Child & Youth Protection Policy of Bethlehem Church

We take the safety of the children who attend Bethlehem Church very seriously. Abuse and neglect of children occur in every economic, social, racial, ethnic, and religious group, and unfortunately, sexual predators often target churches. Accordingly, we have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to abuse and mistreatment of children and the vulnerable among us. This Child Safety Policy governs all volunteers who are or will be engaged in providing services to Minors as part of any class, ministry, team, club, trip, event, or activity that is organized in substantial part by the Church or by its staff or volunteers in their role as a Church staff or volunteer (“Program”).     

Please read the following carefully. 

Screening

Bethlehem Church requires all Volunteers to complete an application (Congrats – you’re doing that now!) as well as the following screening steps prior to being permitted to work with Minors:

Background Check (applicable for 18 years of age and older): the background check is completed by a third-party organization. Such background checks will be renewed no later than once every three years, or as deemed necessary by the Church. Further, as part of continued service with minors at the Church, Volunteers may be asked to verify whether they have been charged or convicted with any criminal or traffic offense since the date of their last background check conducted by the Church. Additionally, the Church will conduct a search of the Georgia and national sex offender internet registries. Any applicants found to be on such a list shall not be allowed to serve in ministries involving minors, vulnerable persons, or potentially in other areas of the Church, at the sole discretion of the Church. 

Personal Interview: A member of the Bethlehem Next Gen Team will meet with the applicant to conduct an in-person interview.

Training: All volunteers that serve in Bethlehem Next Gen Ministries are trained by the Next Gen Staff and Coordinators. This includes a walk through the Bethlehem Volunteer Handbooks, definition and recognition of child abuse and neglect, prevention of child abuse, Georgia statutes regarding mandatory reporting for volunteers 18 years of age or older. Additional training may be periodically required, at the sole discretion of Bethlehem Church.

PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

Never Alone Rule

The presence of two Volunteers is to protect minors against situations in which abuse might occur. The Rule against being “alone” with a minor applies to all Church Programs and children ages birth to 17 years of age. “Alone” means one adult with one child in a room or location where they are not seen by others. In a one-on-one mentoring relationship between a volunteer and a youth, mentoring must occur in public places where interactions are easily observed by others.

Telephonic, Electronic, and Virtual Communications 

Bethlehem Church recognizes that it may sometimes be necessary or beneficial for Volunteers to communicate with minors using social media, text messaging, emails, or other electronic or virtual means. Volunteers must first obtain the permission of a minor’s parents before initiating any telephonic, electronic, or virtual communications with a minor. After permission has been obtained, all such communications:

• Must be related to a definable ministry purpose;
• Must comply with the Never Alone Rule. In other words, messages exchanged between an adult Volunteer and a minor should never be exclusively between one adult and one minor. Communications must include a second Volunteer or the minor’s parent; and
• Must not be made on messaging platforms that are designed to automatically delete content.

If a Volunteer is contacted by a minor, the reply should include a parent or another Volunteer copied. Questions about electronic, telephonic, or virtual communications with minors should be addressed to Brad Carter.

Open Door Rule

Doors of classrooms, offices, or other areas where Volunteers and minors may gather must remain open at all times unless there is a window in the door. Doors should never be locked while anyone is inside the rooms except in the case of a lockdown procedure. The Never Alone Rule must be complied with under any of these scenarios.

Guidelines for Appropriate Physical Contact

Bethlehem Church is committed to creating and promoting a positive, nurturing environment for our kid’s ministry that protects our children from abuse and our team from misunderstandings. When creating safe boundaries for children, it is important to establish appropriate and inappropriate types of affection. Stating which behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate allows our team to comfortably show positive affection in ministry and identify individuals who are not maintaining safe boundaries with children. Because each family may differ in how they express physical touch, it is important to be aware that what is “normal” to one minor may feel inappropriate to another. The following guidelines are to be carefully followed by all Volunteers and Staff working around or with children. Examples of appropriate physical contact include side-hugs, first bumps, handshakes, pats on the shoulder or back, high-fives, holding hands while walking small children or during prayer, putting an arm around a crying child, and picking up a toddler who has fallen, sitting beside a small child, and kneeling down to be at eye-level with a small child. Examples of physical contact with minors that is specifically prohibited include:  

• Lingering hugs. Any hugs must be mutual, can be refused, and should be initiated by the minor. 
• Kissing, butt pats, tickling, wrestling, and piggy-back rides.   
• Holding children over preschool age. 
• Sitting on laps. Minors who are four years old or older may sit in front of you, next to you, or somewhere close, but not on your lap. Children younger than four years old cannot sit in the center of your lap or between your legs, regardless of gender. If a young child climbs onto your lap, pick them up by the waist and position them so they are sitting on your knee, rather than in the center of your lap. 
• Any type of massage, whether given by a child to an adult or an adult to a child. 
• Physical punishment such as hitting, slapping, or spanking. 

