Safety Policies and Procedures

We love and our blessed by our children and youth, and believe strongly it is one of our core responsibilities to help care for them and keep them safe. We do this through multiple steps around screening and training our volunteers, and through a robust system of policies and procedures that all of our leaders and volunteers must understand and follow. All volunteers at Church of the Cross must attend Church of the Cross for a minimum of six months before being eligible to serve in positions providing access to or involving interaction with minors and all volunteers must pass a background check followed by a personal interview. Volunteers also complete yearly in person trainings and online trainings to teach them about proper saftey and reporting policies and procedures.

If you would like to consider our overall policies yourself, you may download and read them by clicking here. Our Safety Polices for Children and Youth are shared by the other churches in our Minnesota/South Dakota Deanery.

RESPONSE TO REPORT OF ABUSE

Church of the Cross is committed to providing a safe, secure environment for children and their families. To this end, any report of inappropriate behavior or suspicions of abuse or neglect will be taken seriously and will be reported, in accordance with this policy and MN state law, to Child Protective Services or criminal law enforcement.

Because sexual abusers ‘groom’ children for abuse, it is possible that a staff member or volunteer may witness behavior intended to groom a child for sexual abuse. Please report ‘grooming’ behavior, policy violations, or any suspicious behaviors to an immediate supervisor, such that the church may take appropriate action to safeguard children in the program.

We report all suspected or alleged abuse or neglect of children to Hennepin County Child Protective Services.

https://www.hennepin.us/childprotection
email: cfsinfo@hennepin.us
Call to make a child protection report: 612-348-3552.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

Because many adults are unfamiliar with Minnesota reporting requirements and may be fearful of the process, Church of the Cross will utilize a ‘tandem or dual report’ model, where permitted. A ‘dual report’ occurs when a Church of the Cross supervisor reports the suspicion or allegation together with the individual who saw, heard or received information causing him or her to suspect abuse or neglect.

 THIS PRACTICE IS NOT REQUIRED, OR INTENDED TO INHIBIT ANY STAFF MEMBER OR VOLUNTEER FROM REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, CPS OR THE ABUSE HOTLINE DIRECTLY. Instead, it is meant to facilitate reporting, protect children and support individuals who may not feel able or willing to report alone.

NO PERMISSION IS NEEDED from Church of the Cross before reporting to law enforcement personnel or the Child Abuse Hotline. 

While not required by state law, please report all suspicions of child abuse or neglect (or any inappropriate or ‘grooming’ behaviors of a colleague or coworker) to an immediate supervisor. This request is intended to assist the church in properly protecting children involved in Church of the Cross programs.

When in doubt, report.