How to Use MinistrySafe's Child Safety Training for Abuse Prevention

Summary: This article will guide you through the process of using MinistrySafe's online Child Safety Training programs to equip your staff and volunteers to prevent child sexual abuse.

Before You Begin

• Identify your training needs: Determine which Child Safety Training programs are most relevant to your staff and volunteers based on their roles and responsibilities.
• Create a MinistrySafe account: You will need an account to access the online training materials.
• Price: By signing up with MinistrySafe through Tithely you save $400 a year. With Tithely you get a Ministry Membership for free and you only have to pay for the Background Checks or Abuse Trainings you choose. 
  • Abuse Training Pricing: 
    - Sexual Abuse Awareness Training: $8
    - Skillful Screening Training: $50.00
    - Peer-to-Peer Sexual Abuse Training: $2.00
    - Parent/Guardian Training: $2.00
    - Sexual Abuse Awareness for Vulnerable Adult Programs: $8.00
    - Sexual Harassment Training: Supervisors: $5.00
    - Sexual Harassment Training: Staff Members: $5.00

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select the appropriate Child Safety Training Program.
   • MinistrySafe offers a variety of Child Safety Training programs, including:
     • Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
     • Skillful Screening Training
     • Peer-to-Peer Sexual Abuse Training
     • Parent/Guardian Training
     • Sexual Harassment Training
     • And many more.
       
2. Assign the Child Safety Training to your staff and volunteers.
   • Once you have selected the appropriate training programs, you can assign them to your staff and volunteers through the MinistrySafe platform.
     
3. Monitor the Completion of the Child Safety Training. 
   • You can track the progress of your staff and volunteers to ensure that they have completed the required training.

Child Safety Training Descriptions

• Sexual Abuse Awareness Training- our foundational Training– is intended for staff members and volunteers interacting with minors in any child-serving environment. Awareness Training equips staff members and volunteers to understand the facts and misconceptions related to child sexual abuse, including basic characteristics of an abuser, the grooming process of the offender and key indicators of child sexual abuse.
• Skillful Screening Training- This Training educates ministry supervisors and screening personnel about effective screening practices addressing child sexual abuse risk during the hiring and onboarding process for employees and volunteers.
• Peer-to-Peer Sexual Abuse Training- This Training equips child-serving staff members and volunteers to recognize the warning signs indicating a heightened risk of inappropriate sexual behaviors between children. This Training offers strategies to prevent Peer-to-Peer abuse, explores the relationship between peer sexual abuse and bullying behaviors, and addresses best practices in resolving issues between minors as they arise.
• Parent/Guardian Training- This Training equips parents with a basic understanding and awareness of child sexual abuse risk and the grooming process of the abuser. Parent/Guardian Training is not a substitute for Sexual Abuse Awareness Training, and should not be utilized as such by Ministries; this Training is intended as a resource for parents only.
• Sexual Harassment Training- This Training addresses sexual harassment prevention in the workplace and is aimed at workplace supervisors.
• Sexual Harassment Training: Staff Members- This Training addresses sexual harassment prevention in the workplace and is aimed at workplace staff members.
• Child Safety Workshop- The Child Safety Workshop describes how to build an effective Safety System to protect children from sexual abuse in church and ministry environments.
• Background Checks- This Training addresses common questions about the appropriate use of Background Checks as a screening element in an effective Safety System.
• Policies and Procedures- Learn how to create and implement effective Policies and Procedures addressing child sexual abuse risk in your Ministry.
• MinistrySafe Institute- MinistrySafe Institute provides seminary-level material aimed at ministry leaders who desire educational resources addressing child sexual abuse risk at a deeper, more comprehensive level.
• Reporting Child Sexual Abuse- This Training equips ministry leaders with important information regarding reporting child sexual abuse.
• AB506 (Current California Law) Training- Effective January 1, 2022, law in California created requirements for 'Youth Service Organizations' related to Training, Background Checks and Policies. This Training provides guidance as to WHO is impacted, WHAT is required, and HOW to comply.
• Third-Party Use of Facilities- Many Ministries allow outside use of their facilities by other Organizations or individuals. This generosity, however, must be balanced with the risk of third-party liability. This Training provides guidance concerning third-party use of facilities, supported by helpful forms.
• Agents and Underwriters Training- Equips agents, brokers and underwriters with the knowledge needed to effectively assess an insured's preparation for child sexual abuse risk.
• Sexual Abuse Awareness Training for Vulnerable Adults Programs- The risk of sexual abuse for individuals with disabilities is extremely high. Awareness Training equips staff members and volunteers with 'eyes to see' the abuser’s grooming process and key indicators of sexual abuse. As well, this Training explores why abuse reporting is so low in this demographic, how abuse unfolds, and signs of abuse in vulnerable populations.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

• Which training is right for my volunteers?
  • The "Sexual Abuse Awareness Training" is recommended for all staff and volunteers who interact with minors.
• Is there a training for parents?
  • Yes, the "Parent/Guardian Training" provides a basic understanding of the risks of child sexual abuse. However, it is not a substitute for the "Sexual Abuse Awareness Training" for volunteers.
• Do you offer training on legal compliance?
  • Yes, MinistrySafe offers training on specific state laws, such as California's AB506, as well as general training on reporting child sexual abuse.

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