Safe Sanctuary

I. PURPOSE

Yates Baptist Church has a long tradition of providing a safe environment in which to provide sound Biblical teaching and activities geared toward faith and character development in our children, youth, and Sonshine Class adults. This work is central to the overall mission and ministry of Yates. Our desire as a congregation is to be optimally accountable and effective in assuring an environment that is safe and secure for everyone as we minister to these special groups. Establishing a policy framework designed to ensure safety and security in our midst will help us practice responsible stewardship for these special groups.

II. RELEVANT TERMS DEFINED

Abuse (noun)

Any non-accidental injury or harm done to a child, youth or Sonshine Class member by another person, whether verbal, physical, emotional or sexual; including but not limited to assault, battery and molestation.

Child

Anyone birth through 5th grade.

Church Personnel

For the purposes of this policy, the following are included in the definition of church personnel when they are functioning in their respective roles for the Church:

1. All Ministers, whether full-time, part-time, or intern, who are engaged in ministry or service to the church.
2. All paid personnel, whether full-time or part-time, employed in areas of ministry or other kinds of services such as Ministry Assistant, Facilities Assistant, Music Ministry Assistant, etc.

Incident

A reported or alleged act or omission which may be viewed as abuse (as herein defined) or which may otherwise be a violation of the Yates Safe Sanctuary Policy or Procedure Manual.

Minister

For this Policy, Minister refers to the Minister who is assigned direct responsibility for a group covered by this policy. The Ministers at Yates are:

• Minister of Children’s Discipleship (for children)
• Minister of Students (for youth and IHN)
• Minister of Adult Discipleship (for Sonshine members)
• Minister of Music and Worship (for age-graded choir programs)

Sonshine member

An adult participant in the Yates Sonshine Class ministry.

Teenage Worker

Any volunteer worker at least thirteen (13) years old but under the age of eighteen (18) enlisted to assist with the Children’s or Sonshine ministry.

Volunteer

Any person approved to provide supervision to children, youth or Sonshine members at formal activities associated with the ministries at Yates, whether on or off the campus of the church facility.

Examples of volunteers include, but are not limited to:

• Sunday school teachers
• Retreat workers and chaperones
• Youth group leaders
• Nursery and extended session workers
• Vacation Bible School workers
• Sonshine Class leaders
• Children and Youth music leaders

The term does not include church members who have incidental interactions with children, youth or Sonshine members unrelated to a specific program or ministry nor individuals who are not providing direct supervision of the children, youth, or Sonshine members.

Youth

Anyone who is eligible to participate in youth activities, i.e. 6th-12th grade. A youth may also be an individual who is 18 years old or older, but still in high school.

Revision Date: October 2013 2

III. VOLUNTEER SCREENING AND SELECTION

To be a volunteer with children, youth or Sonshine ministries, a volunteer candidate must complete the screening and selection process outlined below.

A. Waiting Period

No volunteer may serve in a primary position supervising children, youth, or Sonshine members until the candidate has been regularly involved in the Church for six months (i.e. attending worship, Sunday School and/or engaging regularly in the ministries of Yates). This allows the candidate to develop relationships with members of the Church and to demonstrate the character and attributes expected in those who minister to our children, youth, and Sonshine members. While Church membership is not a requirement, being active in working with the group for which the person will have leadership responsibility is essential.

The waiting period requirement does not apply to newly hired Ministers and ministerial interns. Ministers and ministerial interns will still be screened as described in Section IV.

