GRACE Homeschoolers Sexual Misconduct Policy Purpose:
To establish proper preventative measures to protect individuals against sexual misconduct as well as to specify courses of action in the case of allegations or an actual incident regarding sexual misconduct.
GRACE Homeschoolers prohibits and does not tolerate sexual abuse or misconduct during any organization related activity or at any time. GRACE Homeschoolers provides procedures for teachers, volunteers, board members, or any other person to report any act which violates this policy.
Standard of Conduct:
All workers, volunteers, teachers, paid, and/or full-time and/or part-time employees, of GRACE Homeschoolers (aka GRACE) are expected to comply with the established policy on Sexual Misconduct. Any actions contrary to GRACE Homeschoolers policy will be dealt with swiftly and may include disciplinary measures up to and including termination of membership or employment, as well as legal ramifications when applicable.
Definitions:
Child Sexual Abuse – any sexual activity with a child, whether in the home by a caretaker, in a day care situation, a foster/residential setting, classroom setting, GRACE Homeschoolers campus setting, organization event, or any other setting, including on the street by a person unknown to the child. The abuser may be an adult, an adolescent, or another child, provided the child is four years older than the victim” (National Resource Center on Child Sexual Abuse, 1992).
Sexual activity – may be violent or non-violent, touching or non-touching, and is an exploitation of a child’s vulnerability and powerlessness.
Sexual Misconduct – inappropriate behavior relating to or involving a sexual nature.
Sexual abuse, misconduct, or harassment may apply to any and/or all of the persons, including employees, volunteers, or other third parties. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Any sexual activity, involvement, or attempt of sexual contact with a minor (under the age of 18 years old) where consent cannot be given.
- Sexual activity with another who is legally incompetent or otherwise unable to give consent.
- Physical assault or violence, such as rape, sexual battery, abuse, molestation, or any attempt to commit such acts.
- Unwanted and intentional physical conduct that is sexual in nature, such as touching, pinching, patting, brushing, massaging someone's neck to shoulders, and/ or pulling against another's body or clothing.
- Materials such as pornographic or sexually explicit images, posters, calendars, or objects.
- Unwelcome and inappropriate sexual activities, advances, comments, innuendos, bullying, jokes, gestures, electronic communications or messages, exploitation, exposure, leering, stalking, or invasion of sexual privacy.
- A sexually hostile environment characterized as comments or conduct that unreasonably interferes with one's work performance or ability to do the job or creates an intimidated, hostile, or offensive environment.
- Direct or implied threats that submission to sexual advances will be a condition of employment, position as a volunteer, or affiliation with the organization.
I. Pre-screening of Workers and/or Volunteers
a. All paid workers, part time and full time, and all volunteers, will fill out an application and a primary screening via background check.
b. All workers, paid, full-time and part-time, and all volunteers will be interviewed by an authority within the applicable department.
c. All workers, volunteers, and/or full time or part-time employees will provide a valid form of ID (i.e., state driver’s license, social security card, or other acceptable form of ID) if requested by GRACE Homeschoolers.
II. Common Supervisory Policies and Procedures
a. Two Adult Deep Leadership – minimum of two (2) adults in any setting or activity regarding children. In cases where an adult has a legitimate reason to be alone with a child (i.e., counseling, visitation), all workers should obtain the consent of the child’s parent or guardian prior to being alone with the child.
b. Any supervisor is responsible to address suspicious behavior or any behavior that may be contrary to GRACE Homeschoolers policy and to document and report such occurrences to the proper authorities.
III. Reporting Procedures
a. All allegations must be taken seriously.
b. All allegations should be reported to the established authority and/or a member of the GRACE Homeschoolers Adminstrative Board as immediately as possible.
c. The established authority will notify the parents or legal guardian.
d. All situations will be handled forthrightly with due respect for people’s privacy and confidentiality.
e. Full cooperation will be given to civil authorities when applicable. The organization may utilize an outside third party to conduct an investigation of misconduct. GRACE Homeschoolers will cooperate fully with the investigation conducted by the law enforcement or other regulatory/protective service agencies. Every reasonable effort will be made to keep the matters involved in the allegations as confidential as possible while still allowing for a prompt and thorough investigation.
f. No accused will be addressed by anyone other than the established authorities until the safety of the child or victim is secured.
g. No victim involved in an allegation or anyone responsible for reporting an allegation will be retaliated against.
h. It is not required to directly confront the person who is the source of the report, question, or complaint before notifying the individuals listed. GRACE Homeschoolers will take every reasonable measure to ensure those named in the complaint of misconduct, or who are closely associated with those involved in the complaint, will not be a part of the investigative team.
IV. Investigation of an Allegation
a. All allegations will be investigated expeditiously by established authorities.
b. Any accused worker or volunteer will be relieved temporarily of his or her duties until the investigation is completed.
c. All details, interviews, and information will remain confidential to those legitimately involved in the investigation. Any individual or group responsible for a breach in this confidentiality is subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of membership or employment.
d. No individual involved in an allegation or anyone responsible for investigating an allegation will be retaliated against.
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