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Philosophy Statement We, the members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills are aware of the prevalence of sexual abuse and harassment in our culture; that it crosses gender, race and class lines; and that we as a congregation need to address these issues. Our commitments, as Unitarian Universalists, to the inherent worth and dignity of every person and to justice and compassion, compel us to create a safe environment that protects children and adults from harm and promotes their spiritual growth. We believe our congregation is uniquely poised to respond to this challenge. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills is a special place that highly values the ideals of community and the search for truth. It is a place that encourages personal growth, allows for personal truths, and supports individuals and families in their efforts to build better lives and a better society. As a caring, intergenerational community we can respond to those in need in broader, more flexible ways than many other institutions. Affirmation of Responsibility and Commitment We accept the responsibility to educate ourselves and our children about sexual misconduct, abuse, molestation, harassment, and exploitation. We also pledge to do our best to protect and support those who come to us either at risk or in crisis. Additionally, we affirm our commitment to maintain an environment free of discrimination and harassment based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, handicap, gender, or sexual orientation. . We pledge to conduct ourselves in a manner that conveys mutual respect and consideration. We acknowledge our responsibility to support this Policy and to work with the Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Response Team so that concerns may be addressed and appropriate response made. Responding to Sexual Misconduct and Abuse As members of UUCC it is our goal to educate and prepare ourselves so that we can respond rationally, compassionately, and with unity of purpose should we suspect or be confronted with an incident or disclosure of sexual abuse or harassment. We wish to respond to individuals in crisis in a spirit of support and understanding, and to further justice and healing, remembering that:
ASupport@ is staying engaged with someone in the search for truth and healing. The Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Response Team One of the first steps in creating a healing community is to create an environment of trust within which both victims and offenders feel safe enough to break the silence about what has happened. Given the obstacles that victims and offenders must overcome in order to break their silences, any disclosure should be viewed as a remarkable event, It is essential that disclosures be met with an appropriate and supportive reaction on the part of the receiver and the community. Inappropriate reactions or a lack of reaction can have the impact of repeating the abuse for victims and may inhibit the victim or offenders from seeking help in the future. In addition to setting certain goals for ourselves to m ret the more immediate needs of abused children and to help prevent its occurrence, we also set the following goals to help become a safe and healing place for adults who may have suffered abuse as children: the maintenance and publication of a list of therapists who specialize in working with adults who were abused as children; maintenance and publication of a list of support groups for adults who were abused as children; the education of ourselves through our Adult Education Program on the problem of abuse and neglect; the encouragement our minister(s) and RE Committee to become familiar with the problem of abuse and neglect by providing leave time and money to enable them to attend continuing education programs dealing with the problem. the support of shelters for battered women in our community regular consultations between the Minister and Religious Education Committee Chair
With this in mind, we have established the Safe Congregation Response Team. This team will be composed of the Minister, the President of the Board of Trustees and the Chair of the Religious Education Committee. In cases of a conflict of interest, a team member may be excused from participation and replaced by a suitable alternate. Members of the team will be well educated in the Policy and will become knowledgeable about available resources for adults and children and specific mandated reporting procedures for children. Guided by the Philosophy Statement and Affirmation and Commitment, their function, individually and collectively, will be to offer confidential support, advice, and counsel, with concern for the safety of all parties involved. They will be available to consult informally with member of the congregation about questions and concerns. Definitions
