Ministry Safe Application - Temple Christian School

Temple Ministries consists of Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare and Temple Christian School. We use Ministry Safe as a training tool for all our staff and volunteers.

Ministry Safe helps organizations protect children from sexual abuse. While this is not a comfortable topic to discuss, it is a reality in the world we live in, and ignoring it will not make the problem disappear, nor will it protect our young people.

Ministry Safe is a multi-layered training which includes: sexual abuse awareness training, a screening process, explanation of policies and procedures, and a criminal background check. This will all be done at the expense of Temple Ministries, and no expense will be paid by any of our staff/volunteers other than their time. The leaders of our different volunteer groups will have all the information necessary for any parent to begin the Ministry Safe training.

Ministry Safe Steps:
Fill out the application and sign the Child Safety Policies

Once your application has been processed, you will receive an email with a link which will allow you to watch the video presentations. The presentation is broken into multiple videos. The total presentation will take approximately one hour to watch.

Once the video presentation is complete, take the online quiz to receive your ministry safe certification. You may print out the certificate of completion if you like, but it does not need to be turned into Temple Ministries. We will be notified of your completion.

Once the training has been completed, the background check will be processed. Upon a cleared background check, school volunteers will be instructed to come into the office to have your picture taken and a badge printed.

What if I have already done Ministry Safe with another organization?
The above steps still must be followed, except for watching the video presentations. If you have watched these videos in the past 12 months, and you feel confident you can pass the quiz, you are not required to watch the videos again.

How long does Ministry Safe certification last?
Certification lasts two years.

Date *

First, Middle and Last Name( We must have your full legal name) *

Current Home Address *

Email Address *

Cell Phone Number *

Driver's License Number *

Social Security Number *

Sex *

Male Female

Date of Birth *

Martial Status(single, married, separated, divorced, widowed, etc.) *

Which ministry are you completing Ministry safe?( Church, School, Daycare) *

How are you affiliated with Temple Ministries(Church, Daycare, School) *

If you answered School above, please list the family that you are connected with

How long have you been affiliated with Temple Ministries *

How long have you lived at your current home address *

Previous Address *

List all other cities and states where you have lived as an adult *

List the names, address, city and state of the churches you have attended regularly during the past 10 years *

Please list all previous school or church work involving children, and students. List each institution’s name and address, type of work carried out, dates, and a contact person familiar with you *

Please list all previous non-church work involving children, students or vulnerable populations. (List each organization’s name and address, type of work carried out, dates and a contact person *

List any talents, vocations, preparation, training or other experiences which have equipped you to work with children, students *

Because Temple Ministries cares for our staff, faculty, volunteers and our children, and desires to protect them, please answer the following questions. We understand that the answers to these questions may be private and deeply personal. We will protect your privacy.

Why do you want to work with children at Temple Ministries *

Do you have a preference concerning the age group or sex of children or students with whom you would like to work? Why? *

What is your philosophy concerning re-direction or discipline of children *

When you are unhappy, angry or emotional about a person or circumstance, what do you do *

Have you experienced any significant physical or emotional stresses within the past year, such as a significant loss, extreme ill health, or any emotional or physical crisis? If so, please explain *

Do you consider yourself to have been physically or sexually abused as a child?(This information will be kept entirely confidential.) *

If you were physically or sexually abused as a child, would you consider utilizing church resources to seek healing in this area of your life *

Have you ever physically or sexually abused a child *

Yes No

Has someone ever accused you of abusing a child *

Yes No

RELEASE

I authorize Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School to contact all individuals, organizations and references listed on this ChildSafety Application in order to verify the information I have provided to the church, daycare or school. I agree to release from liability any person or organization that provides information concerning me, including those persons I have listed as references, as well as contact persons from my previous school and non-school work, listed on this application.

I specifically authorize Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School to undertake a consumer or investigative consumer report concerning my past.

I understand and agree that any information received from the background check and application verification will not be disclosed to me, and I hereby waive any right I may have to inspect any information provided about me by any person or organization identified by me on this form.

I certify and affirm that the information I have given on this form is true, complete and correct in all respects. Your typed name will be considered your signature.

Name *

Date *

Child Safety Code of Conduct

I declare that all statements contained in my Child Safety Application are true. I understand that any misrepresentation or omission is cause for dismissal.

