LIABILITY RELEASE AND CONSENT FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT
I understand that there are inherent risks involved in any ministry, event, or sports related activities, and I hereby release MGC, its pastors, employees, and volunteer workers from any and all liability for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property that may occur during the course of my child’s involvement.
In case of emergency, I hereby authorize MGC Children’s Ministry (MKidz) to contact emergency personnel and release pertinent information so that my child may receive treatment.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I hereby consent to the use of photographs/videos of my child by MGC for publicity, promotional, and/or educational purposes (this includes but is not limited to displaying the child’s image on site at church and publishing them on social media channels and on the church website). I understand that my child’s full name will not be published with the photographs/videos.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POLICY
I acknowledge that I have read the MKidz policy found below.
MKidz Child Protection Policy (CPP)
MKidz is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children participating in our ministry activities. We also seek to minimize any vulnerability to unwarranted accusations of improper behavior that our organization, volunteers, and employees may experience as they fulfill their ministerial duties. To fulfill these commitments as fully as possible, our leadership team has adopted the following procedures to be used, without exception, when selecting ministry volunteers and new employees supervising children.
DEFINITIONS
Minor - Any person between the ages of 0 and 18. A minor may include any 18-year-old still enrolled in high school.
Child or children - Any minor from birth through fifth grade.
Volunteer - A person performing services or donating time or effort without compensation who is authorized to work with children, youth, or vulnerable adults.
Employee - A paid staff member of the ministry.
Worker - A volunteer or employee authorized to work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
Supervisor on Call (SoC) - Volunteer supervisor overseeing MKidz that week.
MKidz Director - On-staff director in charge of all things related to the Children’s Ministry at Maranatha.
VOLUNTEER SCREENING PROCEDURES
Prior to consideration, all candidates seeking a volunteer position that involves working with children will complete and return an initial ministry application (Form A1).
The ministry leader, or designee, will carefully review the application, ensuring that the candidate is an appropriate match for the ministry position- Having passed a background check, is a member of the church, have left their previous church in good standing (if applicable), and abides by the MKidz covenant (Form A3).
The ministry leader also will store all application materials—the application form, background checks, notes from interviews, etc.— in a secure location.
A short interview may be conducted with the candidate once the background check is completed.
When indicated by our screening procedures, volunteer candidates who pose a threat to children will be removed from consideration for any ministry position involving children.
All volunteers should be members of good standing, having professed faith in Christ and pledged to live a lifestyle that reflects their trust in Christ (Form A3)
All volunteers should complete the NJ Mandated Reporter training and provide the Childrens’ Director with a certificate of completion
EMPLOYEE SCREENING PROCEDURES
The same procedures required for volunteers also apply to all potential employees, regardless of the ministry position for which they are being considered.
When indicated by our screening procedures, employment candidates who pose a threat to children will be removed immediately from consideration for employment anywhere within our organization.
WAITING PERIOD
All volunteer candidates must be regularly involved in our organization for six months or more before they will be considered for any ministry position involving contact with children. If they have been involved for less than six months, they may still volunteer with director approval.
TRAINING
Approved volunteers will be partnered with a mentor. They will shadow a more experienced volunteer prior to serving.
Newly admitted volunteers will participate in the next available in-depth training or watch a recorded training session
SUPERVISION
TWO ADULT RULE: At least two screened adults must be present at every function or program involving children. This includes each classroom, vehicle, or other enclosed area. One or more of these adults must be 21 years of age or older.
In circumstances when the Two Adult Rule cannot be implemented, volunteer may opt to:
Elect to hold class or continue the activity but keep the door open if there is no viewing access point such as a window opening on the door
Contact the Children’s Ministry Director for assistance
Have at least three individuals present with at least one being a screened adult employee or volunteer
Identify no-go zones. To reduce or eliminate areas that are difficult to properly supervise, children should not enter unused rooms, offices, and closets.
Workers should avoid the appearance of impropriety - such as sitting older children on their lap, kissing, or embracing others, etc.
BATHROOM PROCEDURES
For children age 6 or older, at least one adult should take children to the restroom. The adult should check to make sure the facility is safe and then wait outside the restroom for the children.
Teacher may contact Supervisor on Call (SoC) to escort child to the bathroom if there is only one teacher assigned to the class.