Abuse: Sexual Misconduct: Sexual abuse or sexual molestation of any person, including but not limited to, any sexual involvement or sexual contact with a person who is a minor or who is legally incompetent; or Sexual harassment in a situation where there is an employment, mentor or colleague relationship between the persons involved, including but not limited to, undesired or inappropriate sexually oriented humor or language; inappropriate questions or comments about sexual behavior or preference unrelated to employment qualifications; undesired physical contact; inappropriate comments about clothing or physical appearance; conduct or communication which has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; or Sexual exploitation, including but not limited to, the development of or the attempt to develop a sexual relationship between ministers, counselors, youth leaders, church school teachers, etc. and a person with whom they have a caretaking role, whether or not there is apparent consent from the individual. Religious Education Program Inasmuch as it is the intention of the Board of Trustees of our congregation to promote self-esteem and personal responsibility among both our children and our members and friends, UUCC will attempt to provide the following as part of its educational program: age appropriate information about development and sexuality to our children and youth; training and support for our religious educators, youth leaders, and parents in areas of parenting skills, growth and development, sexuality, and related issues; on a regular basis, a sex education program for children, youth, and adults which includes sexual abuse prevention; procedures for safeguarding children and youth in groups and reporting known or suspected instances of abuse, molestation, neglect, assault, cruelly, or non-accidental injury; to the extent possible and consistent with sound educational practice, arrange that there be a minimum of two adults with any group of children; parental/guardian viewing of sensitive educational material and parental/guardian consent forms when program or event permission is required. other programs and actions that may suggest themselves as appropriate. Volunteers Working with Adolescent Youth and All Religious Education Teachers All persons volunteering with youth, including youth group leaders, leaders of the Our Whole Lives, Life Issues for Teenagers, Coming of Age Program mentors, and any other curriculum for children and youth will sign the document The Code of Ethics for Working with Children and Youth and be given the a copy of the Safe Congregation Policy. These documents will be considered confidential, will be kept in a locked file in the church office and will be reviewed only by the Minister, the Religious Education Committee Chair and the President of the Board of Trustees. The volunteers will also be required to attend a church sponsored training.
Working With Youth/Children Those working with children and youth in the context of our Unitarian Universalist faith have.a crucial and privileged role, one which may carry with it a great deal of power and influence. Whether acting as a youth advisor, chaperone, child-care worker, teacher, minister or in any other role, the volunteer has a special opportunity to interact with our young people in ways which are affirming and inspiring to all involved. While it is important that volunteers be capable of maintaining meaningful friendships with the young people they work with, they must exercise good judgment and mature wisdom in using their influence with children and youth and refrain from using young people to fulfill their own needs. Young people are in a vulnerable position when dealing with people older than themselves, and may find it difficult to speak out about any inappropriate behavior of their leaders, teachers and caretakers. Teachers, helpers, or youth group leaders who have gained the trust of young people are in a unique situation to observe behavior or be party to a conversation in which a possible abusive situation (either within or outside of the church) is revealed. In this situation it is the teacher/leader=s responsibility to report any such concerns immediately to the Safe Congregation Response Team. The Religious Education Committee will provide regular training each year on the issues relating to the Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Policy, the Code of Ethics, the reporting mechanism, and the need to create safe places for children and their adult and adolescent volunteer leaders, teachers and caretakers. It is ultimately the responsibility of the entire congregation, not just those in leadership and teaching positions, to create and maintain a climate which supports the growth and welfare of children and youth. In an effort to protect our young people as well as our leaders and teachers, we encourage all church members to read and sign The Code of Ethics for Working with Children and Youth. The Special Case of Working with Adolescent Youth Adults who volunteer to work with adolescent youth at UUCC often fall into a special category. They meet with their groups away from the church in buildings and homes where there are few other adults present. The topics discussed and curriculum used with these groups often deal with sensitive, personal, and private issues. This situation mandates that the leaders of our adolescent youth be carefully screened in advance and trained to be aware of situations which could create discomfort or misunderstanding for either the leader or the youth. For this reason, members of UUCC ask adults working with adolescents sign the code of Ethics for Working with Children and Youth. THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH Thank you for being a volunteer