CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IN CHURCHES AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
Prevent Child Sexual Abuse Where You Least Expect It
Jesus said, "Whoever welcomes a child … welcomes me." Our Christian faith calls us to offer teaching, kindness, and protection for children. Tragically, churches have not always been safe places for kids. Child sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, and ritual abuse occur in churches, large and small, rural, and urban, where you might least expect it.
Why Churches Are a Favorite Target for Child Abusers
It's hard to imagine, but child abuse happens everywhere. We don't like to think that any person in the Sunday school, youth ministry, children's ministry, or any other part of the church would harm a child. But it is THAT belief that attracts the perpetrator to your church.
Churches provide opportunities for close contact and for close personal relationships with children. This is wonderful for healthy adults, but it allows abusers to easily find their next victim or victims.
The opportunity for abuse in churches is so strong that clergy, in most states, are considered Mandatory or Mandated Reporters. Does your staff know all that this critical responsibility requires of them?
How and Why Churches Must Send a Strong Message of Zero Tolerance for Child Abuse
Believe it or not, your proactive approach to preventing child abuse in your church or faith-based organization actually steers perpetrators away. Abusers are good at hiding in the shadows, but if you’re shining a bright light on your methods for preventing abuse and intentions to prosecute abusers, they’ll seek easier territory.
Learn everything you need to know to prevent tragedy from striking within your own ranks with the convenient Safeguard from Abuse Awareness Video Training.
Recognize Child Abuser Traits
Child sex offenders often disguise themselves as harmless and caring people. They usually place themselves in a leadership role. Most importantly, these predators have the ability to create a sense of trust with both the child and their parents and are crafty at luring children into situations that may allow the offender to abuse the child.
Help put an end to child sexual abuse by implementing a comprehensive child protection program and training your staff, childcare workers, and adult volunteers that includes Safeguard from Abuse Awareness Training.
Advocate Child Abuse Prevention to Your Community
It’s not much comfort to prevent child abuse at your church or organization, only to simply channel abusers to other “safer” organizations.
As a church or a faith-based organization, you have the unique opportunity to set a new standard within your community. Who better than you to make the commitment to raise awareness of child abuse and encourage others to do the same?
Being a leader to your community and to other faith-based organizations is as simple as sharing the ease of educating teams with Safeguard from Abuse Awareness Video Training.
It’s easy, convenient and affordable … and it is youth-serving nonprofits’ best line of defense against child abuse.
With Safeguard From Abuse Awareness Video Training, your team will learn:
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Types of abuse and behaviors that qualify as abuse
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Profiles of abusers and potential warning signs
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The types of roles predators seek out
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Policies and guidelines to put in place
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Recognizing abusive or pre-abuse behaviors, such as “grooming”
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Recognizing symptoms of abuse in children
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Actions to take if abuse is suspected
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How to help a child feel safe about telling the truth
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Legal responsibilities of every organization
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Specific roles legally required to report suspected abuse