I understand that my references and contacts from work with children, students, or disabled adults may be contacted and that an appropriate criminal background check will be conducted. I authorize investigations of all statements contained in this application. I specifically authorize Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School to undertake a criminal background check of my past.

I understand that I can withdraw from the application process at any time.

I understand that Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School has a policy of ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ABUSE and takes all allegations of abuse seriously. I further understand that Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School cooperates fully with the authorities to investigate all cases of alleged abuse. Abuse of any kind is grounds for immediate dismissal from my employment and possible criminal charges.

I declare that I am not a pedophile or child molester. I have not perpetrated physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse or neglect against a child, a student or a disabled adult, and I have never been accused of these acts.

I understand and agree that false statements and/or omissions regarding past conduct and/or present situations may be grounds for denial of this application for employment or volunteering, and that refusal to inform Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School of the contents of a sealed criminal record will result in the automatic denial of the application.

If employed/volunteering, I agree to read and abide by all Policies and Procedures provided to me by Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare or Temple Christian School.

Your typed name will be considered your signature.

Name *

Date *

Child Safety Policies

Temple Ministries consists of Temple Baptist Church, Temple Days Daycare and Temple Christian School.

At Temple Ministries, we take our responsibility to educate and care for children very seriously. These guidelines are intended to facilitate a safe and nurturing environment in which children can learn and grow in a strong educational environment.

These Child Safety Policies provide a general overview of procedures and guidelines for Temple Ministries staff, faculty, or volunteers. Our policies are intended to create a safe environment for children, protecting children, you, and the mission of Temple Ministries. The following procedures have been adopted and will be strictly enforced.

After you have carefully read this policy, please sign at the bottom of the page. Your typed name will be considered your signature.

Overview of the Temple Ministries Child Safety System

Because we care for children and desire to protect them, Temple Ministries requires all staff, faculty, or volunteers to complete 4 SAFETY STEPS before caring for children.

STEP ONE: Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
Temple Ministries policies and procedures require that staff, faculty, or volunteers avoid abusive behavior of any kind. Staff, faculty, or volunteers are required to report any policy violations to a supervisor, the Head of School, or the Lead Pastor.

Staff, faculty, or volunteers should have a basic understanding of the characteristics of sexual abusers and their behaviors in ‘grooming’ a child for sexual abuse. Grooming is the process used by an abuser to select a child, win the child’s trust (and the trust of the child’s parent or ‘gatekeeper’), manipulate the child into sexual activity and keep the child from disclosing the abuse.

To equip staff, faculty, or volunteers with information necessary to protect a child from sexual abuse, Temple Ministries requires all staff, faculty, or volunteers to complete Sexual Abuse Awareness Training provided live or online through MinistrySafe (www.MinistrySafe.com). This training will be renewed every 2 years.

STEP TWO: Screening Process
Staff, faculty, or volunteers are required to complete the Temple Ministries Screening Process, which requires staff, faculty, or volunteers to:
-complete an updated Child Safety Application.
-provide references to be checked.

STEP THREE: Policies & Procedures
Staff, faculty, or volunteers are required to review the policies and sign the acknowledgment indicating he or she has read and understood the material, and agrees to comply with policy requirements.

STEP FOUR: Criminal Background Check
Temple Ministries requires that all staff, faculty, or volunteers undergo a criminal background check. Depending upon position, differing levels or intensity of background check may be required.

Child Safety Policy

ABUSE TOLERANCE
Temple Ministries has a zero tolerance for abuse in school programs and activities. It is the responsibility of every staff, faculty, or volunteer at Temple Ministries to act in the best interest of each child in every school program.

In the event that staff, faculty, or volunteers observe any inappropriate behaviors (i.e. policy violations, neglectful supervision, poor role-modeling, etc.) or suspected abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual) it is their responsibility to immediately report the information to an immediate supervisor, the Head of School or the Lead Pastor.

REPORTING SUSPICIOUS OR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS

Temple Ministries is committed to providing a safe, secure environment for children and their families. To this end, any report of inappropriate behaviors or suspicions of abuse will be taken seriously and will be reported, in accordance with this policy and state law, to the Temple Ministries Administration and the Police Department, Child Protective Services, or other appropriate agency.

