s personnel file or in departmental notebooks of volunteer forms.  Each fall, all employees of 2XSALT and all volunteers with youth and children will be required to review the current Child and Youth Protection Policy and sign a Recommitment Acknowledgement Statement.

For Employees: Any candidate for employment who has a past conviction of or pending proceeding addressing an allegation of child abuse or neglect cannot be employed by 2XSALT, Inc. without the express written approval of the President.  The President or his designee will consider the available information related to the circumstances of the situation in order to make a determination about the employment of the individual in question.  Active substance abuse or a conviction for any of the following will automatically disqualify an individual from employment with children or youth: pedophilic behavior, incest, rape, assaults, indecent exposure, pornography, sodomy or abuse of a minor.

For Volunteers: Any candidate for volunteer service who has a past conviction of or pending proceeding addressing an allegation of child abuse or neglect cannot work with children and youth at 2XSALT, Inc. without the express written approval of the President or his designee which will consider the available information related to the circumstances of the situation in order to make a determination about the individual in question.  Active substance abuse or a conviction for any of the following will automatically disqualify an individual from volunteer service with children and youth: pedophilic behavior, incest, rape, assaults, indecent exposure, pornography, sodomy, or abuse of a minor.  The President or his designee will inform any volunteer applicant denied the opportunity to serve with children and youth the reason(s) for disqualification and how to access information relevant to the decision.

TRAINING

Training for Adults

All employees and volunteers are required to attend an initial training session and sign the relevant documents during their orientation period regarding children and youth protection. The ministry will offer periodic training opportunities. This training will include the following:

  • The need for the Child Protection Policy
  • Definition of child abuse
  • Preconditions for child sexual abuse to occur
  • Definition of inappropriate conduct
  • Ministry policies governing working with children and youth
  • Procedures for responding to allegations of abuse from a child
  • Civil and criminal consequences of misconduct
  • Procedures for reporting observed or suspected misconduct
  • North Carolina statutes regarding Child Protective Services
  • Open Door Policy
  • Procedures for reporting concerns

Following successful completion of the above training and approval of their application, employees and volunteers may be deemed eligible to work with children and youth at 2XSALT.  This eligibility must be renewed annually by submittal of a Recommitment Acknowledgement Statement, with any new or different data, and participation in additional educational opportunities provided by the ministry for that purpose.

Training for Children and Youth

Parents bear the primary responsibility for teaching their children about child and youth protection and safety issues.  Nonetheless, from time to time, 2XSALT may offer age-appropriate educational opportunities for children and youth to provide them with necessary information about child and youth protection issues, including their right to be free from unwelcome and inappropriate touching or remarks, how to report their concerns, and ministry policies regarding their safety.  Parents will be advised prior to any such educational sessions.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND SPECIFIC POLICIES

2XSALT employees and volunteers will not verbally, emotionally, physically or sexually abuse children.

2XSALT employees and volunteers will not discipline children by use of physical punishment or by failing to provide the necessities of care.

2XSALT employees and volunteers may use physical restraint only in situations necessary to protect the child or others from harm.

2XSALT employees and volunteers will provide proper supervision and exercise sound judgment in providing a safe environment at all times.

2XSALT employees and volunteers will avoid situations during 2XSALT programs where they would be alone with a single child and cannot be observed or monitored by others.  As adults supervise children, they should space themselves in a way that other adults can see them.

2XSALT employees and volunteers are expected to observe the Open Door Policy in their interaction with children and youth.

Open Door Policy

Employees and volunteers are expected to avoid, to the greatest extent possible, any situation in which they could be alone or out of sight of others, with a single child.  This is to protect:

    a) children against situations in which abuse might occur
    b) adults against false accusations of child abuse.

In situations where it is necessary for an adult to be alone with a child, the adult should notify another 2XSALT/ staff member or another adult before and after the period during which he/she is alone with the child.

    1. The individual should provide information to another adult beforehand as to the need to be alone with the child and afterwards as to the nature of the interaction.
    2. Inside doors should be left open when one adult and one or more children are alone in a room.
    3. Following a period during which a child has been alone with an adult, another 2XSALT staff member, working with the child, should casually ask the child about the interaction. This will give the child an opportunity to report any uncomfortable feelings right away.

Restroom supervision:

2XSALT employees and volunteers will make sure suspicious or unknown individuals are not occupying the restroom before allowing children to use the facilities.

