What follows is the Child Protection Policy

What follows is the Child Protection Policy, approved by the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Galveston, Texas, on July 28, 2005, and revised by Session on October 27, 2005:

The members of First Presbyterian Church Galveston (the Church) are concerned with the safety, welfare, and protection of the children and youth- aged birth to 18 -years-old (Children) – who participate in the activities and programs of this Church. In addressing these concerns, the Church is adopting this policy (the Policy). This Policy is intended to discourage any form of abuse of Children while involved in Church activities and to provide a procedure for reporting any instances of alleged abuse. The Policy is not intended to: (i) supplant the efforts of parents and guardians and legal authorities in protecting children from abusive situations; (ii) provide a policy for pastoral care or sexual misconduct accusations involving only adults, or (iii) substitute for the Church’s employment policies and procedures.

All employees of the Church, regardless of whether they are actively involved in programs or activities at the Church involving Children, must complete and sign the consent form attached hereto as Appendix A (the Employee Background Check Consent) which allows the Church to perform a national criminal background check. The national criminal background check will be done by a reputable agency approved by the Session. If any employee refuses to complete and sign an Employee Background Check Consent within five (5) business days of being requested to do so, the Church will immediately terminate such employee. Any persons hired by the Church subsequent to the date of this policy must sign the Employee Background Check Consent and have the national criminal background check completed prior to beginning employment.

After obtaining an Employee Background Check Consent from an employee or prospective employee, the Church will perform a national criminal background check on such employee or prospective employee. If the national criminal background check reveals any convictions for crimes of a sexual or violent nature or any crimes involving Children victims (collectively, Disqualifying Convictions), an employee will be immediately terminated and a prospective employee will not be hired by the Church.

All Church employees must complete a Child Care Training Class, as described below, within 90 days of adoption of this Policy or the employee’s beginning date of employment, whichever is later.

For purposes of this Policy, employees and prospective employees of Mothers’ Day Out, the licensed child care program in the Church, shall be deemed employees and prospective employees of the Church.

(ii) Be recommended by another Church member who is not Related to the person (a person is Related to another if one person is or is married to the parent, child, aunt, uncle, first cousin of the other);

(iii) Complete and sign the consent form attached hereto as Appendix B (the Volunteer Background Check Consent) which allows the Church to perform a national criminal background check;

(iv) Have a national criminal background check without any Disqualifying Convictions;

As used herein, the term “Child Care Volunteer” shall mean any person, other than an employee, who at any time is responsible for the supervision or care of Children in an event or activity sponsored or sanctioned by the Church; provided, however, that "Child Care Volunteer" shall not include an "Outside Volunteer," as defined below. Supervision, care, or any other form of interaction with children arising out of a personal relationship with children or their family off Church premises shall not be an activity sufficient for a person to be deemed a Child Care Volunteer. For example, if a Church member supervises another Church member’s children off Church premises for reasons other than a Church-sanctioned event or activity, the supervising member shall not be considered to be a Child Care Volunteer solely as a result of such activity.

An "Outside Volunteer" shall mean any person who at any time is responsible for the supervision or care of Children in an event or activity sponsored or sanctioned by an outside program or organization and held on Church premises or in Church facilities. The program or organization utilizing such Outside Volunteers must be approved by Session.

All Church employees, officers and ministry members who will be in any way involved with the national criminal background checks must sign the form attached hereto as Appendix C (the Background Check Confidentiality Acknowledgement) prior to their involvement with the background checks. Only those Church employees, officers and ministry members specifically authorized by Session to participate in the national criminal background checks shall be allowed to do so. If any Church employee, officer, or ministry member violates the Background Check Confidentiality Acknowledgement, such violation shall be promptly reported to and acted upon by the Session. All completed national criminal background checks done by the Church will be kept in a locked file cabinet in the Pastor’s office.

The Christian Education Ministry shall periodically conduct Child Care Training Classes. These classes shall instruct Church employees and Child Care Volunteers in deterring, detecting and reporting instances of Child abuse. Instruction shall include a review of this Policy and state law relating to detecting and reporting Child abuse.

Parents or guardians with Children in the nursery or preschool must sign the register for such classes each time their Child is left or picked up. The guidelines for the nursery will be posted at the door of the nursery and a copy of the guidelines will be available for the parents and guardians. Parents must pick up their preschool or Kindergarten Child at the classroom. All classes for Children under 3 years of age will be held on the first floor. The location of any classes and programs for Children at the Church must be approved by the Christian Education Ministry.

All classes and activities involving Children at the Church and not overnight must be supervised by at least one Child Care Volunteer over the age of 18. The class or activity must not be held in a room or area that is completely enclosed. (Closing the bottom portion of a Dutch door or conducting the class or activity in a room with a window onto the hall is permissible.) If only one Child Care Volunteer is supervising a class or activity, another Child Care Volunteer, not Related to the other Child Care Volunteer, must periodically check the class or activity. Teachers in classes for Children must use only curriculum materials approved by the Christian Education Ministry and the Session.

All programs and activities involving Children sponsored by the Church either overnight or off Church premises must be supervised by at least two Child Care Volunteers over the age of 18 who are not Related. In order for a Child to participate in any such activities, the Child’s parent or guardian must complete and sign a form consenting to the Child’s participation and releasing the Church from claims in connection with such participation. In addition to the other requirements for being a Child Care Volunteer, Drivers for such programs and activities must: (i) be at least 18 years old; and (ii) provide a copy of their proof of insurance and Texas driver’s license to the Church secretary to be kept in Church files.

Emergency escape routes will be posted by the door of every classroom in which classes for Children are held. A first aid kit will be kept in the church kitchen. The fire alarm system will be kept functional.