B. Application and Screening

1. A potential volunteer will submit a volunteer application (Attachment 1) to the responsible Minister. If an applicant wishes to serve in multiple ministries then the candidate may submit the application to any of the applicable Ministers.
2. The Minister will review the volunteer application to ensure that the applicant is qualified and suited to work in the ministry for which the volunteer is applying. If the applicant is volunteering for multiple ministries then each applicable Minister will review the application.
3. All volunteers working with children, youth or the Sonshine class shall consent to have their criminal record checked by a private, independent company at the time they apply to be a volunteer (Attachment 2). The criminal background check will be paid for by the Church.
4. Evaluation of volunteer candidates:
   1. A third party private contractor will provide an initial criminal record screening of volunteer applicants. Any items identified as a potential credible concern during the initial screening will be confidentially forwarded to the appropriate Minister.
   2. The Minister shall share the results with one other Minister and the two of them together shall make a decision whether the criminal record review reveals any information which would preclude the volunteer from being approved. The record and the discussion about the record shall be treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality.
   3. The Minister will have no discretion about the following convictions which shall absolutely preclude a volunteer from approval for work in the children’s, youth, or Sonshine ministries at Yates Baptist Church:
      • Child abuse, whether physical, emotional, sexual, or neglectful;
      • Violent offenses, including murder, rape, assault, domestic violence, battery, kidnapping;
      • Sexual exploitation of a minor, taking indecent liberties with a minor; solicitation of a minor; or
      • Child pornography.
   4. Additionally, persons having a DUI or DWI conviction in any state within the five (5) years immediately prior to application shall not be allowed to act as a driver for any children’s, youth, or Sonshine ministry function.
   5. Other criminal offenses, depending on how recent, the frequency, and the nature may also preclude an applicant from serving in a ministry area. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the two reviewing Ministers. In such cases, the determining factors will be the best interests, safety and well-being of the protected persons. The reviewing Ministers may meet with the applicant to discuss the nature of the offense and the circumstances before making a determination.
   6. If the screening process or criminal background check reveals any credible information that a candidate poses a potential threat of abuse to children, youth or Sonshine members, the Minister will remove the individual candidate from consideration for work in the ministry.
   7. The Minister will also remove the person from consideration if the process reveals problems that do not involve abuse but indicate an inability of the applicant to conform to the Safe Sanctuary Policy and this Safe Sanctuary Procedure Manual.
5. Ministers reserve the right to conduct an interview with any applicant at any point during the screening process. The interview will allow the Minister to gather any additional information deemed necessary to conduct an appropriate screen of the applicant. The Minister may also request a personal reference (Attachment 3).
6. The Minister will notify all applicants of their approval or denial once the screening process is complete. Notifications will be made verbally and only to the applicant.
7. A Minister may authorize a Teenage Worker to work in the children’s or Sonshine ministries. Teenage Workers will be supervised by an adult at all times. In this way, adult volunteers can model good care giving and the Church can provide leadership and service opportunities to the teenagers who wish to serve. Teenage Workers will not count toward any required minimum number of volunteers. Teenage Workers will be able to serve if they have been a member or a regular attender for at least 6 months and interview with the Minister. They will not be subject to a criminal background check. The service of Teenage Workers will be at the discretion of the Minister.

C. Screening Information Security

1. Criminal background check information and information contained in the application will be kept in a secured and confidential location and will not be revealed to any unauthorized persons. Authorized persons include the volunteer candidate and the Church’s Ministers.
2. All hardcopy authorizations for the criminal background checks will be destroyed immediately after the criminal background check has cleared.
3. Specific information from the criminal background check will be maintained by the contractor and not by the church.

D. Training

The Ministers will develop a mandatory training program to ensure that new volunteers understand and are able to apply the principles contained in this procedure manual and any other procedures they determine to be necessary to orient the volunteer to the Church’s ministries.

Volunteers will receive updated training every three years. Ministers will also update volunteers whenever significant changes are made to the Policy or this Policy Manual. Volunteers will acknowledge receipt of training and appropriate materials (Attachment 5).

IV. MINISTERIAL SCREENING

The Personnel Committee will conduct a criminal background check on all new potential ministers or ministerial interns of the church using a private, independent third-party service provider. The Personnel Committee will review the criminal background check using criteria at least as stringent as that identified for volunteers in Section III .