Temple Ministries supports and encourages a culture of communication related to abuse or suspected abuse of children. If you see or suspect inappropriate interaction with or between children, it is your responsibility to report the inappropriate interaction to a supervisor or a member of the Temple Ministries Administration. This includes partial or inconclusive information concerning behavior, which may or may not be blameless.

Because sexual abusers ‘groom’ children for abuse, it is possible a staff, faculty, or volunteer may witness behavior intended to ‘groom’ a child for sexual abuse. staff, faculty, or volunteers are asked to report ‘grooming’ behavior, any policy violations, or any suspicious behaviors to a supervisor or a member of the Temple Ministries Administration.

ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES

Temple Ministries staff, faculty, or volunteers who supervise other staff, faculty, or volunteers are charged with the diligent enforcement of all Temple Ministries policies. Violations of these policies are grounds for immediate dismissal, disciplinary action, or reassignment from positions for staff, faculty, or volunteers. Final decisions related to policy violations will be the responsibility of the Temple Christian School Head of School and Temple Baptist Church Lead Pastor.

Reporting Abuse or Suspicions of Abuse

CONSEQUENCES OF PROHIBITED/HARMFUL ACT
Any person accused of committing a prohibited act or any act considered by the school to be harmful to a child will be immediately suspended from all child interaction and school-related activities. This suspension will continue during any investigation by law enforcement or child protective agencies.

Any person found to have committed a prohibited act may be prohibited from future participation as a staff member or volunteer in all activities and programming that involves children, students or vulnerable populations at Temple Ministries. If the person is a staff member or employee, such conduct may also result in termination of employment/volunteering from Temple Ministries.

REPORTING SUSPICIONS OF ABUSE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Staff, faculty, and volunteers at Temple Ministries are required to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect, or any inappropriate behavior of a colleague or co-worker, to the immediate supervisor, Head of School, or Lead Pastor.

Texas law requires that any person having cause to believe a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or may be adversely affected by abuse or neglect must make a report to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Staff, faculty, or volunteers will immediately notify an immediate supervisor or Head of School. Together with the immediate supervisor or Head of School, the staff, faculty, or volunteers will make a report to the appropriate state of Texas authorities. In no way does any provision in this policy discourage any staff, faculty, or volunteer from reporting a suspicion of abuse or neglect to the appropriate state of authorities.

Staff members and volunteers are required to verbally report an incident to supervisory staff as soon as possible after the incident. After receiving a report from a staff, faculty, or volunteers, the Head of School/Lead Pastor will speak with the person or volunteer to whom the child spoke in order to get detailed information about the entire conversation. The Head of School/Lead Pastor will be notified as soon as reasonably possible.

RESPONSE TO REPORT OF ABUSE

The Temple Ministries Administration will take appropriate action on behalf of the school when a report of abuse occurs.

Any report of inappropriate behaviors or suspicions of abuse will be taken seriously, and will be reported in accordance with this policy to the appropriate administration. If appropriate, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (1-800-252-5400), or Child Protective Services (817-321-8680) will be notified.

WHEN A CHILD HAS BEEN VICTIMIZED

If a staff, faculty, or volunteer has knowledge or a suspicion that a child is a victim of sexual abuse or other maltreatment, the information will be reported to supervisory staff and the appropriate authorities as outlined above.

BATHROOM SUPERVISION AND ASSISTANCE GUIDELINE

Staff, faculty, or volunteers should avoid taking children to the restroom. Elementary students may be accompanied to the restroom for supervision and assistance when needed. (However, the student should receive the minimum amount of assistance needed based upon their individual capabilities.) If a staff, faculty, or volunteers must go to the restroom to check up on an individual child they should:

1)    Seek out another person to accompany them.
2)    If another person is not available to accompany them, they should go to the exterior bathroom door, knock, and ask if the child needs assistance.
3)    If the child requires assistance, the worker should leave the exterior bathroom door open when entering the bathroom area and try to verbally assist the child in completing their activities while the child remains behind the door of the bathroom stall.
4)    Any assistance with the straightening or fastening of garments should only be done in the presence of another staff or faculty.