Discipline

The goal in our discipline policy is discipleship! We don’t always know what a child is walking through, and we want to disciple each child right where they are. When a child is having a hard time in class, Bethlehem Next Gen staff and/or volunteers will:

• REMIND the child of the purpose of the activity.
• REDIRECT the child to the activity.
• REMOVE the child from the activity.
• If a child needs to be removed, ask for assistance from a staff member.

Our heart is to have a discipleship conversation and allow the child to continue engaging in the Bethlehem Next Gen Ministry experience. Should the behavior not improve, inform a Bethlehem Next Gen staff member, and they will decide when to contact parents.

Accidents and Bleeding

Accidents happen. If an accident arises, please inform a Bethlehem Next Gen staff member who will assist you through the appropriate process. For any injury requiring more attention than a band-aid or an ice pack, a staff member will notify the medical team on campus if necessary.

Remember: Contact a staff member. Always wear gloves when handling potty accidents or blood. Clean up immediately. Please dispose of any used gloves, paper towels, cloths, etc. Wash hands with soap and water. 

A written Incident Report should be completed for all incidents that require parents to be called, the emergency services (ambulance or fire department) to be called, or when a child exhibits physical symptoms such as an allergy reaction, or demonstrates or expresses persistent pain for extended time (15 minutes or more).   

This report should be filled out by the ministry director or appropriate person on the pastoral staff. A description of the incident, contributing factors, and the treatment given should be noted. Witnesses to the incident should be listed with addresses and phone numbers for follow-up purposes. The Bethlehem Next Gen staff or other responsible staff member will further investigate the incident if needed.

SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN

Minors must never be left unattended in a building or on the premises at any time. At the end of an event or program, workers should check the classrooms, restrooms, and other building areas to verify that no child has been left behind. For all ages and groups, Workers should pay attention to the location of minors. Any two minors together in an unseen or less easily viewed area should be redirected back to the group.

PROHIBITED ITEMS

In order to protect minors in our care and to provide the best possible environment for all, the following items are not allowed at any church program involving minors: illegal drugs, drugs that the person does not have a prescription to use, marijuana, alcohol, fireworks, pornography or sexually suggestive material, or firearms

AGE-APPROPRIATE ROOMS

When dividing classrooms, we must consider each child’s social, emotional, and intellectual development levels. We base this development on the child’s age. We believe that children learn best from engaging in age-appropriate activities because a child’s ability to interact with others and concentrate at length develops gradually with age. 

All activities in each room are geared to the age of the child. In order for us to provide the best experience for each child, it is very important for them to be placed in the proper room according to their age.

INTRUDER SAFETY

Only background-checked volunteers are allowed in Next Gen Ministry environments. Contact Bethlehem Next Gen staff and security immediately if you see someone in a Bethlehem Next Gen environment who you don’t recognize.

CELL PHONE AND PHOTO POLICY

Out of respect and protection for our children and families, it is essential to put away anything that may cause a distraction while in the classroom (cell phones, iPods, cameras, and any other similar devices). 

It is also essential that you refrain from taking pictures of children. No pictures should be taken, stored on devices, or posted to any website or social media outlet. This is to protect our children and our families.

PHOTOGRAPHY RELEASE

Parents are notified at the time of check-in that there is a possibility that photographs and/or videos will be taken during the service. Any child not released to have a photograph or video taken will have a green wristband on their wrist. Please pay close attention to them. We will inform you when photographers and/or videographers are in the Bethlehem Next Gen environments.

MEDICATION

Bethlehem Next Gen Team members are not allowed to administer any type of medication to children. This includes over-the- counter, prescription medications and diaper creams. Exceptions to this policy may be granted to parents of children with potentially life-threatening conditions (such as diabetes or severe allergic reactions). Parents of such children should address their situation with the ministry director to develop a written plan of action, with such plan being signed by the ministry director and the child’s parent(s).

MANDATORY REPORTING

Definitions of Abuse

These definitions are provided to assist Volunteers with identifying child abuse or neglect in an effort to report the situation to the proper authorities, as discussed further below. .

Abuse: means the mistreatment of a Child that causes physical or sexual injury or creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury on a Child. Abuse can take many forms and includes human trafficking.

Emotional Abuse: This is the acting out by parent, guardian, custodian, or other person responsible for the care of a child of their negative or ambiguous feelings toward the child, resulting in some degree of emotional damage to the child. This kind of behavior may consist of consistent chastising, belittling, verbal tirades, ridicule, humiliation, or the rejection of the child’s dignity and worthiness. Physical Abuse: This is the use of physical force of the child which results in any injury ot the child. This injury is sometimes described as a “non-accidental injury” by health professionals.

Sexual Abuse: This is the sexual exploitation of a child by a caretaker or other family member, or any adult, resulting in damage or injury to the child sexually, either psychologically or physically. Forms of sexual exploitation include behavior of a sexual nature, touching of a sexual nature, and sexual intercourse.

