This application is for those interested in serving within the Fusion ministry. Fusion meets Sunday evenings from 6:30-8:30.
Living Word Fusion Safety Policy
A primary concern of LWCC is to continue to provide a safe place for all minors and adults who attend any activity or ministry. Across America each year minors are victimized by individuals they know and trust. The church is not immune to the potential for such abuse or neglect of minors. This student::life Safety Policy reflects LWCC’s commitment to protect minors, employees, and ministry partners (volunteers) from harm. The policy applies to all compensated and non-compensated personnel at LWCC who are placed in positions to work with students and from this point forward are referred to as student::life leaders. For the purposes of this policy “students” are all minors in grades 5-12. (See the Child Protection Policy for standards established for children birth through 4th grade). LWCC will not tolerate child abuse or neglect. Your cooperation in this policy not only reflects your concern about children’s safety in this society, but also your willingness to take steps toward halting child abuse and its detrimental effects. For the safety and protection of our students and student::life leaders, all people who participate in church-sponsored activities with children will be required to comply with this policy.
Prerequisites for student::life Leaders OR anyone applying to work with students at LWCC:
Regularly attend Living Word for a minimum of 4 months (exception made for compensated personnel who participate in a more rigorous standard of selection and review).
Regularly attending is defined as a minimum of 50% of Sundays, the date of first visit in our database established the beginning of the 4 month period.
1. Fill out a Ministry Partner Application Form including two non-family member references.
2. Read and sign our student::life Safety Policy indicating understanding and agreement.
3. Complete and return criminal background clearances. (Instructions will be provided)
4. Interview with a staff ministry leader.
5. Attend student::life ministry training and abide by guidelines established in the student::life training manual.
student::life Leader Accountability & Protection
The following guidelines are a requirement for all student::life leaders in all interactions with students, for both the safety and accountability for all parties involved.
1. When transporting minors,
leaders are not —at any time— to be one on one with a
student of the opposite sex. If at any time this becomes necessary—it must be at the approval of the parent (with written consent if possible).
2. When approached by a student of the opposite gender for counsel or deep emotional issues, student::life leaders must bring into the conversation a ministry partner of the same gender as the student, or the ministry director. This brings accountability and lessens the chance of the student forming an unhealthy attachment with the ministry partner.
3. student::life leaders will abide by the student::life training manual on what is considered an appropriate or inappropriate physical touch.
4. student::life leaders will abide by the student::life
training manual on what is an appropriate or inappropriate use of social networking sites, texting, and other outside contact with students.
5. student::life leaders will abide by student::life training manual in regards to posting photographs or videos of students.
6. student::life leaders are not to have any outside function or event, on their own, without the expressed consent of the
student::life director and the parents of the students involved.
7. student::life leaders are required to notify the ministry director immediately, if they suspect or have been told directly by a student, that they are being abused, if they are going to hurt themselves, or if they are going to hurt others.
Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect (PA: Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6311)
§ 6311. Persons required to report suspected child abuse
Mandated reporters.--The following adults shall make a report of suspected child abuse, subject to subsection (b), if the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse:
(1) A person licensed or certified to practice in any health-related field under the jurisdiction of the Department of State.
(2) A medical examiner, coroner or funeral director.
(3) An employee of a health care facility or provider licensed by the Department of Health, who is engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of individuals.
(4) A school employee.
(5) An employee of a child-care service who has direct contact with children in the course of employment.
(6) A clergyman, priest, rabbi, minister, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, or spiritual leader of any regularly established church or other religious organization.
(7) An individual paid or unpaid, who, on the basis of the individual's role as an integral part of a regularly scheduled program, activity or service, accepts responsibility for a child.
(8) An employee of a social services agency who has direct contact with children in the course of employment.
(9) A peace officer or law enforcement official.
(10) An emergency medical services provider certified by the Department of Health.
(11) An employee of a public library who has direct contact with children in the course of employment.
(12) An individual supervised or managed by a person listed under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11), who has direct contact with children in the course of employment.
(13) An independent contractor.
(14) An attorney affiliated with an agency, institution, organization or other entity, including a school or regularly established religious organization that is responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or control of children.
(15) A foster parent
(b) Basis to report.—
(1) A mandated reporter enumerated in subsection (a) shall make a report of suspected child abuse in accordance with section 6313 (relating to reporting procedure), if the mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:
(i) The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity or service.
(ii) The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child.
(iii) A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse.
(iv) An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse.
(2) Nothing in this section shall require a child to come before the mandated reporter in order for the mandated reporter to make a report of suspected child abuse.
(3) Nothing in this section shall require the mandated reporter to identify the person responsible for the child abuse to make a report of suspected child abuse.
(c) Staff members of institutions, etc.--Whenever a person is required to report under subsection (b) in the capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, that person shall report immediately in accordance with section 6313 and shall immediately thereafter notify the person in charge of the institution, school, facility or agency or the designated agent of the person in charge. Upon notification, the person in charge or the designated agent, if any, shall facilitate the cooperation of the institution, school, facility or agency with the investigation of the report. Any intimidation, retaliation or obstruction in the investigation of the report is subject to the provisions of 18 Pa.C.S. § 4958 (relating to intimidation, retaliation or obstruction in child abuse cases).This chapter does not require more than one report from any such institution, school, facility or agency.
Mandated reporters must complete a report that includes their name and contact information. The release of the identity of the mandated reporter is prohibited unless the secretary finds that the release will not be detrimental to the safety of the reporter. Thus maintaining the strictest confidentiality in this process is extremely important.