WINTER 2005

Policy and Procedure of Salem Quarterly Meeting for Child Safety

Revised and approved by Quarterly Meeting 9/11/2005

1. Introduction and Purpose.

   The purpose of this policy is to prevent any incident of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct from occurring to any child while in attendance at or participating in any event, function or activity of the Salem Quarterly Meeting including, but not limited to, the regular Quarterly Meeting programs,sessions and occasional workshops or other events under the care of Salem Quarter or one of its committees. For purposes of this policy, "child" is defined as any person under the age of 18 years. The following represents the policy and procedure of the Salem Quarterly Meeting regarding same.

2. Implementation.

   The Salem Quarterly Meeting shall establish a permanent committee to be known as the Child Safety Committee which shall be responsible for implementing and maintaining the within policy. One of the members of the Committee shall be designated as Clerk.

3. Requirements for Hiring and Retaining Employees and Volunteers.
   1. Definitions:
      1. Employee – any person holding a paid position with the Quarterly Meeting including persons receiving wages and/or persons being paid as "independent contractors" who work with or supervise children.
      2. Volunteers – any person engaged in the care or direct supervision of any child or children at any event, function or activity covered by the within policy whether or not the person is so engaged on an on-going or recurring basis. In other words, a "volunteer" includes any person so engaged even on a one-time basis.
   2. All applicants for the position of "employee" must complete a written application including his or her employment history and provide the names and contact information of two references and sign a consent to a criminal background check. At least one of the references must be a professional or employment related reference as opposed to a strictly personal reference. All existing employees must sign a consent to a criminal background check.
   3. All applicants for an employee position must be interviewed and approved by the Child Safety Committee to screen the applicant with regard to the purposes of the within policy. A written record of the interview shall be kept on file.
   4. All employee applicant references shall be checked.
   5. A national criminal background check shall be conducted on all employees and applicants for a position of employee.
   6. All "volunteers" must have been approved for a position involving the care and/or direct supervision of children under the Child Safety Policy by one of the monthly meetings comprising the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting before being allowed to serve as a "volunteer" at any Quarterly Meeting event, function or activity as defined by within the policy. A member of the Child Safety Committee of the Quarter or a member of the Steering Committee shall obtain confirmation in writing from the applicable monthly meeting that the "volunteer" has been so approved prior to the service of the "volunteer" at any Quarterly Meeting event, function or activity as aforesaid. Any applicant for the position of "volunteer" shall sign a consent to the release of such information by his or her monthly meeting.
   7. Salem Quarterly Meeting volunteers and paid program facilitators or child care providers will be responsible for children only during the time that a designated Salem Quarterly Meeting event, program or child care activity is being provided.
4. Guidelines for the Supervision of Children.
   1. No employee or volunteer will be alone with one child at any Quarterly Meeting event, function or activity as defined herein above. In other words, if there is only one child present, then two adults must also be present at all times.
   2. All events, functions or activities involving overnight stays will be chaperoned by at least two adult "volunteers" as defined herein above. In other words, at least one of the "volunteers" in attendance must be of the same sex as any of the children involved.
   3. "One-on-one" counseling or activities shall be avoided.
5. Requirements for the Reporting of Incidents.
   1. Any person who becomes aware of or who reasonably suspects an incident of sexual abuse of or sexual misconduct involving a child covered under the within Policy shall immediately report same to a member of the Child Safety Committee and/or the clerk of the Steering Committee who shall, in conjunction with the person reporting the abuse, notify the parent or guardian of the child and the police.
   2. The Child Safety Committee shall assist the police with any appropriate investigation of any reported incident and/or conduct an independent investigation, if necessary, due to the lack of appropriate response by the police.
   3. Any incident of sexual abuse of or sexual misconduct involving a child covered under the within policy shall be reported to the insurance agent of record for the Quarterly Meeting by the clerk of the Child Safety Committee, who shall also notify the clerk of the Steering Committee that said notice has been given.
   4. The Child Safety Committee shall keep a permanent file of any alleged incident(s) of sexual abuse of a child including a written record of the allegation(s) and copies of any investigative reports by the committee and/or any outside agency or persons regarding the incident.
   5. Any and all information and/or records of any alleged incident of sexual abuse of or sexual misconduct involving a child on file with the Child Safety Committee and/or Clerk of the Steering Committee shall be kept confidential and shall not be released, disseminated or disclosed to any outside person(s), institution(s) or agency(s) except as required in connection with the investigation of the alleged incident by the police, the prosecutor, the courts, the insurance carrier for the Quarterly Meeting or by the monthly meeting of any adult or child allegedly involved in the incident.
   6. Any inquiries by the media or any other person or institution concerning any alleged incident of sexual abuse of or sexual misconduct involving a child shall be directed to the clerk of the Child Safety Committee for reply.
6. Policy Dissemination and Review.
   1. Copies of this policy statement shall be distributed to the clerks of each of the monthly meetings comprising the Salem Quarter and to the Clerk of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. The names and telephone numbers of the current members of the Child Safety Committee of the Quarter shall be included on the copies so disseminated.
   2. The Child Safety Committee shall review this policy annually, or more frequently if the need arises, and shall report to Quarterly Meeting.
   3. Any changes or modifications of this policy shall be approved by Salem Quarterly Meeting at a regular meeting for business.

Dated: September 11, 2005

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[The following two paragraphs were proposed by a member of the Child Safety Committee subsequent to the September Quarterly Meeting. They will be considered in December—ED.]

3. h.    No "volunteer" shall be accepted for a position involving the care and/or direct supervision of children who has not been associated with a monthly meeting for at least six (6) months either as a member or regular attender.
3. i.    Any "volunteer" who will be involved in the care and/or supervision of children for an overnight and/or day-long event shall have undergone an appropriate criminal background check whether or not same was required by his or her monthly meeting.

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