Resources
Forms
Churches
Policies & Procedures
The only thing worse than having no policies and procedures is having poorly designed policies and procedures that you don’t follow. Our policies are an overflow of our extensive legal experience and our years of service in children and student ministries.
MinistrySafe’s comprehensive policies and procedures have been crafted to realistically fit most church’s ministries. MinistrySafe forms can be easily modified to fit unique programming and staffing situations.
At MinistrySafe, we understand that there are sometimes programs or activities that do not neatly fit into either children’s ministry or student ministry. In most cases the above policies can be modified to accommodate such programs or activities. MinistrySafe professionals are available for case-by-case engagements to craft or modify policies for unique programs or activities.
Skillful Screening Forms
Prior to focusing on child sexual abuse, Kimberlee Norris practiced in employment law. Equipped with this experience, MinistrySafe offers the most comprehensive screening strategies and forms. It is our opinion that a fine tuned screening process is far more effective than even the best background check.
- Overview of Skillful Screening Procedures
- Sexual Abuser Characteristics
- Allowing Abusers to “Opt-Out”
- Key Risk Indicators
- Employment Application (designed to elicit high-risk responses)
- Volunteer Application (designed to elicit high-risk responses)
- Applicant Statements and Agreed Code of Conduct (employees and volunteers)
- Safety Application (for employees and volunteers)
- Safety Application – description of high-risk and low-risk responses
- Sample Interview Form
- Interview Instructions
- Interview – description of high-risk and low-risk responses
- Interview – follow-up questions to evasive or high-risk responses
- Reference Form – for use by mail
- Reference Form – for use by telephone
- Instructions for the use of References
- Sample Cover Letter for Reference Form
Schools
Policies & Procedures
Schools will customarily have comprehensive handbooks dealing with many things, including medical leave, smoking and jury duty. Rarely, however, will a school have specific policies and procedures designed to protect young people from sexual abuse. MinistrySafe’s comprehensive policies and procedures have been crafted to realistically fit the programming of most schools.
Skillful Screening Forms
Prior to focusing on child sexual abuse, Kimberlee Norris specialized in employment law. Equipped with this experience, MinistrySafe offers the most comprehensive screening strategies and forms. It is our opinion that a fine tuned screening process is far more effective than even the best background check. MinistrySafe recognizes that the hiring and screening process at a school is unique. There is a slightly different process depending on whether the applicant is faculty/staff, non-faculty employee, substitute or volunteer teacher (just because a teacher is a volunteer does not mean that the volunteer teacher avoids the screening process … the issue is whether that person has access to children, not whether he/she is paid).
Faculty / Staff
- Faculty/Staff Documents Checklist
- Teacher/Employment Application
- Safety Application
- Reference Form
- Interview Form
- Applicant Statement of Agreed Code of Conduct
- New Hire Reporting Form (if in Texas)
- I-9 Form
- W-4 Form
Non-Faculty Employee
- Non-Faculty Documents Checklist
- Employment Application
- Safety Application
- Reference Form
- Applicant Statement of Agreed Code of Conduct
- W-4 Form
- New Hire Reporting Form (if in Texas)
- I-9 Form
Substitutes
- Substitutes Documents Checklist
- Employment Application
- Safety Application
- Reference Form
- Interview Form
- Applicant Statement of Agreed Code of Conduct
- W-4 Form
- New Hire Reporting Form (if in Texas)
- I-9 Form
Volunteer
- Volunteers Documents Checklist
- Safety Application
- Reference Form
- Interview Form
- Volunteer Statement of Agreed Code of Conduct
Camps
MinistrySafe’s sample camp policies address many of the important elements necessary to reduce the risk of sexual abuse at camp.
Camp programs and activities, however, vary widely from camp to camp. The MinistrySafe sample policies and procedures need to be shaped to fit your unique camp program and activities – especially if your camp is dealing with special needs campers or other high-risk populations. MinistrySafe professionals are available for case-by-case engagements to craft or modify policies for unique programs or activities.
For camps, MinistrySafe provides industry-leading screening documents.
- Overview of Skillful Screening Procedures
- Sexual Abuser Characteristics
- Allowing Abusers to “Opt-Out”
- Key Risk Indicators
- Employment Application (designed to elicit high-risk responses)
- Volunteer Application (designed to elicit high-risk responses)
- Applicant Statements and Agreed Code of Conduct (employees and volunteers)
- Safety Application (for employees and volunteers)
- Safety Application – description of high-risk and low-risk responses
- Sample Interview Form
- Interview Instructions
- Interview – description of high-risk and low-risk responses
- Interview – follow-up questions to evasive or high-risk responses
- Reference Form – for use by mail
- Reference Form – for use by telephone
- Instructions for the use of References
- Sample Cover Letter for Reference Form
Other Programs that Involve Children
MinistrySafe members include entities specializing in adoption, foster care, athletics, mentoring, housing and more. Though, MinistrySafe continues to expand its online library of forms, there are many programs that do not easily fit into a category. The Skillful Screening documents are relevant regardless of industry or program, and are provided below. The sample MinistrySafe policies featured above should be instructive and helpful as you craft policies that fit your need. In most cases the above policies can be modified to accommodate a variety of programs or activities. MinistrySafe professionals are available for case-by-case engagements to craft or modify policies for unique programs or activities.
- Overview of Skillful Screening Procedures
- Sexual Abuser Characteristics
- Allowing Abusers to “Opt-Out”
- Key Risk Indicators
- Employment Application (designed to elicit high-risk responses)
- Volunteer Application (designed to elicit high-risk responses)
- Applicant Statements and Agreed Code of Conduct (employees and volunteers)
- Safety Application (for employees and volunteers)
- Safety Application – description of high-risk and low-risk responses
- Sample Interview Form
- Interview Instructions
- Interview – description of high-risk and low-risk responses
- Interview – follow-up questions to evasive or high-risk responses
- Reference Form – for use by mail
- Reference Form – for use by telephone
- Instructions for the use of References
- Sample Cover Letter for Reference Form
Background Checks
We do not offer background checks but we do offer invaluable information regarding the ineffectiveness of the average background check. Background checks offer a false sense of security and extraordinary liability. Educate yourself in order to make a more informed decision.
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