Children aged 5 or younger who need to use the restroom should be assisted by a parent or guardian. Teachers should inform SoC and SoC will notify the parent or guardian.
Diaper changes are done solely by female volunteers (only urine diapers will be changed. Parents or guardians will be contacted for other forms of soiled diapers).
Never touch the private areas of a child except when necessary, as in the case of changing a diaper.
CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES
Workers should arrive before students for scheduled activities. They must remain at their assigned post until all people in their care have been picked up by an authorized person. No child should be released to find their parents or wait unattended.
Sunday school volunteers should leave for their posts after the worship leader finishes praying following the last song. Students will be dismissed by the Announcements person. Volunteers should be at their classrooms prior to children arriving and be ready to welcome them.
Workers must ensure children have printed name tags on them.
Workers are to release children in their care only to parents, guardians, or persons specifically authorized to pick up the child.
DISCIPLINE
MKidz is committed to providing a safe and nurturing learning environment that promotes gospel-driven instruction for all students. Any conduct that substantially interferes with a teacher’s authority over the classroom, encroaches on other students’ safety, or considerably impacts the learning environment, will be promptly addressed. Volunteers take a proactive approach to student conduct where consequences are designed to help students make appropriate choices and address inappropriate behavior. Inappropriate behavior may be mild to severe in nature. Mild inappropriate behavior includes refusing to listen to the teacher’s directions or becoming disruptive to the learning environment by being too loud or hyperactive. Severe inappropriate behavior includes conduct that may cause harm to other students such as bullying, hitting, or other forms of physical danger.
All volunteers in contact with children will be guided by the following constructive discipline guidelines in order to maintain order:
For inappropriate behavior that is mild to moderate in nature, the adult will verbally express to the child in a specific manner what he or she is doing that is not acceptable and state what the expected behavior is, e.g., “We do not throw blocks. We use blocks for building.”
If verbal warnings are ineffective, the child will be redirected to another activity. If the inappropriate behavior continues, the child may be placed in an area of the room where he or she will work independently, away from the other students for a brief period of time, the number of minutes not to exceed the age of the child.
If the child's inappropriate behavior continues after these steps have been taken, or if the inappropriate behavior reaches a level that is severe or repetitive in nature, the volunteers will contact SoC. The teacher will document the behavior and inform the MKidz Director. At this point, the MKidz Director may remove the child from MKidz, notify the parents, and discuss the matter further, including next steps.
Volunteers are never to spank, hit, grab, shake, or otherwise physically discipline anyone. Physical restraint should only be used in a situation where it is reasonably necessary to prevent an individual from physically harming himself or another individual.
If a student has three reported incidents within the span of one academic year (September to August), his or her parents will be notified that their child will not be able to attend MKidz for a minimum period of one month. We encourage parents to utilize this time to guide their child in becoming a cooperative member of the learning community. Parents are encouraged to work with MKidz staff and elders to help their child become better acclimated to MKidz. Parents will be required to meet with the elders and/or MKidz Director before the child may be reinstated.
If a student is reinstated into the classroom following the one-month break, but another incident arises, the student’s return to MKidz will be conditional upon approval from the elders and MKidz Director.
At the beginning of each academic year, one reported incident will be removed from a student’s record, provided the student has been incident-free for at least two months.
The elders reserve the right to immediately remove a student from MKidz if their behavior poses a significant threat to the safety of others. This includes, but is not limited to, actions of a sexual nature or those that cause physical harm to others.
INJURIES OR ILLNESS
Children should be kept at home if they experienced the following symptoms in the last 48 hours prior to an MKidz event: fever, runny nose, vomit, cough, diarrhea, rash, lice, eye infection.
Persons who are ill (with a fever, or a communicable disease that can be transmitted by cough or by touch) will not be permitted to participate in any ministry activity.
Individual should be fever/symptom free for at least 24 hours prior to serving or participating in ministry activities.
Participants should be returned to their parent or guardian as soon as the illness is discovered. If immediate return is not possible, then the person who is ill should be isolated in a manner that allows an adult worker to monitor the participant until he/she can be returned to a parent or guardian.
Take reasonable steps to avoid contact with blood, saliva, or other bodily fluids.
Ministry coordinators and supervisors who become aware of an injury to a worker or participant will take steps to ensure that proper medical attention is given to the injured person and provide for continued monitoring of the remaining activity participants.