V. SUPERVISION

1. “Two Person Rule”: At least two approved adult volunteers will be present at all times for every function, and in each classroom, or other enclosed area, during children’s, youth, and Sonshine ministry programs. Exceptions to this rule are specified in the specific group sections later in this manual (see Sections XII, XIII, and XIV).
2. Volunteers become responsible when the scheduled activity begins. Until then, parents or guardians are responsible for their children. Volunteers remain responsible until the child has been picked up by a parent, guardian, or a person authorized by a parent or guardian to pick up the child. Volunteers should not send children out to find their parents nor release any child to await transportation without supervision.
3. Parents/guardians are responsible for their children and youth when at church and the children or youth are not in a formal, scheduled ministry activity.

VI. INJURIES OR ILLNESS

1. Volunteers who are ill may not participate in any ministry activity while the illness or disease may be transmitted.
2. Substitutes for regularly scheduled volunteers who are ill must have been previously approved per the procedures in Section III.
3. If a Volunteer or Minister determines that a child or youth has a serious or communicable illness, the child or youth will be returned to his or her parent or guardian as soon as possible. If this is not possible, then the ill person will be separated in a manner that will allow supervision to continue until the parent or guardian can assume responsibility for the child or youth.
4. All persons supervising children or youth are expected to take reasonable steps to prevent any person involved in the ministry from coming into contact with any bodily fluids.
5. If a child receives an obviously minor injury the Volunteer should provide first aid as needed at the time or injury. The Volunteer or Minister supervising the child when the injury occurred shall notify the parent or guardian as soon as possible but no later than at pick up. If that Volunteer will not be present at pickup, that Volunteer will notify the Minister and complete an Accident report (Attachment 6) which will be provided to the parent or guardian at pickup.
6. If a person receives an injury which requires medical treatment beyond simple first aid, the Volunteer will provide immediate assistance to the injured person and notify the Minister without delay. The Minister will notify the injured person’s parent or guardian as soon as possible, and if appropriate, should seek emergency medical assistance or an ambulance. In the absence of a parent or guardian, a Minister or Volunteer will accompany the injured to the hospital. An Accident report will be completed by the Minister and Volunteer(s) and provided to parents or guardians.

VII. INCIDENT REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION

A. Allegations of Abuse

1. Notification

a. Minister
Volunteers who become aware of any allegation of abuse will immediately inform the Minister of such allegation. If the Minister is unavailable then the report should be made to another Staff Minister.

b. Parent/Guardian
Parents or guardians will be immediately notified of any allegation of abuse involving their child or youth. Updates on the investigation will be provided to the parents or guardians by the Senior Pastor during the investigation process. All correspondence will be in writing. If the accusation is against the Senior Pastor, the updates will be made by the Chair of the Personnel Committee.

c. Accused
The Minister(s) will immediately and confidentially notify the person against whom an allegation has been made.

2. Internal Review

1. All allegations of abuse must be reviewed thoroughly, discretely, and promptly to determine if there is a reasonable basis for the allegation. All allegations of abuse must be documented on the Incident Report Form (Attachment 6).
2. The allegation will be reviewed and investigated by one of the following teams:
   • if the accusation is against a volunteer or a Church or community member then the team will consist of the Minister, Senior Pastor and Chair of Deacons;
   • if the accusation is against a Minister then the team will consist of the Senior Pastor, Chair of Personnel, and Chair of the Deacons;
   • if the accusation is against the Senior Pastor then the team will consist of the Minister, Chair of Personnel, and Chair of the Deacons.
3. If there is a reasonable basis for the allegations, the investigation team will refer the matter to the appropriate legal authorities or the Department of Social Services or both. That decision will be made without unnecessary delay. The investigation team may consult an attorney for assistance in deciding whether or where to refer an allegation, but that consultation will be done in a manner that minimizes any delay in referring an allegation . Prior to the report, the Minister shall notify the parents or guardians that such a report will be made.

