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We recognize the responsibility we each hold to promote the well-being and safety of each other. This Code of Conduct provides guidance on expectations for all Staff & Jr. Staff in their interactions with youth at all times.
● Staff & Jr. Staff should maintain appropriate boundaries and exercise reasonable and appropriate interactions with others, especially with youth and those of the opposite sex.
● Staff & Jr. Staff should use prudent judgment and common sense.
● Staff & Jr. Staff should avoid any conduct that a reasonable person could misconstrue as improper.
● Staff & Jr. Staff should not use physical force or profane, demeaning, or abusive language in interactions.
● Children younger than twelve should not be sent into public restrooms unattended.
● In general, one-on-one meetings with youth should be in rooms with windows when possible. Doors of rooms being used should always remain unlocked, open when possible, and lights in the room should be on.
● Adults are prohibited from having romantic or sexual relationships with youth.
● Physical contact with unrelated youth must be public, appropriate, and nonsexual.
Some examples of permissible physical contact include:
⭘ Brief side hugs or an arm around the shoulder
⭘ Brief pat on the shoulder/upper back
⭘ Holding hands during prayer
⭘ Brief touching of hand, head, shoulder, or arm
Some examples of unacceptable physical contact include:
⭘ Prolonged hugs from the front or rear
⭘ Touching of breasts, genitals, or buttocks
⭘ Kissing
⭘ Having youth over the age of five sit on your lap
⭘ Tickling
⭘ Back Rubs
⭘ Piggy Back Rides
● Communications with youth should be prudent and transparent. If you would not want a parent to hear/read your communication, then you should not be saying it.
● Disclosures from youth about child abuse must be reported immediately to civil authorities and Servant Camp leadership, in accordance with POP policy.
● Disclosures from youth about self-harm, suicidal thoughts, homicidal or abusive thoughts, bullying, harassment, and substance abuse problems cannot remain confidential and must be reported to Servant Camp leadership who will then contact the camper’s parent or guardian.
⭘ Other personal information a youth shares that does not meet the above criteria of being reportable but raises concern for the youth's wellbeing should be shared with Servant Camp leadership and will work with the parent/guardian but otherwise handled respectfully and discreetly.
● Interactions with youth should be authentic and genuine. Adults should be mindful of monitoring their self-disclosures so that they are always for the good of the youth, age-appropriate, and not exploitative.
● Campers will always be supervised by staff/jr. staff members and never one on one.
⭘ There will either be 2 staff & 1 camper or 2 campers and 1 staff.
● In general, we have at least 2 staff/jr.staff with campers at all times.
● If the People of Praise is arranging official event transportation for youth, drivers must be fully licensed, insured, and at least 18 years of age, or older if required by insurance or rental car companies.
● Parents are free to make driving arrangements with which they are comfortable.
● Drivers must ensure that all child seat and restraint (e.g., seatbelt) laws are strictly adhered to.
● Drivers must adhere to traffic laws.
● Persons with convictions for a DUI in the past five years may not serve as drivers.
● When on outings involving the possibility of physical risks (overnight or out of town trips; events involving physical labor; hiking, etc.) a basic first aid kit should be easily accessible. The leaders should also have copies of current health forms signed by the parent(s) authorizing medical care if needed.
Digital and online platforms are often the preferred means of communication for youth. Communications via online, digital, and social media platforms must be appropriate and transparent.
● Parental permission is required prior to any electronic communication with youth.
● Use group messages when communicating electronically and include parents and/or other POP leaders.
⭘ Occasional one-to-one electronic communications may be appropriate (e.g., clarifying event details, a brief word of encouragement) but do not hold ongoing conversations or send messages you would not want a parent or leader to read.
● Avoid contacting youth outside of normal/acceptable hours, such as late at night.
⭘ If there is concern about electronic communication boundary violations on the part of the youth, you should promptly bring this to the attention of the youth’s parents.
Servant Camp shall conduct a background check on every person prior to him/her serving at Servant Camp. The Facilitator shall work with local branch leaders to ensure that background checks are thorough, so that Camp Directors receive information on whether the person has acted inappropriately towards children in the past. If any concerning behavior is disclosed, then Camp Directors and the Facilitator shall discuss whether the person may serve at Servant Camp. Also, every staff will complete the GB Risk Control child protection training every three years.
Following the initial background check, another one will be done every three years for those working with youth (Action, Children’s Ministry, Camp, etc.)
Any Servant Camp Staff who has reason to suspect child abuse or neglect must immediately report that suspicion to both (i) local law enforcement or Child Protective Services (CPS) and Pat Ficker. The staff member should make these reports – both to law enforcement and POP branch leaders – without delay upon learning of the abuse. In most circumstances, the initial reports (oral or written) should be made within 24 hours, and a complete written report should be provided within 48 hours. If local law requires making a report to civil authorities more quickly, then that law should be followed.
The member should report to law enforcement or CPS in accordance with local legal requirements, e.g., state statutes. Some civil authorities offer online forms to facilitate reporting. The Facilitator can help locate those forms. A report to Pat Ficker does not relieve the staff from reporting to local law enforcement or CPS. The staff should contact Pat Ficker if he/she needs assistance in making such a report. Whenever possible, the member should report in writing or keep a contemporaneous written record of the report.
The initial report to Pat Ficker may be made orally or in writing – whatever conveys the information most promptly. As soon as possible thereafter, the staff should also report in writing, if they have not done so already. Servant Camp has created a Child Abuse Reporting Form (located here) to assist in gathering relevant information. Staff members are encouraged, but not required, to use this Form when making their written report. Whenever possible, Pat Ficker shall assist in gathering the information for the Form and ensuring a full written record of the incident is compiled. The written reports shall be used to address the allegations of abuse as well as for internal record keeping.
It is not the responsibility of the staff to try to determine the cause of the suspected abuse or to prove that the child has been abused or neglected. Rather, the staff must simply report his/her reasonable suspicions as described herein and then permit others to play their roles.
Servant Camp takes reports of abuse very seriously. If you have reason to believe that sexual or physical abuse of a child has occurred, you should immediately contact government authorities. Information regarding whom to contact can be found at 952-891-7171 or at the URL below:
https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/ChildProtection
Reports of abuse, and investigations pertaining thereto, shall be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct a proper investigation. Disclosure of reports to individuals who do not have a legitimate need to know is a serious offense and may result in disciplinary action.
Please get in touch with our Program Directors using the information found on our Contact Us page.