Grooming: includes behaviors designed to overcome another person’s defenses by slowing desensitizing their natural reactions to abusive behaviors. Grooming works by mixing positive behaviors with elements of abuse. Abusive elements are added incrementally so as not to alarm the one targeted for abuse, and to normalize inappropriate behaviors. Grooming happens to both children and adults, and groomers typically groom everyone around their target – the institution, gatekeepers, community, and parents.

The steps a person often takes to groom a child include the following: (1) identifying the potential target; (2) befriending the child; (3) gathering information about the child’s interests and vulnerabilities; (4) filling a need and/or furthering an interest that the child has; (5) cultivating a “special friendship” with the target; (6) isolating the target; 7) initiating increasingly intimate contact; (8) maintaining control; and (9) making the target feel responsible.

Neglect: This is the chronic or episodic withholding of necessary or essential physical care from the child with resulting injury or damage to the child. Necessary physical care can include food, nutrition, shelter, clothing, medical care, safety, supervision, and sensory stimulation (particularly to young infants).

When to Report Abuse

If you have reasonable cause to believe that suspected child abuse has occurred, as a mandated reporter, you are required to notify your ministry leader. Your ministry leader will determine the appropriate next steps to make sure every child is safe.

A person’s suspicion may be based on many factors including physical or behavioral observations, allegations, and statements by a child, victim, or third party. A person should identify whether there is any evidence of Grooming that might indicate the existence of abuse. Abuse thus must be reported whenever a mandated report knows, observes, or has cause to suspect that child abuse or neglect has occurred.

NOTE: Under Georgia law, the clergy privilege may prevent reporting if information of child abuse is heard by someone in a pastoral function in the context of a confession. If you think the clergy privilege may apply, be sure to speak with your supervisor immediately. 

Who Should Report

Georgia law regarding child welfare provides the relevant legal framework for abuse prevention, protection, and mandated reporting.

Under that legal framework “persons” who have “reasonable cause to believe that suspected child abuse has occurred.” “Persons” includes certain categories of professionals, clergy, and “child service organization personnel.” All Staff and Volunteers with Bethlehem Next Gen ministries are considered child service organization personnel and, accordingly, are mandated reporters. 

Reporting To Your Ministry Director

You must immediately report any suspicion of abuse against a child to your Ministry Director and complete an Incident Report with that Ministry Director.

This information should be obtained and reported to the extent known. Note however that the mandated reporter is not required to carry out any investigation. DFCS or law enforcement professionals will carry out such further investigation as is appropriate.

Mandated Reporter Training

The Church will provide training for every Volunteer who is 18 years of age and older in identifying signs of abuse and in the mandated reporting procedures listed above.

Volunteers are also confirming the following:

• I have not been charged with or convicted of pedophilic behavior, incest, rape, assaults, child pornography, and/or abuse of a minor.
• I have not resigned from or been terminated from any position (paid or volunteer) for reasons relating to pedophilic behavior, incest, rape, assaults, child pornography, and/or abuse of a minor.
• I have not been found by any state or federal agency or body to have abused and/or neglected a minor.
• I agree to be under a continuing obligation to disclose any future charges or convictions of pedophilic behavior, incest, rape, assaults, child pornography, and/or abuse of a minor.
• I have not used illegal drugs and/or been charged with or convicted of any drug-related crimes within the past 5 years.
• I agree to be under a continuing obligation to disclose any future use of illegal drugs and any charges or convictions for drug-related crimes.

Kids Ministry-Specific

RESTROOM USE AND DIAPERING

Nursery-5 years old

Please make sure that all diapers are changed before the end of service time. If, for some reason, a child did not have their diaper changed, please communicate this to their family. Diapering should be done only in designated diaper stations, and within sight of other adults. Only women over the age of 18 may change diapers. Please ensure that potty-training or potty-trained children attempt to use the restroom at least once. It is helpful if you ask the younger children who might need a little prompting or reminder.

There are no adults in the restrooms with children, except under exceptional circumstances, such as an accident. Under this circumstance, the Never Alone Rules applies and you must be a female accompanied by another female leader. This is not only for the protection of the child but for your protection against accusations of impropriety. Additionally, the bathroom door or the stall door must remain open to keep in line with the Never Alone Rule. Neither male leaders nor youth leaders are permitted to accompany children to the restroom.

Because Bethlehem Buddies has unique needs, please see the Bethlehem Buddies handbook for bathroom policies, especially related to children/teenagers with special needs.

Kindergarten-5th Grade


Children of this age should be escorted to the bathroom by a Volunteer within view of other adults. A child should never be sent into the bathroom alone unless the Volunteer has first entered to see if anyone else is in the bathroom. 

If the bathroom is empty, the child may go in alone while the Volunteer remains in the hallway, within sight of the bathroom door. Adults wishing to enter should be asked to wait until the child comes out.  

If Volunteers or other adults are in the bathroom, the Volunteer should stay in the bathroom while the child uses the facility so that the Never Alone Rule remains in effect. When the other person leaves, the Volunteer should leave at the same time and wait just outside the door.