Hello VBS folks,
I recently heard some statistics that I wanted to pass on to everyone. 1 out of 3 girls in America are sexually abused. 1 out of 5 boys are sexually abused. 10% to 15% of kids in the church are victims of incest. 98% of sexual abuse that happens to children is perpetrated by someone they know.
This is some very sad information that surely breaks the heart of God. So the reason I bring this up is so that we are aware of problem and sin around us. Community VBS should be a safe place for kids to come and hear the gospel and so far we have had no abuse incidents being reported. I thank God for everyone who loves God, loves kids and gives up valuable time to serve in VBS each summer. But to take a stand against child sex abuse, I am planning to ask the VBS committee to require all adult helpers (myself included) to sign a pledge to protect VBS kids and bring them no harm . I would love to be able to afford police background checks on all adult helpers to insure the kids safety, but it is unfortunately too expensive. This pledge would simply be the voice of Community VBS making a stand that we will not tolerate abuse, be it sexual or physical.
We continue to have leaders keeping an eye out for adult strangers hanging around the Grove during VBS and we ask them to move on for the kids protection. Now we want to make a simple statement with everyone involved that we will love and respect the children that God brings to VBS. A pledge of zero tolerance of child abuse.
I look forward to our meeting this Saturday morning (April 7th at 10AM at the Methodist church), I will answer any questions in relation to the pledge. We will also pray about leaders and helpers and overview this summers VBS. See you then!
I recently heard some statistics that I wanted to pass on to everyone. 1 out of 3 girls in America are sexually abused. 1 out of 5 boys are sexually abused. 10% to 15% of kids in the church are victims of incest. 98% of sexual abuse that happens to children is perpetrated by someone they know.
This is some very sad information that surely breaks the heart of God. So the reason I bring this up is so that we are aware of problem and sin around us. Community VBS should be a safe place for kids to come and hear the gospel and so far we have had no abuse incidents being reported. I thank God for everyone who loves God, loves kids and gives up valuable time to serve in VBS each summer. But to take a stand against child sex abuse, I am planning to ask the VBS committee to require all adult helpers (myself included) to sign a pledge to protect VBS kids and bring them no harm . I would love to be able to afford police background checks on all adult helpers to insure the kids safety, but it is unfortunately too expensive. This pledge would simply be the voice of Community VBS making a stand that we will not tolerate abuse, be it sexual or physical.
We continue to have leaders keeping an eye out for adult strangers hanging around the Grove during VBS and we ask them to move on for the kids protection. Now we want to make a simple statement with everyone involved that we will love and respect the children that God brings to VBS. A pledge of zero tolerance of child abuse.
I look forward to our meeting this Saturday morning (April 7th at 10AM at the Methodist church), I will answer any questions in relation to the pledge. We will also pray about leaders and helpers and overview this summers VBS. See you then!
Dave,
ReplyDeleteWe have the luxury of NO classroom walls with an outdoor VBS . There are no "secret spots." That is to say other than the restrooms. We don't have a nursery, so we are also free from the entire diapering issue. With that being said, perhaps we need stronger guidelines regarding the bathrooms. I don't feel that any worker (adult or youth) should enter a restroom with a child. If a child needs assistance unbuckling/buckling pants, etc., I feel that 2 workers should be present when this is needed (if only to protect the worker).
Last year in working with the youth we had a couple of things in place in order to protect the younger children as well as the youth. Specifically, the youth were not allowed to enter a bathroom with a child - period. They had to stand outside, while holding the outer door open. Also, if a child needed assistance with their pants, 2 youth were present.
Criminal history / background checks. Another luxury with living in this small community is that everyone knows the goings on of everyone else in that regard. The flip side of that would be those acts of crime that the public is not yet aware. I don't know if we have the funds to run criminal background checks. In my opinion we don't need them given the 2 reasons I listed above. What if we were to ask for each worker's a) social security number or b) driver's license number on their enrollment paperwork if there were ever, God forbid, something to happen? - Belinda