This story is absolutely heartbreaking. The family of a 3-year-old rape victim has filed a lawsuit against Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee citing “the utter failure of the Church to provide a safe place for the children placed in its care.” The lawsuit comes on the heels of a guilty plea for aggravated sexual
Can You Spot a Predator like Jared Fogle? Our Child Safety Classes Will Show You How.
We were reminded of the chilling tactics that child sexual predators use to attract new children when audio recordings of an actual child rapist surfaced earlier this month. Former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty to child porn and child sex charges after evidence – actual recordings of conversations Fogle had with
When Will It Stop? More Sex Abuse Charges Against Former Church Youth Leader
A Virginia church is at the center of every congregation’s worst nightmare; One of its former volunteers is accused of sexually abusing several children he met through the church. The worst part is that these newest charges come six years after similar allegations plagued the man and the church. Although no charges were ever filed
Pope’s Visit to America Renews Quest to Have Priests Background Checked
Millions of U.S. Catholics applauded Pope Francis when he first arrived on American soil, but for families at the center of the Catholic Church pedophile scandal, it was another opportunity to condemn the church’s actions and to hold it accountable for priests’ crimes. It’s a sobering reminder of the importance of background screening for all
Background Check Requirements for Volunteer Chaplains
Chaplains do important work. These faith-oriented individuals often work with hospitals, police departments, schools, prisons and other secular (non-religious) groups and provide a peaceful, nonjudgmental ear for employees to share their feelings with. They help in a variety of ways that often go beyond the scope of what an employer can provide to an employee:
What’s OK and What’s Not? Why Abuse Prevention Education is Needed in Every Church
An upstate New York church is rallying together after one of its former volunteer leaders was indicted on sex abuse charges. The youth ministry volunteer is accused of having inappropriate sexual relations with two teenage boys; the alleged incidents of sexual abuse happened at the man’s home and did not take place on church property
Improve the Safety of Your Vacation Bible School
Ministries across the country are becoming increasingly concerned with protecting the children they serve. Pennsylvania has really lead the charge because of a new state law overhauling its child protection policies. The new law expands the requirements for, and scope of, background checks for people who work or volunteer with children. The law demands that
The Top Three Things Customers Desire From a Screening Firm (And Why Protect My Ministry Aces at All of Them)
We live in a fast-paced society. From 24-hour grocery markets to flash online sales, we want things available to us anytime, anywhere, anyhow. That’s tough stuff for businesses. How do you consistently provide a top notch product or best-in-class service when you’re stretched to your limits in terms of production costs, manpower, and the litany
Child Safety Training More Important Than Ever Thanks to New Laws
It’s always a step in the right direction when states move to protect our innocent children from abusive predators. Even though the details might be overwhelming or confusing at the start, it’s imperative that organizations, including all faith-based groups, implement them as soon as possible. Pennsylvania took such action in 2014 when its state legislature
4 Tips to Develop a Safe and Sound Background Screening Policy for Your Employees and Volunteers
On any given day, your ministry may be visited by dozens, hundreds or thousands of people. Some of these people are your everyday parishioners, some may be curious visitors, while others are routine employees or impassioned volunteers. This can be a wonderful thing for your ministry, its teachings and outreach, but it can also leave