Policies and Definitions Regarding Inappropriate Behavior Related to Children at Bethlehem.pdf

-To refrain from inappropriate behavior and also avoid the appearance of evil in relating to adults, young adults, youth or children

-To admonish or report inappropriate behavior

1.  There are two problems that Family Discipleship workers should watch for:
   • Behavior by anyone in this church, especially a Family Discipleship worker, that indicates that he or she may be inclined to abuse, molest, or otherwise harm any child, especially one under the care of this church.
   • Indications that a child under the care of this church is being abused, molested, neglected, or otherwise harmed, whether by someone in this church or outside this church.

2. Admonishing and reporting inappropriate behavior by a Family Discipleship worker:

   • If you observe a Family Discipleship worker (or another member of the church) talking or acting in a manner that seems to be innocent but might appear to others to be inappropriate, you should privately admonish that person and encourage him or her to exercise greater care in words and actions (see Matt. 18:15).
   • If you observe a Family Discipleship worker (or another member of the church) talking or acting in a manner that gives rise to a reasonable suspicion of improper involvement with a child, youth, or young adult or of the potential for improper involvement with a child, youth, or young adult you should promptly report your concern to the appropriate pastor who will look into the matter and take appropriate corrective measures.
   • Behaviors to watch for in adults working with children, youth, and young adults:
     1. Inappropriate comments about sexual matters, especially about or in the presence of minors.
     2. Use of pornography, including inclination toward sexually explicit television,  movies, books, or magazines.
     3. Excessive and inappropriate attention to a particular child, youth, and young adults especially if it involves an effort to be alone with the child.

3. Reporting actual or suspected abuse or neglect of a child, youth, or young adult: 

   • Minnesota law does not require volunteer workers in a church to report actual or suspected child abuse or neglect. Should a worker voluntarily make a report to civil authorities, however, the law provides that he or she will be immune to civil or criminal liability, provided the report was made in good faith and without malicious purpose. 
   • No single indicator of abuse or neglect is necessarily cause for alarm, but it may be cause to observe a given person or situation more closely. When multiple indicators appear together, however, it is appropriate to discuss the situation with someone else in the church or, in urgent cases, to make an actual report to the civil authorities.
   • Indications of physical abuse: child, youth, or young adult reports injury by others; unexplained bruises, welts, lacerations, burns, fractures, abdominal injuries, or human bites; child, youth, or young adult is unusually wary of physical contact with adults, demonstrates extremes in behavior, or seems frightened of parents or caretaker. 
   • Indications of sexual abuse: child reports abuse by others; has difficulty walking or sitting; torn, stained, or bloody underclothing; complaints of pain or itching in genital area; bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vaginal or anal area; unusual interest in or knowledge of sexual matters; or other unusual and excessive behaviors inappropriate for a minor.
   • Reporting abuse can precipitate severe consequences to a family, so it should never be done casually or thoughtlessly, and certainly not for malicious purposes. At the same time, failing to report abuse can have severe consequences to a child at risk. Therefore, if you have reasonable cause to suspect abuse, you should talk with either your team leader or a Family Discipleship pastor to see what steps could and should be taken to protect the child and help the family.