in our Sunday School program! Your contribution to this program is important and is much appreciated. Please read and sign the statement and return it to the Minister or President. UUCC and our volunteers recognize the significance of a strong and growing Sunday School Program and embrace the code of ethics for adults and older youth who are in leadership roles with children/youth which was adopted by the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1986. The Code of Ethics provides as follows: Adults and older youth who are in leadership roles are in a position of stewardship and play a key role in fostering spiritual development of both individuals and the community. It is, therefore, especially important that those in leadership positions be well qualified to provide the special nurture, care and support that will enable children and youth to develop a positive sense of self and a spirit of independence and responsibility. The relationship between young people and their leaders must be one of mutual respect if the positive potential is to be realized. There are no more important areas of growth than those of self-worth and the development of a healthy identity as a sexual being. Adults play a key role in assisting children and youth in these areas of growth. Wisdom dictates that children, youth and adults suffer damaging effects when leaders become sexually involved with young persons in their care; therefore, leaders will refrain from engaging in sexual, seductive or erotic behavior with children and youth. Neither shall they Sexually harass or engage in behavior with youth that constitutes verbal, emotional, or physical abuse. The volunteer acknowledges by signing this statement that he or she has never been convicted of a crime or offense involving unlawful sexual conduct, assault, or endangering the welfare of a child, nor has he or she been determined by a court to have abused a child. The volunteer recognizes the sensitive nature of his or her relationship to the Sunday School program and UUCC=s interest in preserving actual and perceived security within its programs. The volunteer agrees to immediately notify the Chair of Religious Education Committee in the event that he or she has been arrested or charged in a court with crimes or offenses as described above or is the respondent in a petition filed in court alleging child abuse. The volunteer agrees that upon the occurrence of such an event or when the Board of Trustees, Minister or Chair of Religious Education Committee reasonably believes that such an event has occurred, the UUCC, in its sole discretion may immediately discontinue the services of the volunteer. The volunteer agrees that he or she shall have no recourse against the Minister, Chair of Religious Education Committee or UUCC arising from such a discontinuance of volunteer services. It is anticipated that upon the occurrence of such an event, the volunteer will elect to discontinue his or her services. It is also understood that this statement in no way limits the right of UUCC to take any other action with respect to any other matters within its responsibility. Thank you again for your offer to serve. I understand and agree to accept the responsibility described herein. Signature: ________________________________________ Printed Name: ____________________________ Date:_______________________________Procedure for reporting Suspected Abuse, Neglect, Harassment, Violence Children/Youth Reporting Abuse, Harassment, Violence or Neglect: 1. If a child/youth tells you his/her story, take notes on what is said, with names, dates, times, locations, etc. Without making any accusations, assure the child/youth that you believe the story and that you will try to protect him/her. 2. As soon as you possibly can, report the story to one of the members of the Safe Congregation Team (Minister, President, RE Committee Chair). 3. Other than as above, keep all information strictly confidential. Note that the members of your teaching team may need to know. 4. With the help of the Safe Congregation Team (Minister, President, RE Committee Chair), make a verbal report to Child Protective Services as soon as possible, and follow that with a written report within 36 hours. A copy of the report will be kept in a locked file in the congregation office. 5. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CHILD/YOUTH WOULD BE ENDANGERED BY RETURNING HOME, get a member of the Safe Congregation Team (Minister, President, RE Committee Chair) and call Child Protective Services immediately. Adults Reporting Abuse, Harassment, Violence: 1. As soon as you possibly can, report the story to one of the members of the Safe Congregation Team (Minister, President, RE Committee Chair). They will help the person to make any necessary reports and take any needed action. 2. IF A PERSON IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, notify one of the members of the Safe Congregation Team (Minister, President, RE Committee Chair) and call the Police (911). 3. Other than as above, keep all information strictly confidential. Contact numbers: Safe Congregation TeamB Minister: Linda Anderson, cell phone 845 706-7944, office 331-2884 President: Jenny G. Vice President: Kathy E. RE Committee Chair: Liz A. RE Coordinator: Martha C. Child Protective Services: 800 342-3720 Police/Ambulance: 911 |