If any employee, officer, member, Ministry member, or Child Care Volunteer at the Church suspects any instance of child abuse, the suspected abuse is to be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency in accordance with Texas state law. The reporter shall also notify the Pastor or the Director of Christian Education of the suspected child abuse.

[rev. draft approved by CE Ministry July 22, 2005 – final paragraph amended July 23, 2005.]

approved by Session, July 28, 2005; rev. September 29, 2005; rev. October 27, 2005

Appendix A

First Presbyterian Church, Galveston Texas

I hereby authorize First Presbyterian Church of Galveston, Texas (the Church), its employees, officers and agents to make an independent investigation of my background, references, character, past employment, education, criminal, and police records, including those maintained by both public and private organizations for the purpose of confirming the information contained on my application for employment and obtaining other information which may be material to my qualifications for employment now, and if applicable, during the tenure of my employment with the Church. I understand and agree that such investigation will include, without limitation, a national criminal background check.

I fully and completely release the Church, its employees, officers, members, and agents and any person or entity which provides information pursuant to this authorization from any and all liabilities, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in any way relating to the above-described investigation and any information gathered in such investigation. I understand and agree that, if my national criminal background check reveals any convictions for crimes of a sexual or violent nature or crimes involving minor victims, my employment with the Church will be immediately terminated or, if I am an applicant for employment, I will not be offered employment with the Church.

First Presbyterian Church, Galveston Texas

I hereby authorize First Presbyterian Church of Galveston, Texas (the Church), its employees, officers and agents to make an independent investigation of my background, references, character, past employment, education, criminal, and police records, including those maintained by both public and private organizations for the purpose of confirming the information contained in this consent and obtaining other information which may be material to my qualifications to work with minors now, and if applicable, during the tenure of my service with the Church. I understand and agree that such investigation will include, without limitation, a national criminal background check.

I fully and completely release the Church, its employees, officers, members, and agents and any person or entity which provides information pursuant to this authorization from any and all liabilities, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in any way relating to the above-described investigation and any information gathered in such investigation. I understand and agree that, if my national criminal background check reveals any convictions for crimes of a sexual or violent nature or crimes involving minor victims, I will not be permitted to work with minors at the Church.

I have agreed to assist with the national criminal background checks being done by First Presbyterian Church of Galveston, Texas (the Church) for all employees and volunteers who will be working with minors. I understand that the information obtained in these checks it confidential in nature. I agree that I will not share any information relating to such checks with anyone other than the Pastor of the Church and such other employees and officers at the Church as the Pastor or Clerk of Session may specifically authorize me.

I agree to indemnify and hold the Church, its employees, officers, members and agents harmless from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, costs, expenses, and causes of action arising out of or in any way relating to my breach of the agreement contained in this acknowledgement.

• Child abuse and neglect are against the law in Texas, and so is failure to report it*

• If you suspect a child has been abused or mistreated, you are required to report it to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services or to a law enforcement agency.

• You are required to make a report within 48 hours of the time you suspected the child has been or may be abused or neglected.

What is Abuse? Abuse is mental, emotional, physical, or sexual injury to a child or failure to prevent such injury to a child

What is Neglect? Neglect includes (1) failure to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care; and/or (2) leaving a child in a situation where the child is at risk of harm.

2. When you make a report, be specific. Tell exactly what happened and when. Be sure to record all injuries or incidents you have observed, including dates and time of day and keep this information secured.

3. Reports should be made as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before bruises and marks start to fade. It is important for the investigators to be able to see the physical signs.

4. Give the agency person any information you have about the relationship between the child and the suspected abuser.

Will the person know I've reported him or her? Your report is confidential and is not subject to public release under the Open Records Act. The law provides for immunity from civil or criminal liability for innocent persons who report even unfounded suspicions, as long as your report is made in good faith. Your identity is kept confidential.

Finally, err on the side of caution. If you have reason to suspect child abuse, but are not

positive, make the report. If you have any doubts about whether or not it is abuse, call the hotline. They can advise you if the signs you have observed are abuse.

* Failure to report is a Class B criminal offense, punishable by a $2,000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to 180 days. Failure to report also could subject you to considerable monetary liability in a civil rights action.

[Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Care Licensing Forms for Providers]

Report Abuse or Neglect of children, the elderly, or people with disabilities.

To report an emergency, call 911. To report child abuse or neglect, call 1-800-252-5400 or use our secure website: https://www.txabusehotline.org

Other states may use: (512) 834-3784 to report abuse or neglect that has occurred in Texas.

We cannot accept e-mail reports of suspected abuse or neglect. You may use the 1-800 number to report abuse or neglect that has occurred in Texas if you live in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, or New Mexico.

Abuse is mental, emotional, physical, or sexual injury to a child or failure to prevent such injury to a child

Neglect includes (1) failure to provide a child with food, clothing, shelter and/or medical care; and/or (2) leaving a child in a situation where the child is at risk of harm.

1. Call the abuse and neglect hotline at 1-800-252-5400.
2. When you make a report, be specific. Tell exactly what happened and when. Be sure to record all injuries or incidents you have observed, including dates and time of day and keep this information secured.
3. Reports should be made as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before bruises and marks start to fade. It is important for the investigators to be able to see the physical signs.
4. Give the agency person any information you have about the relationship between the child and the suspected abuser.
5. Please provide at least the following information in your report.

Your report is confidential and is not subject to public release under the Open Records Act. The law provides for immunity from civil or criminal liability for innocent persons who report even unfounded suspicions, as long as your report is made in good faith. Your identity is kept confidential.

If you have reason to suspect child abuse, but are not positive, make the report. If you have any doubts about whether or not it is abuse, call the hotline. They can advise you on whether the signs you have observed are abuse.

[Texas Department of Family and Protective Services – Information on Reporting Child Abuse (for general public)]