Persons who have received an injury that is obviously minor should be given first aid as needed at the time of injury. The individual’s parents or guardians should be notified of the injury when they pick up the injured person.
Any injury that may require medical treatment beyond simple first aid should be given immediate attention. The parents or guardians of the injured person should be notified immediately, along with the ministry worker’s coordinator or supervisor. If warranted by the injury, emergency medical personnel should be called.
Ministry workers should prepare a written Notice of Incident report whenever an injury occurs during a ministry function (Form B1). Promptly forward the incident report to the ministry coordinator or supervisor.
SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND MANDATORY REPORTING
All ministry leaders, employees, and volunteers subject to mandatory reporting guidelines are expected to fully comply and report any reasonable suspicion of abuse or signs of neglect to local authorities. (Please note that mandatory reporting requirements and the standards for
making a report vary by state)Volunteers and employees who become aware of or have reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected must contact the New Jersey Child Abuse Hotline and complete a Suspected Abuse or Neglect Report form (Form C1). Volunteers must immediately inform their coordinator, supervisor, or elder about suspected abuse or neglect, unless the activity coordinator, supervisor, or ministry leader is the suspected perpetrator.
Activity coordinators and supervisors who become aware of or have reason to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected must immediately inform the ministry leader unless the ministry leader is the suspected perpetrator. If the volunteer or employee did not complete a Suspected Abuse or Neglect Report form, the activity coordinator or supervisor should then complete the form.
Ministry leaders who become aware of possible abuse or sexual misconduct involving a participant must ensure that the participant’s parent or guardian is immediately informed that possible abuse or sexual misconduct has occurred. If the parent or guardian is the suspected perpetrator, the ministry leader will defer to local authorities on notifying the parent or guardian.
If there is any question as to whether or not a report should be made to the authorities and ministry leaders are considering not making a report, the ministry leader will ensure that an attorney is immediately contacted to provide a written opinion as to whether the organization should report the suspected abuse or neglect to authorities. The written opinion should be obtained within 24 hours after the ministry leader first becomes aware of the situation. The attorney’s advice should be acted upon immediately, including reporting the incident to the authorities. An attorney should be contacted immediately if the ministry leader or activity monitor becomes aware of possible abuse or neglect of a participant by a parent or guardian and is unsure whether to make a report to the authorities.
Ministry leaders must promptly notify our ministry’s insurance carrier (general or professional liability insurance) upon notice of abuse or sexual misconduct. They also will notify (name of denominational or headquarters contact person or office), to whom we also report such allegations.
VIOLATION OF POLICY OR PROCEDURES
Ministry workers must promptly notify their ministry coordinator or supervisor when they or others violate the procedures mandated by this policy.
Ministry coordinators, supervisors, and ministry leaders who become aware of a violation of the procedures set by this policy are required to take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with them. In the process of ensuring compliance with this policy, it may become necessary to remove workers from their positions.
INTERNAL INVESTIGATION
This ministry organization considers any allegation of abuse or molestation a serious matter.
Each situation will be fully investigated first through civil authorities, then by ministry leaders with the assistance of legal counsel. The ministry will not interfere with a pending law enforcement investigation.Employees who are the subject of an investigation will be removed from their position pending completion of the investigation. Employees who admit to the abuse or molestation will be terminated consistent with the established employment practices of this ministry.
Volunteer subjects of any investigation will be removed from their positions pending completion of the investigation.
This ministry will permanently remove any employees or volunteers from their ministerial duties within the organization if they are found guilty of abuse or molestation. Whenever termination of employment is a factor, we also will consult with legal counsel.
DEALING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NEWS MEDIA
All ministry leaders, employees, and volunteers of this organization will cooperate fully with law enforcement or governmental agencies investigating allegations of injury, abuse, or molestation.
The leadership of this ministry will seek legal counsel as soon as possible after we receive notice of possible abuse or molestation within the organization. Advice from legal counsel will be the basis for our response to the allegations.
One individual - a member of the leadership team, an employee, or our attorney will be the designated spokesperson to handle all inquiries from the news media. Our spokesperson will be the only person to convey information concerning the situation, doing so in a prudent manner to avoid compromising an ongoing investigation and to maintain the privacy of the individuals involved.