Mt. Rose Reformed Orthodox Presbyterian Church
I. Introduction
Mt. Rose Reformed Orthodox Presbyterian Church (hereafter “Mt. Rose,” or “the Church”), a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, seeks to provide a safe and secure environment for the children who participate in its programs and activities. The goals of this policy are:
A. Protect our children from incidents of misconduct or inappropriate behavior.
B. Protect Mt. Rose staff and volunteer workers by helping them avoid situations that might lead to allegations against them, including false allegations.
C. Honor the Lord Jesus Christ by ensuring, as far as possible, the safety of the most vulnerable among us (Matthew 18:10).
II. Definitions
A. For the purposes of this policy:
1. The terms “child” or “children” include all persons less than (18) years of age.
2. A “youth worker” is any person approved by the Session to be engaged in leading or assisting in the children’s ministry in the Church, including but not limited to, Sunday School teachers and assistants, nursery care attendants, Vacation Bible School staff, chaperones, and transportation providers.
3. A “youth event” or “children’s ministry” is any program or event sponsored and publicized by the Church (including Sunday School classes), whether on Church premises, at the home of a Church officer or member, or at another location.
4. A “Church officer” is a pastor, elder, or deacon of the church.
B. Child abuse is any action or negligence that endangers or harms a child including the following:
1. Physical abuse is any physical injury to a child that is not accidental, such as beating, shaking, burning, and biting. This definition does not apply to reasonable physical discipline (such as spanking) that is carried out by a child’s parent or legal guardian.
2. Sexual abuse is any sexual activity between a child and an adult, or between a child and another child, including such activities as fondling, exhibitionism, intercourse, incest, pornography, or any conduct constituting sexual abuse under Nevada law.
3. Emotional abuse is an act toward a child that causes, or is likely to cause, harm to the child’s psychological, social, spiritual, or moral development.
4. Neglect is depriving a child of his or her essential needs, such as adequate food, water, shelter, and medical care.
III. Screening and Requirements for Youth Workers
A. Requirements for Youth Workers
1. They must be communicant members in good standing of Mt. Rose. Under some circumstances, the Session may give approval for a non-member, or a non-communicant member, to serve as a Youth Worker.
2. They must have been regularly attending Mt. Rose for a minimum of 6 months.
3. They must be approved by the Session.
4. Anyone who has been previously convicted of a crime (or crimes) against children will not be eligible for service as a youth worker. For other criminal offenses on the applicant’s record, the Session will determine whether they render the applicant ineligible to work with children.
5. Unless an exception is granted by the session, nursery care attendants shall be limited to women and girls at least (13) years of age.
6. They must agree to abide by the terms of this policy and a record of their agreement must be maintained by the Session.
B. Screening
1. The Church requires screening for all youth workers.
2. This screening shall include a background check conducted by a professional agency, paid for by the Church.
3. Screening will be repeated at least every three years.
4. Records of this screening will be maintained by the Session.
IV. Guidelines for Supervision of Children
A. A child shall not be alone with one adult during any youth event or children’s ministry, except in the case where the adult is the child’s parent or guardian.
B. The door into a room shall never be locked when there are children in the room.
C. Classes offered for youth events or children’s ministry may have only one youth worker as a teacher, but there should be high visibility into the classroom at all times and the ability for random inspection by another youth worker, a Church officer, or a student’s parent or guardian at any time.
D. A child who needs assistance in the bathroom must be helped by his or her parent or guardian, or an immediate or extended family member. For a younger child who does not need assistance but needs to be led to the bathroom, he or she may be led there by a youth worker. In that case, the youth worker shall wait outside the bathroom until the child is ready to return to the classroom or youth activity.
E. Nursery facilities will be staffed by two approved nursery care attendants. There should never be only one nursery care attendant in the nursery with children, unless she is accompanied by the parent or guardian of a child in the nursery. No one other than nursery workers, or parents or guardians, should be present in the nursery when children are present.
F. Youth workers shall not administer corporal punishment at any time. If assistance is needed with the discipline of a child, youth workers should notify the parent or guardian of the child.
G. Youth workers shall not administer medication to any children. Medications must be administered only by a child’s parent or guardian.
H. In the event a child is injured while participating in a youth event or children’s ministry, he/she should be referred for treatment to his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) if immediately available. Otherwise, for minor injuries, scrapes, and bruises, youth workers will provide external first aid only (e.g., adhesive bandages), and will subsequently notify the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) of the injury and related circumstances. For serious injuries requiring medical treatment beyond simple external first aid, the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) will be immediately informed, transportation to a nearby outpatient facility will be provided if necessary, and if warranted an ambulance will be called.
I. Transportation to and from the youth event will be considered a private arrangement, not a church arrangement subject to this policy. However, transportation that is part of a youth event shall be subject to this policy.
V. Policy Violations
A. If, in an emergency, a youth worker deems it necessary to deviate from this policy, then he/she should promptly notify the Session and the reason why it was necessary.
B. If anyone observes a deviation from this policy, they are encouraged to seek to remedy the situation, and also to report the deviation to the Session, even if there is no suspicion of abuse.
C. The Session will maintain records of any reported policy violations.
VI. Reports of Abuse
A. In the event that an individual involved in the care of children at Mt. Rose knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected (with the suspected abuse or neglect taking place outside Church activities), he or she shall report the suspected abuse or neglect to the authorities as mandated by state law. In addition, he or she should report the suspected abuse or neglect to a member of the Session. The member of the Session shall then immediately report the allegation to the entire Session.
B. In the event that an incident of abuse or neglect is alleged to have occurred at Mt. Rose or during Mt. Rose-sponsored activities, the following procedure shall be followed.
1. The person witnessing or suspecting abuse shall immediately notify a Session member.
2. The Session shall notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child of the alleged abuse.
3. The worker alleged to be the perpetrator of the abuse or misconduct will immediately be placed on leave from working with children pending an investigation by the Session and instructed to remain away from the premises during the investigation.
4. A member of the Session shall notify civil authorities of the alleged abuse, fully complying with the state’s requirement regarding mandatory reporting of abuse.
5. Mt. Rose’s insurance company will be notified, and we will complete an incident report as requested by the company.
6. If necessary, a member of the Session will serve as the Church’s spokesperson to the media concerning incidents of abuse or neglect. Mt. Rose will seek the advice of legal counsel before responding to media inquiries or releasing information to the congregation. All other representatives of Mt. Rose should refrain from speaking to the media.
7. A follow-up pastoral visit by one or more Session members will be arranged for those who desire it.
8. Any person who is not found innocent of the alleged abuse or misconduct will be removed from his or her position working with children.
C. In an emergency, where a child’s safety is threatened, call 911.
D. The authority to whom suspected abuse or neglect is to be reported is The Washoe County Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, 1-833-900-7233.
VII. Training and Dissemination
A. The Session will ensure that youth workers and church officers regularly review this policy.
B. A copy of this policy will be published on Mt. Rose’s website and a printed copy made available to anyone upon request.
Version Dated – April 8, 2023