The Child Safety Training Course is completed online at any chosen day or time. It consists of 5 lessons covering the following topics:
- Lesson 1: Defining Child Sexual Abuse
- Lesson 2: Victim Behavioral Characteristics
- Lesson 3: Characteristics of Child Molesters
- Lesson 4: Making a Difference
- Lesson 5: Responsibility & Reporting
At the end of the training, a quiz will be presented to measure your volunteers' understanding of the material. A minimum score of 70 percent is required. You will also have the opportunity to download pdfs of each lesson and links to resources for more information on the topic.
Child Safety Training is non-negotiable
The lifelong damage caused by child abuse is devastating. Those working in ministries have a tremendous opportunity to protect children, but many don't know the signs of abuse because they’ve never been properly trained. Don't let this be your ministry’s blind spot.
By taking action and educating your volunteers, staff, and ministry leaders, you’re better equipped to spot the signs of abuse and take the appropriate next steps.
Our online Child Safety Course helps your ministry recognize the signs of child sexual abuse and the characteristics of perpetrators. It allows you to take proactive measures that protect children against harm. With less than 38% of child victims disclosing they’ve been sexually abused, it’s critical the training is taken seriously by adults.
The Statistics are Staggering
It's difficult to look at real numbers surrounding child abuse, but important to begin understanding the gravity of the problem. Statistics show that 1 in 7 girls and 1 in 25 boys will be sexually assaulted by the time they reach age 18, but most victims are under age 14. And over 1,700 children die from their abuse. Roughly 90% of child abuse cases involve someone they know and trust.
One out of every 417 persons in the U.S. is on the sex offender registry making it vital to complete background checks. However, with over 678,000 victims of child abuse and neglect and over 47,000 unique cases each year, you can see many perpetrators go undetected until caught.
Consequences of abuse
Victims of child abuse often struggle with the emotional and spiritual effects of this sin for the rest of their lives. Sadly, child abuse victims are themselves at higher risk of inflicting the abuse on other children.
Allegations of abuse can also tarnish, sometimes irretrievably, a church's reputation. Instead of being able to discuss the gospel, leadership must spend their time explaining to the media, to the courts, and to visitors why they weren't able to prevent the abuse. The financial impact can be devastating as well. Some churches have faced verdicts of up to $100 million for child abuse committed by those whom they were charged with supervising.
Any church or ministry that sends an individual to serve in ministry (even those that serve without pay) may be held responsible for the actions of that individual.
Educate your ministry
Protect My Ministry is determined to join faith-based organizations to avoid, as much as possible, incidences of child abuse on our watch. Our Child Safety Training helps educate your ministry by heightening awareness, increasing responsibility, and creating a greater sense of community that keeps a watchful eye on children.
Learn more about our online Child Safety Training.
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