Preventing Abuse in Christian Organizations that Serve Youth: Ten Policies to Create Safer Environments

Abstract

It is critical for faith leaders to adopt child protection policies long before they are faced with a problem. To assist the church, this article outlines ten essential policies including proper screening of employees and volunteers, maximizing visibility when designing or renovating a building, and clearly defining the boundaries of child and adult interactions. These and other policies will not be effective unless they are accompanied with training for employees and volunteers, as well as personal safety training for children.