Always send children in pairs, and whenever possible, with 2XSALT employees and volunteers.  2XSALT employees and volunteers will stand in the doorway while children are using the restroom.  This policy allows privacy for the children and protection for the 2XSALT employees and volunteers (i.e. not being alone with a child).

If 2XSALT employees and volunteers are assisting younger children, doors to the facility must remain open.

2XSALT employees and volunteers will always use proper supervision when children are using public bathrooms to ensure their safety.

2XSALT employees and volunteers will respect the rights of children and youth not to be touched in ways that make them feel uncomfortable, and their right to say no. Adults will discourage children from touching others in an inappropriate manner.

2XSALT employees and volunteers should be alert to the physical and emotional state of children entering the program.  Any signs of injury or possible child abuse must be reported to the President or Administration Coordinator of 2XSALT.

2XSALT employees and volunteers should be aware of the possible implications of and are discouraged from being alone with 2XSALT children outside of ministry programs.

2XSALT employees and volunteers should release children only to the authorized parent, guardian, or other individual authorized in writing by the parent or guardian.

Using, possessing, or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, or being impaired by legally prescribed drugs during ministry working hours or ministry sponsored programs is prohibited.

Smoking is allowed only in designated areas.  Smoking or use of tobacco during ministry programs is prohibited.

Profanity, inappropriate language or jokes, and any kind of harassment in the presence of children or parents are prohibited.

2XSALT employees and volunteers will not share inappropriate details of their personal life or ask children to share inappropriate details through any form of communication: written, verbal or electronic.

2XSALT employees and adult volunteers may not date program participants less than 18 years of age.

Because gift giving can be a form of âœbuyingâ silence or loyalty, gift giving must be done on a group basis and for special occasions only.  2XSALT employees and volunteers are not allowed to give gifts to individual children or youth without knowledge and permission of parents and 2XSALT staff members.

2XSALT employees and volunteers are required to read, sign and adhere to all policies related to identifying, documenting, and reporting child abuse and attend training sessions on the subject, as instructed by a supervisor.

2XSALT employees and volunteers are required to report to the President or his designee any circumstances that under this policy affect their ability to work with children and youth.

REPORTING CHILD ABUSE

Every employee and volunteer of 2XSALT, Inc. is required to report any situation which presents a suspicion that child abuse may have occurred.  Such report shall be made to the President or his designee immediately and in no case more than 24 hours after such occurrence.

Any report of child abuse made by a child about their care by a parent, guardian, youth, adult, or 2XSALT staff employee or volunteer, despite how unlikely such report may seem, must be relayed to the President or his  designee immediately and in no case more than 24 hours after such occurrence.

The President or his designee shall as required by law report the situation to the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services or other local authorities for investigation.

RESPONDING TO A REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE

In the event of an allegation of child abuse, the following procedures shall be followed at 2XSALT, Inc.:

Every allegation shall be taken seriously.  Adequate care, respect, and confidentiality shall be offered to alleged victims and perpetrators until the allegation is substantiated or cleared.

The President or his designee will immediately contact the 2XSALT attorney and liability insurance carrier.

In consultation with the 2XSALT attorney the following may be appropriate:

The President may notify the parent(s) or legal guardian of the alleged victim.

The President and/or his designee may notify the accused individual.


Written documentation, relating to the matter, shall be kept in a confidential file.

President and or his designee may complete an internal investigation in addition to that which will be carried out by the authorities, following the required notifications.

An individual accused of child abuse may be placed on leave from his/her responsibilities at the discretion of the President or his designee.  For employees, this may be with or without pay.

To protect the child or youth from further possible abuse or harassment, 2XSALT will prohibit the accused individual access to the alleged victim.

In the event of an unsubstantiated allegation, the President or his designee will make a determination as to whether the individual will be allowed to return to work as an employee or volunteer at the Ministry.  They will consider the individualâ™s likely effectiveness in working with children/youth following an allegation and investigation of child abuse.  An employee has the right to appeal the decision to the Board of Directors.  A volunteer also has the right to appeal the decision to the Board or Directors.

2XSALT employees and volunteers are expected to cooperate fully with the investigation authorities, such as the Child Protective Services Unit of the Department of Social Services, with guidance from the 2XSALT attorney.

 

All 2XSALT employees and volunteers will refer any inquiries regarding the situation to the President.  The President or his designee shall be the only person authorized to release any information regarding an allegation except where the law requires others to release information, such as to a protective services investigator or a police officer.

