CHURCH BOARD GUIDE TO A CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY First, what happens to the level of risk if the door is closed, there is


only one teacher, and there is no window in the door? That increases isolation, and as a result risk increases. Second, consider what happens as soon as the class is over. Suppose


that following the dismissal of the class, everyone leaves to attend the morning worship service. However, two children wander through the building and rather than go to the worship service they go back to the empty classroom and shut the door. The isolation has increased signifi- cantly and so has the risk. The analysis helps us to understand the need to monitor space as well as people.


KEY POINT. Here is a general guideline that is useful in assessing isolation and responding to it in order to lower risk: treat any activity that is located off of church properly, or any activity that is located on church property, but at a time or location that is isolated, as higher risk. Any higher risk activity should have two or more unrelated adults as supervisors.


Risk Factor 2: Accountability Risk increases as accountability decreases.


The second risk factor that should be evaluated is the nature of the accountability. The sexual abuse of children always occurs in settings without proper accountability. As a general principle, risk increases as accountability decreases. Notice the relationship between risk and accountability in each of the following examples.


Example. Fred, a college student and a volunteer worker with the church‘s high school youth group, announces he is available for transportation f any of the members need a ride to group activities. Anne, a seventeen year old high school senior asks Fred for a ride.


Example. Randy, an adult member of First Church, volun- teers to pick up a 10-year-old boy on his way to church each week. The boy lives with his mother, who is delighted to have a ‘father figure “express an interest in her son.


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