3. Ministry Status During Review

1. A Volunteer who is the subject of a review or external investigation will be immediately removed from the ministry volunteer position until the review or investigation is completed.
2. A Minister or employee of the Church who is the subject of a review or external investigation may be removed from their duties in keeping with the personnel policies and Bylaws of the Church.
3. Any Volunteer who is found not to be responsible for the act of alleged abuse and who has been removed from their duties may resume their duties when cleared to do so by the Minister. The resumption of duties by Ministers and staff will be governed by existing personnel procedures and Church Bylaws.

4. Incident Records

1. All documentation related to each internal review will remain confidential and secured. Only Church Ministers (who are not the alleged perpetrators of the incident) and the Yates Personnel Committee will be authorized to access incident records unless an external investigating authority requests access to the information.
2. Incident records will include, at a minimum, the following:
   • The written incident report
   • Correspondence with the parent/guardian
   • Records or notes of investigative activities (e.g. interviews, meetings, etc.)
   • Correspondence with any external investigating authority
   • Summary of outcome
3. Incident records, substantiated or otherwise, will be a permanent, secured record of the church.

B. External Communication

1. The Chair of the Deacons or their designee will serve as the spokesperson for the Church following notice of any incident which requires communication with an external agency. This person will be the sole spokesperson to convey information concerning the situation to external audiences, and will communicate only information that is necessary under the circumstances in order to avoid compromising any ongoing investigation.
2. Prior to referring an incident to external authorities, the Chair of the Deacons may consult with legal counsel.
3. The Church’s liability insurance provider will also be notified of the incident by the Chair of the Deacons.
4. All Ministers, employees, and volunteers will cooperate fully with any law enforcement or governmental agency that may be investigating allegations of abuse in connection with activities of the Church. Any material which the church treats as confidential may be revealed to the external authority if required by the authority.

C. Internal Communication

Whenever an incident occurs that necessitates the involvement of an external agency, such as law enforcement, the Chair of Deacons or their designee will inform the congregation that such an investigation is taking place. The Chair of Deacons will ensure that appropriate information is shared in order to ensure the safety of the congregation.

D. Policy Violations

Any Minister who becomes aware of a violation of the Safe Sanctuary Policy or Policy Manual, which does not meet the definition of abuse as defined in Section II, will take all necessary steps to ensure future compliance with the policy and associated procedures. This may include removing Volunteers as warranted. Written documentation of each allegation of violation of this Policy Manual must be maintained by the Minister.

VIII. RECORD KEEPING

A. Identification

The table below identifies the records associated with this Policy Manual along with their proper storage location and retention time.

XII. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY SPECIFIC PROCEDURES

A. Two Person Rule

1. When children younger than twelve (12) years of age are in attendance, there must be two (2) approved Volunteers present. Present means no less than one in the room itself and one walking the hallways observing the rooms.
2. A single volunteer may provide supervision in a vehicle when the volunteer is transporting a group of children in a caravan in which there are multiple children in each vehicle and the volunteers are aware of the location of each other in the caravan.
3. One-on-one meetings alone with children younger than twelve (12) years of age for counsel or correction may take place only with the consent of the parent(s) or guardian(s).
4. Children are to be supervised at all times on all the church campus and at any Yates Children’s ministry event that is off-site. Children are not to be in offices or classrooms without adults present.
5. Supervision before, between and after scheduled services of the church is the parents’/guardians’ responsibility.

B. Parent/Guardian Involvement

Parents/guardians are encouraged to visit any and all services and programs in which their child is involved at Yates. However, parents who desire to participate in or have continuous, ongoing contact with their children’s programs will be required to complete the volunteer application and screening process as described in Section III.

C. Sunday Check In/Out

Infants through pre-K children must be checked in at the computer welcome station. Yates uses KidCheck for its check in service. The check in system will assign the child to the correct class based on their birth date and print the appropriate security labels. At least two labels will be printed – one to be affixed to the child and one for the parent to keep for pick-up. Additional labels may be printed to identify personal belongings.

Children are not released to minor siblings without the express consent of parents. No children should be released from classrooms except to parents or others authorized by parents when presenting the appropriate pick-up tag.