All 2XSALT employees and volunteers are expected to avoid denial, minimization, or blame during the period of investigation of the allegation.

REPORTING ISSUES OF SERIOUS CONCERN REGARDING CHILD AND YOUTH SAFETY

The law and this 2XSALT policy make the responsibility for reporting Child Abuse and Suspicions of Child Abuse very clear.  See Section V and VI of this policy for guidance and direction regarding reporting of Child Abuse and Suspicions of Child Abuse.

From time to time issues arise regarding the conduct of our children, youth and adults at 2XSALT,  the Children and Youth Ministry Programs and the adults involved in Children and Youth Ministry that are not clearly Child Abuse related issues, but that may require attention and review.  Sometimes patterns and trends of a questionable nature may be noticed.  This section provides a means to report such serious issues other than Child Abuse in a manner that will assure the issues, patterns or trends are recorded for subsequent review, addressed, and resolved.

Examples of issues reported might include:

  • child and youth safety such as transportation issues, behavior issues, safe swimming conduct, etc., during ministry activities
  • inappropriate conduct by adults during 2XSALT sponsored activities such as inappropriate language, dress, conduct, safety, leadership, discipline, substance abuse, etc.
  • inappropriate conduct by children or youth during 2XSALT sponsored activities such as inappropriate language, dress, conduct, safety, leadership, discipline, substance abuse, etc.
  • lack of adherence to the Children and Youth Protection Policy in the absence of suspected abuse
  • observations of inappropriate class or group conduct or activities during events involving 2XSALT sponsored events
  • potentially inadequate, inappropriate or unwise leadership of ministry activities

All adults and youth are encouraged to report any issues similar to those described above as soon as possible to the responsible adult leadership at the time the issue is observed.  It is important to bring issues of safety to the attention of responsible adults as soon as possible.  Such notification may be oral.

When it is appropriate or more comfortable, anyone who wishes to have an issue addressed is encouraged to bring the issue to the attention of the President or his designee either verbally or in writing.  Youth and adults are encouraged to be responsible in identifying serious issues and it is desirable that such concerns bear the name of the originator.

RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF CONCERNS INVOLVING MINISTRY ACTIVITIES

Every written report received reporting a serious concern regarding the children or youth of 2XSALT shall be evaluated to determine if it in fact represents a report of Child Abuse or a suspicion of Child Abuse. Such concerns will be processed as described by this policy for those grave issues.

Adult leaders involved in the ministry programs at 2XSALT shall evaluate oral reports of a concern to determine whether or not the report should be documented in writing by the adult leader to assure proper follow up on the issue.

All written concerns reported shall be documented and maintained for long term review of notable trends or patterns of unacceptable activity.  Concerns will be periodically reviewed by the President or his designee.  If a conflict of interest is noted during the review, other ministry staff will perform the review.

ADDRESSING KNOWN OFFENDERS WHO ARE MEMBERS

At 2XSALT, Inc., we seek to live in covenant with God and with one another and to be a redemptive community to all who are affiliated with our ministry.  We also acknowledge that redemptive action and responsible action can, at times, be in tension or even in seeming opposition.  We embrace this fact as a natural part of seeking to be the ministry in the world.  We adopt these procedures for ministering to those among us who are known offenders of children and youth while maintaining our focus on protecting the children and youth of our ministry.

Known offenders are required to make their status and any terms of probation known to the President.

The President will appoint a group of 3-5 members to establish appropriate boundaries, in writing, governing the life of the offender within the ministry, including areas on campus where he/she may go unaccompanied.  Group members will receive training in protection of children and youth and in dealing with known offenders.  No decisions made by this group will conflict with any provisions of the 2XSALT Child and Youth Protection Policy.

The known offender will give written acknowledgement and acceptance of 2XSALTâ™s Child and Youth Protection Policy and of the boundaries imposed.

At no time is a known offender to be assigned to ministries with children and youth.

At no time is a known offender to congregate with children and youth.

At no time is a known offender allowed in areas of the ministry or grounds dedicated to children and youth or in use primarily by children and youth.

As circumstances warrant, the President or his designee may identify a known offender to ministry employees and volunteers whose ministries should be informed of this fact.

Known offenders will receive the normal ministry care afforded any other person associated with this ministry.

Should a known offender disregard the terms established in this policy, or should a known offender disregard any boundaries or conditions set by the President and or his appointed group, the violation will be handled through Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Crimes Division.