GIFT GIVING
Staff, faculty, or volunteers are prohibited from providing special gifts to any individual student. Special occasions or special accomplishments should receive group acknowledgment and can easily be rewarded with group recognition (i.e., give mention during announcements; have the entire class sing Happy Birthday, etc.) Any requests for variance from this policy must be addressed to the Head of School or Lead Pastor.

INTOXICANTS
Staff, faculty, and volunteers are prohibited from the use, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs while in the facility, during a school activity, or while working with children at Temple Ministires. Staff, faculty, and volunteers are prohibited from providing alcohol or illegal drugs to children.

TOBACCO
Temple Ministries is a tobacco-free facility. Temple Ministries requires staff, faculty, and volunteers to refrain from the use or possession of tobacco products in the facility, and while in the presence of children and students or their parents. Temple Ministries staff, faculty, and volunteers are prohibited from providing tobacco products to children.

NUDITY
Staff, faculty, and volunteers at Temple Ministries should never be nude in the presence of children in their care.

ONE-TO-ONE INTERACTIONS WITH CHILDREN AND STUDENTS

Temple Ministries recognizes that meeting the educational needs of children may occasionally require that staff, faculty, and volunteers interact with them on an individual basis. Workers should observe the following guidelines when interacting with children:

Individual Meetings
Staff, faculty, and volunteers should conduct one-to-one meetings with an individual child at a time when others are present and where interactions can be easily observed. There will be no one-to-one meetings between a staff, faculty, or volunteer and a child behind closed doors. If a circumstance arises where a private one-to-one meeting does occur, the staff, faculty, or volunteer will notify the appropriate Temple Ministries Administration immediately before or after the meeting.

Transportation
Staff, faculty, or volunteers may from time to time be in a position to provide transportation for children. The following guidelines should be strictly observed when workers are involved in the transportation of children:
1)    Children should never be transported without parental permission.
2)    Children should be transported directly to their destination. No unauthorized stops should be made.
3)    Staff, faculty, and volunteers should avoid physical contact with children while in vehicles.
4)    No cell phones may be used by the driver while providing transportation for children.
5)    No drivers under age 25 may provide transportation for children.
6)    Children should not use a vehicle belonging to a staff, faculty, or volunteers.

PARENTAL CONTACT
Parents who leave their children in the care of Temple Ministries staff, faculty, and volunteers for services and activities will be contacted if their child becomes ill, injured, or has a severe disciplinary problem while participating in school/church activities.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Parents are encouraged to be a part of any and all services and programs in which students are involved at Temple Ministries. A parent accompanied by a child to any school program or activity is responsible for their child’s safety.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS
A parent who desires to participate in such a way as to have ongoing Supervisory Role (Room Moms, Volunteer Coaches, Fine Arts Volunteers, etc.) with children in the school other than his/her own will be considered a Parent Volunteer. All parents volunteers will be required to complete Temple Ministries Child Safety Application.

PHYSICAL CONTACT
Temple Ministries is committed to protecting the students in our care. Temple Ministries has implemented a physical contact policy that will promote a positive, nurturing environment while protecting our children. Physical contact in any form should not give even the appearance of wrongdoing. The personal behavior of Temple Ministries staff, faculty, or volunteers must foster trust at all times – personal conduct must be above reproach. The following guidelines are to be carefully followed by anyone working in Temple Ministries programs:

1. Hugging, pats on the back and other forms of appropriate physical affection between staff, faculty, or volunteers and children are important for children’s development, and are generally suitable in the school/church setting.

2. Physical affection should be appropriate to the student’s age. Inappropriate touching and inappropriate displays of affection are forbidden. Any inappropriate touching and inappropriate displays of affection should be immediately reported to the Head of School or Lead Pastor.

3. Physical contact and affection should only be given when in the presence of other children or Temple Ministries staff, faculty or volunteers. It is much less likely that touches will be inappropriate or misinterpreted as such when more than two individuals are present and the touch is open to observation.

4. Do not force any physical contact, touch or affection upon a reluctant child. A child’s preference not to be touched must be respected.

RELEASE OF CHILDREN
At the end of the school day or school/church activity, Temple Ministries faculty, staff or volunteers are responsible for releasing children in their care only to parents, legal guardians, or other persons designated in writing by parents or legal guardians.

In the event that faculty, staff or volunteers are uncertain of the propriety of releasing a child, they should immediately locate or contact the Head of School or Lead Pastor before releasing the student.

