Best Practices

1. Review existing policies.

• It is highly recommended each Alabama Baptist Church consults with their insurance company to receive a sample policy for the construction of its church policies and procedures. Your insurance company would prefer to support you as you embark on policy building.

2. Complete background checks and applications with references for staff and/or volunteers who work with those 18 years and younger.

• Written Application Form- This written application should have at a minimum the applicant’s name, address, the names of other organizations where the applicant has worked or been a volunteer, a full explanation of any prior criminal convictions and the names of two or more references with contact information. Written applications are suggested for all staff members and volunteers having custody or supervision of minors.
• Confirm Identity- If an applicant is unknown to you then require the applicant to provide photographic identification (such as a state driver’s license).
• Contact References- Contact each person and organization listed as a reference on the written application and request a written reference from those contacted. IF possible, obtain the names of other people who know the applicant that are not listed as references and contact them.
• Background Checks- There are numerous companies that provide criminal background checks for minimal cost. It is recommended that all applicants for staff positions and those seeking volunteer opportunities which include custody or supervision of minors be subject to a background check before beginning their work.

It is further recommended that Alabama Baptist churches utilize the Alabama Department of Human Resources for background checking criminal and sexual abuse crimes. The request form may be found at dhr.alabama.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/form1598.pdf. This form must be filled out in paper form and presented to DHR at least 90 days in advance of when the information is needed. Instructions for filling out the form can be found here.  

Additional background check options: educational background, employment history, motor vehicle records, social security number, credit history and professional licenses; certifications could apply depending on the position applied for. 

Six Month Rule: Alabama Baptist churches and ministries may reduce the risk of incidents of sexual abuse by adopting a policy restricting eligibility for any position or volunteer activity involving the custody and control of minors for a period of time, such as 6 months. This policy gives the church or ministry a greater opportunity to evaluate and observe applicants. This waiting period would also serve to repel those seeking immediate access to the vulnerable groups. 

3. Church Membership 

While membership requirements and expectations vary in Alabama Baptist churches, it would be a wise practice to be sure that those who desire to volunteer have met all the standards of membership your church has established (i.e. attended and completed the membership class, met with the pastor or staff or volunteer leader of the ministry they desire to be involved with, especially as it pertains to minors, etc.).

4. Training Staff and Volunteers

• Require all ministerial staff and volunteers, who work with minors and vulnerable adults to be educated and trained in the areas of sexual abuse prevention, identification, and care. Training is the key and should include awareness training of how predators select and groom victims. Examples of training are: ministrysafe.com; caringwell.com.
• Utilize local leaders such as: Sheriff, DHR, Child Advocacy Center, and Local Trauma-Informed Counseling Center to counsel and train leaders and volunteers on the process of mandated reporting. These local leaders would also be an excellent resource for helping you become more aware of the issue of child and sexual abuse in your community.
• Meet in person to review policies with leaders and volunteers annually, including:
  • Code of Conduct (in person and social media) 
  • Defining appropriate interactions 
  • Reporting procedures 

 5. Shadowing

• If possible, new volunteers should shadow experienced staff/volunteers for a period of time (2-4 week minimum) before they are ready to serve without supervision. This allows for opportunities to observe new volunteer’s behavior and ascertain his/her readiness to serve within a ministry.
• At a minimum, experienced staff/volunteers should regularly move through ministry areas that include minors and adult populations vulnerable to abuse, to establish presence and to observe interactions between staff/volunteers and ministry participants. 

 6. Sexual Abuse Recognition, Lament, and Healing Day

• Observe “Caring Well” Sunday. (For more information, visit caringwell.com and the SBC calendar of events.)
• Perhaps host a day inviting sexual abuse survivors to attend your church and talk with them. Invite their thoughts and suggestions as best practices are built in your church. In doing this, survivors could see how much the church cares about them, cover them with Scripture and support, hoping to develop care for survivors long-term

1. Observation

• If you observe suspicious or inappropriate behaviors and/or policy violations immediately report your observations to your leader. 
• Interrupt the behavior immediately. 
• Report to the ministry leader, supervisor, director or other authority. 
• Reports can be made anonymously. 

• If the report is about a supervisor or administrator, contact the next level of leadership. 
• Document the report. 
• Keep reporting until the appropriate action is taken. 

 2. Volunteer Safety Policies and Practices

• Children Check In/Out Policy– Ensure children are only allowed to leave with an approved adult. 
• Hall Monitor Policy– Designate a volunteer to circulate throughout the building during service times to ensure that no adults are alone with a child, youth, or vulnerable persons. 
• Two-Deep Policy– If possible, require at least two adults (not related) to be present when a child, youth, or vulnerable person is present in all circumstances. Volunteers under the age of 18 do not count towards this rule because background checks cannot not be efficiently conducted. 
• “Know Your Church” Policy– A volunteer should be known to your church for a specified length of time and by a specified number of leaders in order to be eligible to volunteer. However, this rule should not be used as a substitute for adequate screening. 
• Respect for a Child’s Privacy Policy- Ensure that children, youth, and vulnerable persons are guaranteed privacy when they are changing clothes or going to the restroom. Children should be supervised by sound while in the restroom. The number of children in the restroom should correspond to the number of stalls in the restroom. Adults may not enter the restroom with a child alone. If a child needs assistance, volunteers should stand at the door and offer help with another volunteer observing. The CDC guidelines for diapering should be prominently displayed and followed. This applies to giving them privacy from both adults and minors. Not only should privacy maintained in the church setting, but also at off-site activities like retreats and church camps 
• Open Doors Policy– Have an open-doors policy at your church (unless the door is outfitted with a full window). This applies to all doors, not just doors in the children and youth areas. This protects private areas that could easily be utilized for abuse while still allowing for confidential, but not secluded conversations. 
• No Sexual Jokes or Behaviors Policy– It is never appropriate to permit anyone to engage in sexual jokes, innuendo, or behaviors. This is just one more avenue that predators can use to groom and begin to break down the defenses of the community. 
• Transportation Policy– It is important to establish a policy with respect to transportation to and from church events to prevent one-on-one settings and opportunities for predators to gain access to victims under the guise of being “helpful” and offering rides. Persons who drive church owned or privately-owned vehicles for church business or events must maintain a valid Alabama driver’s license and provide proof of insurance. 
• Online/Social Media Policy– Social media policies should include all online and mobile platforms and should specifically address all forms of communication involving minors or vulnerable adults. These policies should be published, clearly communicated, and updated regularly as online and social media options change. An excellent template for social media policies can be found at churchmarketinguniveristy.com.   
• Overnight Policy– The two-deep policy should be followed for all overnight activities. Additionally, chaperones should be provided for each gender and, if possible, children, youth, and vulnerable persons should not share a bed with an unrelated person. All chaperones should be thoroughly vetted and have completed current background checks.   

Further church resources, including sample policies and procedures, can be found at brotherhoodmutual.com.

Church leaders are often called to the difficult and sensitive task of shepherding survivors through the devastation of abuse. Our hope is that this information will aid church leadership among Alabama Baptists with a biblically-grounded, survivor-centered approach to responding to disclosures of alleged sexual assault, abuse, and/or domestic violence. 

Guiding Principles of Survivor Advocacy.pdf