HELPFUL RESOURCES
CONNECT WITH A CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER
Most people have a child advocacy center nearby. We recommend connecting with a child advocacy center, a child protection agency, or other child serving organization for training on mandated reporting and ongoing partnership in child protection.
Find your local child advocacy center:
MANDATED REPORTING
This document contains details about mandated reporting laws and guidelines in every state. Even if staff or volunteers at your church or ministry are not mandated reporters, it can still be a policy at your organization.
BACKGROUND CHECKS AND REGISTRIES
While background checks and screenings alone are not sufficient for protection, it is a great way to send a message that your church or organization does not tolerate abuse.
Here are resources for conducting background checks and searching registries in the US:
RECOMMENDED ORGANIZATIONS
There are organizations that exist to help safeguard child safety in churches and ministries. They can assist with training, standards of practice, institutional response investigations, and more. Two we recommend are GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in a Christian Environment) and ECAP (Evangelical Counsel on Abuse Prevention).
GENERAL RESOURCES
Evidence-based training for all adults on recognizing and responding to child sexual abuse.
Data, research, and training about human trafficking in the United States.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Research-driven publications, resources, and learning tools about child welfare and the systems that support it.