D. Bathroom Procedures

A volunteer will accompany all children to the restroom. The volunteer will ensure that the facility and hallway to the restroom is safe, and be responsible for children returning from the restroom. Volunteers will not enter the restroom. Instead, the volunteer will remain in the hallway with the exterior restroom door slightly ajar in order to continue to monitor the children while providing privacy. A volunteer may assist any child under six in the restroom, if needed and upon notifying another volunteer. No volunteer may touch a child’s private areas unless necessary to change a diaper or assist with potty training.

E. Touching

Volunteers will avoid any improper and unwelcomed touching of children, and should be particularly sensitive to the age of the children with whom they interact.

F. Healthy Child/Communicable Disease Guidelines

1. Children with infectious diseases should be kept home until they are no longer contagious. If a child is exhibiting symptoms of illness such as fever, diarrhea, open skin lesions or blisters (as in chicken pox), or persistent nasal discharge, the parent should not allow the child to attend Church activities.
2. Caregivers will use universal precautions (see section G below) to change diapers, wipe noses, and handle blood spills.
3. Hand washing and usage of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer must be a regular habit for both children and caregivers.
4. Toys and equipment that were mouthed or are otherwise dirty will be washed and disinfected after every session. Yates is dedicated to preventing the spread of disease among the children.
5. Children’s ministry Volunteers have the right to refuse a child or to send a child home early on the basis of questionable symptoms. A child may not participate in a class if and when any of the following exist:
   • Fever (Note: Children should be free of a fever for 24 hours after a contagious disease before coming back to church.)
   • Vomiting or diarrhea
   • Any symptom of childhood diseases such as scarlet fever, German measles, mumps, chicken pox, or whooping cough
   • Common cold – from onset through one week
   • Sore throat
   • Croup
   • Any unexplained rash
   • Any skin infection – boils, ringworm, impetigo
   • Pink eye or other eye infection
   • Thick green, yellow or constant nasal discharge
   • Any communicable disease
6. Children who appear ill during a class will be kept at the nursery sign-in desk with a caregiver while the Minister or designee contacts the parents. Parents are encouraged to inform the Children’s Minister if a child appears to have contracted an illness while attending a YBC event so that other parents may be notified if necessary. Neither caregivers nor church staff is allowed to give any medication to any child. Parents of children with special needs are encouraged to contact the Children’s Minister before signing the child into class.

G. Universal Precautions

Universal precautions are employed such that all human bodily fluids are treated as if they carry infectious diseases. Universal precautions are applicable in a nursery setting and should be utilized. This method is very effective for protecting both the children and caregivers in the nursery from illness. This is not to imply that any children or caregivers in the nursery are carrying infectious diseases. By treating all bodily fluids as if they are infected, any infections or contaminants can be avoided at all times, providing a safer and healthier environment for caregivers and children alike.

Important points of universal precautions:

• Wash hands with soap before and after any contact with bodily fluids, including wiping noses, changing diapers, cleaning vomit, and treating a blood spill.
• Always wear disposable gloves when dealing with any bodily fluids.
• Treat all soiled linen (i.e. sheets, clothing) as potential infectious agents.
• Remove toys that children have mouthed from the general play area. Set them in the container by the sink and wash.
• At the end of the session, disinfect the room.

H. Hand Washing Guidelines

Hand washing is the first line of defense against the spread of germs. Children’s Volunteers and children must wash their hands:

• Upon arrival at the nursery/preschool class
• Before handling food
• After using the bathroom or assisting in toileting or diapering
• After contact with bodily fluids (sneezing, blowing nose, etc.)
• After cleaning areas contaminated with bodily fluids

Hands should be washed with water and liquid soap (preferably anti-bacterial). Hands should be dried with a disposable towel and the faucet turned off with the towel so that clean hands are not contaminated. Volunteers should use the anti-bacterial wipes and/or anti-bacterial gel supplied in each room to maintain sanitary hand contact.

