Volunteers & Mandated Reporting at Windsor Baptist Church

You have probably heard about the new laws in Pennsylvania for people who work or volunteer with children. This document is intended to explain to you what these new laws are and how they effect you.

Please note: these things are not because of any recent problems at Windsor or because of any suspected abuse at Windsor. This is simply the new standard in PA law for protecting children from abuse or neglect.

 

Here is what you need to know: All adults who have contact with children in any of the ministries of Windsor Baptist Church or schools are now mandated reporters. This includes every staff position and every volunteer who has contact with children. Windsor Baptist Church, WCP, or WCA must have a current background clearance for all mandated reporters. Clearances are valid for three years and can be obtained through our third-party company, First Advantage (speak with a member of the Board of Christian Education for more information), or the Commonwealth of PA. Windsor Baptist Church, WCP, or WCA must have a current background clearance for all mandated reporters. Clearances are valid for three years and can be obtained for free through the Commonwealth of PA or via our third-party company, First Advantage (speak with a member of the Board of Christian Education for more information). If you have not been a resident of PA for the past ten years, you now also need to have an FBI criminal background clearance. If you need to report abuse or suspected abuse, follow these three steps: Call 1-800-932-0313 Report the incident to an elder File a report at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis

 

Q&A:

Q: What is a mandated reporter?

A: Mandated reporters are those mandated to report known or suspected child abuse.

 

Q: What is child abuse?

A: Child abuse, according to the CPSL, means intentionally, knowingly or recklessly doing any of the following:

• Causing bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act.
• Fabricating, feigning or intentionally exaggerating or inducing a medical symptom or disease which results in a potentially harmful medical evaluation or treatment to the child through any recent act.
• Causing or substantially contributing to serious mental injury to a child through any act or failure to act or a series of such acts or failures to act.
• Causing sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any act or failure to act.
• Creating a reasonable likelihood of bodily injury to a child through any recent act or failure to act.
• Creating a likelihood of sexual abuse or exploitation of a child through any recent act or failure to act.
• Causing serious physical neglect of a child.
• Causing the death of the child through any act or failure to act.

 

Q: What ages are considered children?

A: Any person under the age of 18 years.

 

Q: Can’t I just let the elders handle this?

A: No. According to the new laws, any “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” are mandated reporters.

This means that all people who accept any responsibility for children are mandated to report abuse or suspected abuse (eg., volunteer Sunday School teachers, ushers, security personnel, nursery workers, all staff of Windsor ministries, all helpers in classrooms, any parent who attends a party or joins a trip with children, etc.).

 

Q: What if I don’t want to give my social security number for a background clearance?

A: You may use this secure website:

https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home

 

Q: What if I can’t wait for my clearance to come through this PA service?

A: You can speak with Aaron Stern to seek a clearance via First Advantage.

 

Q: What should I do if I know about child abuse?

A: Follow the three steps given above in number 4 of the information above.

 

Q: What should I do if I only suspect child abuse?

A: Follow the three steps given above in number 4 of the information above.

 

Q: Can I get more training on these things?

A: Yes, simply go to http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/training/index.htm

 

Q: Where can I learn about these laws first-hand?

A: http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/

 

Q: What if I have more questions about these things at Windsor?

A: Contact Pastor Ben or Aaron Stern.