Safeguarding Training
The Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan safeguards all of God’s children. We commit to creating safe environments, especially for children, youth, and vulnerable adults, from sexual, physical and/or personal abuse or exploitation.
All people working within the church with children, youth, or adults must have completed Safeguarding training within the previous five years.
Engagement with Safeguarding helps us:
- Promote best practices and proactively work in a way that can prevent harm, abuse, coercion to or exploitation of any vulnerable person
- Ensure that any allegations of abuse or suspicion are dealt with appropriately
- Take appropriate measures to prevent or stop an abuse from occurring, including the requirement to attend training sessions, make application for various positions, and undergo various personal and background checks.
Safeguarding Resources
Diocesan Policies & Reporting
- Diocesan Policy for Safeguarding Children and Youth
- Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children and Youth
- Reporting Misconduct Form
Employment
- Sample Application for those working with Children and Youth
- State of Michigan Background Check (Free for Registered Tax-Exempt Nonprofits)
Safeguarding God’s Children
Safeguarding God’s Children is focused on preventing child sexual abuse in our churches and communities. Every person working with children and youth in the church must have completed this training within the last five years.
- For clergy, employees, parents, youth workers, vestry members and congregation members who work with children
- Strategies for preventing and responding to child sexual abuse
Safeguarding God’s People
Safeguarding God’s People is focus on preventing sexual exploitation in communities of faith and preventing sexual harassment of church volunteers and employees.
- For adults in congregations, vestry members, clergy, employees, and others who provide pastoral care
- Addresses exploitation in pastoral relationships
- For church workers and their managers and supervisors
- Addresses compliance with sexual harassment laws and church policies