I. Appropriate Discipline

All children’s ministry volunteers are responsible for providing a loving, respectful, and orderly atmosphere in which children can learn, play, and interact with others. This atmosphere should be maintained by preparing beforehand, proactively directing children towards acceptable activities, verbally encouraging positive behavior, and, when necessary, correcting or redirecting inappropriate behavior. Acceptable means of redirecting inappropriate behavior include correcting the child verbally, withholding a certain privilege or activity for a brief time, or separating a child from the group for a brief time (particularly if his behavior is endangering or upsetting other children). Children’s ministry volunteers and staff members shall never yell, spank, or hit a child. This is true even if parents have suggested or authorized corporal punishment. If behavior is uncontrollable or the child does not respond to the discipline measures above, Volunteers may contact parents by authorized means (e.g. through KidCheck text messaging).

J. Room Safety

Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the safety of the space where children’s activities are held.

1. Exits should be controlled in order to prevent children from leaving the area unattended. This includes interior as well as exterior doors.
2. Potentially dangerous items should be kept out of children’s reach, such as volunteer’s personal items, sharp items, electrical cords, cleaners, etc.
3. First Aid kits are available in the first floor classrooms for use exclusively by Volunteers.
4. Report any environmental hazards to the Minister of Children, such as protruding nails, sharp corners on furniture, loose carpet or slippery floors, peeling paint, broken toys or missing pieces, etc.
5. Use a covered container for trash (lined with a plastic disposable bag).
6. Supervise children in a way that encourages safe use of the space and prevents children from becoming injured.

K. Other Policies Not Explicitly Stated

Other policies in regard to work procedures or restrictions, discipline, or specifics of programming are addressed in the training materials provided to volunteers. Volunteers shall be required to acknowledge receipt of these materials and indicate their willingness to abide by the materials and this Policy Manual.

XIII. YOUTH MINISTRY SPECIFIC PROCEDURES

The Yates Youth Ministry seeks to disciple youth through mentoring relationships, service opportunities, Bible study, fellowship, and other Christ centered activities. The child protection policies are in place to ensure the safety and well being of every youth involved by verifying the maturity and responsibility of every adult working with youth, communicating clear guidelines to parents, and providing safe environments for youth.

A. Minimum Age of Volunteers and Age Differential

1. Youth ministry volunteers must be a minimum of 20 years old.
2. Youth ministry volunteers must be four years older than the youth with whom they will work.

B. Supervision of Youth

1. At least two adult leaders will be present at every function, and in each classroom or other enclosed area, and during youth ministry off-site programs. Exceptions:
   • A single approved adult volunteer may supervise gatherings of youth in small groups when held in an openly visible space (classroom doors open); however, there must also be another approved adult volunteer serving as a floater between the small groups.
   • As necessary, a Minister, or Volunteer as authorized by the Minister, may have an individual conversation or provide confidential counseling so long as it is not behind closed doors and/or is within eyesight of other adults. If the Minister discovers a safety concern, the Minister will follow up with the parent or guardian.
2. Transportation: There will be one adult per vehicle when multiple vehicles are part of a caravan. Students are not allowed to ride in the vehicle of another student unless explicit permission is given by parents.
3. Sleeping Arrangements: On trips or events that require sleeping over night, adult chaperones and youth do not share the same room. Exceptions are made for large “bunk style,” single room lodgings in which the entire group, separated by gender, will stay.

C. Touching

Volunteers will avoid any improper and unwelcomed touching of youth, and should be particularly sensitive to the age of the youth with whom they interact.

D. Communicable Disease Guidelines

1. Youth with infectious diseases should be kept home until they are no longer contagious. If a youth is exhibiting symptoms of illness such as fever, diarrhea, open skin lesions or blisters (as in chicken pox), or persistent nasal discharge, the parent should not allow the youth to attend Church activities.
2. Hand washing and usage of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer must be a regular habit for both youth and Volunteers.

E. Attic Safety

Volunteers are responsible for maintaining the safety of the space where youth activities are held.

