PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to set guidelines for identifying and reporting any suspicion of child abuse involving children between birth and their eighteenth birthday who are involved in any activity sponsored by the (church's name and location).

GENERAL

All volunteer and paid leaders, teachers and child-care workers of the (church's name and location), who are involved with youngsters between birth and their eighteenth birthday will immediately report to that designated department's paid staff any reasonable suspicion of child abuse of which they have knowledge or observe within the scope of their duties. These leaders or teachers will, in turn, report the following (as well as any other indications that may suggest the occurrence of child abuse or neglect) to the senior staff member identified under the section titled Standard Operating Procedure: