Solutions August 2017 | Page 12

of footage of an abuser grooming a child for abuse—largely useless if the person reviewing tapes is unable to recognize “the grooming process” of the sexual offender. Additionally, as children move to middle and high school ministries, programming becomes less structured and contained and more geared to activities outside the church facility. Misconception 3: We trust our volunteers. Trust is important, but working with children is a privilege and volunteers should be required to undergo an effective screening process. Trust, but verify. Sexual abusers have no visual profile. They can be male, female, educated, career women and men, have a spouse or children, and look “normal.” Children can sexually abuse other children. One out of three cases of reported child sexual abuse relate to children who have been sexually aggressive with other, usually younger, children. Offender studies indicate that the average male abuser begins victimizing at 13 or 14 years of age, indicating a need for effective screening practices for younger volunteers. Ninety percent of child sexual abuse victims know and trust their abuser; ‘stranger danger’ isn’t an effective deterrent. An applicant with inappropriate sexual motives carries 12 Solutions with him or her various indicators and life patterns that help identify him or her as one who may not be appropriate to work with children. Churches must be aware of high- risk responses on applications and reference forms, as well as during an applicant’s interview. Understanding the ‘grooming process’ of the sexual offender is key, as well as common grooming behaviors. With a better understanding of how abusers gain access to a child, prepare the child for sexual interaction, then keep the child silent, church staff members and volunteers are better equipped to effectively address this risk. Misconception 4: “We’ll take care of this internally.” In many situations where church leaders are confronted with allegations or suspicions of sexual abuse, leaders elect to take a discipleship approach or simply dismiss the volunteer or staff member rather than reporting to criminal authorities. This approach is detrimental to the child who experienced abuse, other children who may be victimized, and the ministry itself, given current statutory reporting requirements. In many states, all adults are mandatory reporters of child abuse or neglect; required to report any suspected abuse – whether sexual,