1. First Aid kits are available in the Attic for use exclusively by Volunteers.
2. Report any environmental hazards to the Minister of Students, such as protruding nails, sharp corners on furniture, loose carpet or slippery floors, peeling paint, etc.

F. Parent Permission/Opt-out Forms

The Yates Youth Ministry utilizes social media, newsletters, and texting to communicate with both parents and students. Contact between adults, including the Minister of Students and youth ministry volunteers, and youth can take place through social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc…), cell phone texting, and email. Parents that do not wish for such interactions to take place may choose to opt out by completing Attachment 7 and submitting it to the Minister of Students. Parents may also choose to opt out of having their youth’s pictures used in the Yates Youth Ministry social media pages (Facebook, etc…), newsletters, or the Church website using the same form.

G. Other Policies Not Explicitly Stated

Other policies in regard to work procedures or restrictions, discipline, or specifics of programming are addressed in the training materials provided to volunteers. Volunteers shall be required to acknowledge receipt of these materials and indicate their willingness to abide by the materials and this Policy Manual.

XIV. SONSHINE CLASS POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Yates Baptist Church has ministered to special adults with various disabilities through our Sonshine Class ministry since the 1980’s and has provided hundreds of special needs adults with spiritual training, nourishment, ministry participation and fellowship. These special adults are always accompanied by trained, certified workers who accompany them to the class. Many are employed by Durham County Community Living Programs which provide training, background checks, and certification to all of their employees. Other involved group homes supply the similarly trained personnel.

Yates provides at least six leaders who plan and lead each week’s session. Training on the policies is provided prior to the beginning of the Fall program and to new Yates Volunteers who may come on board during the year. The Minister of Adult Discipleship is responsible for the securing of Church Sonshine leadership, enforcement of policies and subsequent training.

Sonshine Class members are adults, and are encouraged to be treated as adults. Any corrective measures should be done with the assistance of their group home or personal leaders. Independent adults can move on their own, for example, to bathrooms or outside to take calls. Hired workers and leaders take less independent adults to the bathroom. Safety issues are shared between church leadership and accompanying paid staff; however primary responsibility for safety (other than facility) resides with the accompanying paid staff. The class usually meets together in the Fellowship Hall.

Volunteer Guidelines

1. Volunteers must meet the requirements outlined in Section III.
2. Volunteers must be eighteen years of age. Supervised teenage workers can assist at various times.
3. Sonshine volunteers are not allowed to accompany class members to the restroom. The exception to this is when they are requested by the class member’s professional caregiver to assist due to a medical condition and the caregiver remains with the class member.
4. Two volunteers will be present at all times including when Sonshine members are waiting for a ride after events or Church.
5. Appropriate adult touching is limited to contact with hands, elbow and one armed hugs to the shoulder. Should a Sonshine member initiate touching beyond this they should be counseled with their caregiver present.
6. This policy should be sent electronically by the responsible minister to the administrative leaders of the caregivers prior to the volunteer training. The administrative leaders are responsible for sharing this information with their staff.

XV. INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK

Durham Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) addresses the immediate and ongoing needs of homeless families by mobilizing Durham congregations and people of faith to help families move toward residential stability and self-sufficiency. Yates Baptist Church currently partners with IHN to provide overnight accommodations, meals and transportation for participants on a rotating basis. During service weeks Yates members serve as van drivers and hosts. Hosts stay at the Church with the IHN participants from dinner until early morning.

Though it is solely the adult IHN participants’ responsibility to supervise their children while staying at the Church, often Yates hosts will be present with the children and youth of participant families. In an effort to provide the children and youth of IHN participants the safest and most secure experience while at Yates, all dinner and overnight hosts for IHN service weeks will complete a Volunteer Background Check form (Attachment 2) and submit to a criminal background check.

If the screening process or criminal background check reveals any credible information that a candidate poses a potential threat of abuse to children or youth, the Minister or IHN Coordinator will remove the individual candidate from consideration for work in the ministry.