SEXUALLY ORIENTED CONVERSATIONS
Staff, faculty, and volunteers are prohibited from engaging in any sexually oriented conversations with children. However, it is expected that from time to time staff, faculty, and volunteers may be called upon to address children regarding human sexuality and purity. Staff, faculty, and volunteers are not permitted to discuss any inappropriate or explicit information about their own personal relationships, dating, or sexual activities with any child in the school/church. This provision includes the use of cellular phones, text messages, e-mail, instant messaging and online chat rooms.

POSSESSION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED MATERIALS
Temple Ministries staff, faculty, and volunteers are prohibited from possessing any sexually oriented materials (magazines, cards, videos, films, etc.) on school/church property or in the presence of children. Additionally, Temple Ministries considers private use of such materials grounds for disqualification from serving in these roles. If any such materials are purportedly necessary for classroom instruction, they must be approved in advance by the Head of School or Lead Pastor.

INTERNET/ELECTRONIC MEDIA
No computer at or related to Temple Ministries is to be used by staff, faculty, volunteers or children to engage in computer chat room discussions or visit pornographic or sexually inappropriate websites. Violation of this policy can lead to discipline from the Head of School or Lead Pastor. Any questions about inappropriate use of computers or the suitability of a particular website should be discussed with the Head of School or Lead Pastor.

SOCIAL MEDIA/NETWORKING
Temple Ministries establishes a social networking policy to safeguard the children, employees, and the reputation of Temple Ministries and to provide guidelines to assist staff, faculty, volunteers in using this communication vehicle. For more information regarding this policy, please contact the Head of School or Lead Pastor.

Alumnae
It is acceptable to accept social network ‘friend requests’ with alumnae over the age of 18.
However, it is best not to initiate friend contacts with alumnae. Understand that uneven power dynamics of the school environment, in which adults have authority over former students, might continue to shape those relationships. Consider that recent alumnae are in some ways similar to current students because of proximity and age, and because they likely perceive faculty and staff member as authority figures.

Other Friends
Remind other members of your network of your position at Temple Ministries and that your profile may be accessed by current or former students/children, and to monitor their posts to your network accordingly. Conversely, be judicious in your postings to all friends’ sites, and act immediately to remove any material that may be inappropriate from your site whether posted by you or someone else.

Privacy
Recognize that there is no such thing as complete privacy on a social networking site. Take care in anything you post online. Keep your privacy settings at appropriate levels to protect yourself. Any violation in this policy may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

SLEEPING ARRANGEMENTS
It is anticipated that certain Temple Ministries activities may occasionally require that overnight sleeping arrangements be made for children and faculty, staff or volunteers. In the event that an activity requires sleeping arrangements, faculty, staff or volunteers will strictly observe the following rules; any exceptions to the below policies must be approved in advance by the Head of School or Lead Pastor:

1. Faculty, staff or volunteers will monitor sleeping children periodically conducting visual bed checks to ensure that sleeping children remain in designated sleeping areas.

2. Only children of the same sex will be permitted to sleep in the same room.

3. At times, a faculty, staff or volunteers will sleep in the same room as children or in an adjoining room. However, faculty, staff or volunteers are prohibited from sleeping in a 1:1 ratio setting with children for any reason, unless the faculty, staff or volunteers are an immediate family member of the child.

4. In the event that overnight arrangements do not include standard beds, each faculty, staff or volunteers and/or child will use single sleeping bags or blankets. In these instances a “one-person-to-one-bag or blanket” rule will be observed.

5. Faculty, staff or volunteers and children will be required to wear both top and bottom clothing while sleeping.

Child Safety Policies
Statement of Acknowledgment and Agreement

I have received and read a copy of Temple Ministries Child Safety Policies and understand the importance of the matters set forth within the manual. I agree to follow and abide by these guidelines during my service at Temple Ministries.

Further, I understand that the policies may be modified at any time, and that any guideline may be amended, revised, or eliminated at any time by Temple Ministries.

Finally, I understand that it is my responsibility to review new guidelines that are created and distributed as well as policy guidelines that are changed or deleted.

I hereby acknowledge receipt and agreement of the policies contained herein. Your typed name will be considered your signature.

Name *

Date *

Enter Your Email Address: *