What it Means For Volunteers and Programs
June 20, 2012
Community Relations and Development
Conference
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Today’s Session
Focus:
• What is a successful SFH program?
• How does effective SFH implementation
impact volunteer management?
• What do I need to know if I oversee
volunteers in programs serving children,
youth and vulnerable adults?
. . . And any other questions you have!
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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QUESTION
What is
Safe From Harm?
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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What is Safe From Harm?
A comprehensive safety and abuse
prevention program
• Training: officers,
employees, and
volunteers
• Employee/Volunteer
hiring & supervision
• Program/activity
planning and
implementation
• Corps/program
specific safety
assessment
• Facility layout and
design
• Procedures and
practices
• AND MORE!
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Safe From Harm
• Program Handbook
• Model Guideline
Manual
• Program Safety Audit
• Background Checking
• Training Resources
• Rapid Response
Guidebook/Poster
• Current Policies &
Procedures
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Objectives of Safe From Harm
•
•
•
•
•
•
Educate leaders and workers about
prevention of abuse or accidental injury
Enable leaders and workers to develop
procedures and practices that reduce risks
Protect adults from mistaken or groundless
accusations
Reduce liability for Salvation Army units
Build family confidence in Army programs
Prepare Army representatives to respond
should an incident or accident occur
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Why Safe From Harm?
• The Salvation Army is responsible for the
participants in our programs
• Abuse and negligent accidents do happen – and
they can happen here
• Child molesters and other predators target
churches and youth-serving organizations
• Corps and programs not in compliance with Safe
From Harm are exposed to greater liability
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Practically Speaking, in the
Corps/Program:
• Common sense safety routines and practices
• Careful planning of activities, both regularly
occurring and one-time
• Appropriately screened and trained
employees and volunteers
• Suitable environment(s) for activities
• Knowledge of important policies and
procedures
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Local Unit Compliance
•
•
•
•
Name of the corps’
SFH Coordinator
Copy of most recent
Program Safety Audit
Copy of updated Rapid
Response Guidebook
or poster
Monitoring for
Appropriate Screening
and Training
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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A Comprehensive Approach
1. Protect vulnerable
persons (children and
adults) in our care
2. Protect our staff and
volunteers
3. Protect The Salvation
Army
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Preventing Maltreatment
Access
Careful selection/screening
procedures limit access
Overcome
own inhibitions
Overcome external
barriers
Overcome
resistance
Rules, procedures,
education & training
Strong supervision, wise
operating guidelines
Children / vulnerable adults /
families prepared to recognize,
resist, and report abuse
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Volunteer Management and
Safe From Harm
• Screening
• Training
• Supervising
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Screening
•
•
•
•
Before you bring on a volunteer:
Conduct a thorough, confidential
interview
Check at least two references
18 years or older
Follow the 6 month guideline for
volunteers working with children,
youth, or vulnerable adults
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Required Forms
Application
Statement for Work with Children
Disclosure and Release of Information
Authorization (for criminal background check)
Guidelines for Adults Working with
Children/Youth/Vulnerable Adults (signed
copy for file)
Position Description (assigned in database)
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Territorial Registry
• Designated DHQ
personnel will check
names against the
Territorial Registry
• Your Divisional
Volunteer Coordinator
should be aware of
this process, and
which individuals are
designated to access
the registry
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Territorial Background Check
• Contracted with
Sterling
• Divisional HR Staff
and Volunteer
Coordinators conduct
these checks
• Criminal/court records
are searched
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Background Check - Overview
A background investigation is
required for the following
positions:
• Work with Children/Youth
• Work with Vulnerable Adults (Elderly,
Disabled)
• Candidates for Ministry Leadership
• ALL Local Officers
• Finance/Fundraising/
Planned Giving
• Information Technology (I.T.)
• Anyone in an otherwise “low risk”
position who, do to lack of supervision
or some other circumstance, may have
easy, unsupervised access to children
or vulnerable adults.
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Look For
Red Flags
• A strong interest in a certain age group or
gender
• Lack of adult relationships and/or interests
• Instability in work and life
• Gaps in a person’s life history
• Stressful events in the applicant’s recent past
• Evasive or misleading answers
• Rigidity in belief or doctrines
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Guidelines for Working with
Children, Youth and Vulnerable
Adults
Includes Children, Youth, Vulnerable
Adults, Elderly Persons
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Training: Specific to Position
• In person training
OR
• Online Training (NEW!)
• Both are appropriate
• Most important: what type of training is
needed for this type of position?
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Online Training
• Online training is accessible through the SFH
Resources database on Lotus Notes
• Volunteers who are not on Lotus Notes can
access the online training directly through the
Praesidium website – directions/info on SFH
Resources database
• Volunteer must know division name
• Two required courses + more depending on
position
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Good Supervision includes:
• Two Adult Guideline
• Observation
• Periodic review of
volunteers
• Contact with program
participants and
family members
• Awareness of life
stressors in
volunteers
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Safe From Harm Resources Database
•
•
•
•
SFH Program Handbook
Model Guidelines
Program Safety Audit
Rapid Response
Reference
• SFH Orientation DVD
• Current Policies
• Many valuable resources
for implementation and
training
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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SFH Training Database
Access to Safe From Harm Training records available for
download via Lotus Notes:
File → Database → Open → Divisional Server →
USC Safe From Harm Training
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Divisional SFH Coordinators
• EMI – Charol McDonald
• HRT – Captain James
Frye
• IND – Captain Nicholas
Montgomery
• KWM – Joyce Schau
• MET – Major Sandra
Turner
• MID – Gary Busiek
• NOR – La Rae Roder
• WST- Linda Harrer
• WMNI – Captain Rochelle
McClintock
• WUM – Marian Smith
• ARCC – Major Linda
Mitchell
RED = will change with
officer moves SOON!
The Salvation Army USA Central Territory
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Common Concerns
• “Unofficial” volunteers
• “Church” volunteers and
program/community volunteers
• Inconsistent screening practices
• Lack of position descriptions
• Longtime volunteers
• Local officers
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YOUR QUESTIONS
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Spectrum of Risk
Negative
Consequences
MOST STRINGENT
Precautions
SERIOUS
STRONG
Precautions
MODEST
Precautions
MINOR
LOW
HIGH
Likelihood an Incident Will Occur
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If Other Questions Come Up
1. Contact your Unit/Divisional Headquarters
–
–
–
–
Child Safety Coordinator
Safe From Harm Trainer(s)
Divisional Youth Secretary
Divisional Social Services Director
2. Contact Territorial Child/Adult Safety
Coordinator
E-mail: Helen_Campbell@usc.salvationarmy.org
safefromharm@usc.salvationarmy.org
Phone: 847-795-3087
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