To help make our churches safe from abuse, we must be proactive.

This is a watershed moment in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention, and our hope and prayer is that Essentials: Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response will bring about generational change—that churches of every size, all across our convention, would actually implement these five steps and thus see countless numbers of children, students, and vulnerable adults spared from the horror of sexual abuse, respond well when incidents do happen, and be a safe and caring place for those who have experienced the trauma of abuse, whether inside or outside the church.

While the answers to these questions are complex, this guidebook and the corresponding video training sessions are designed to provide general principles that can be a starting point for church leaders who are working to implement effective abuse prevention and response policies and practices, no matter the size of the church.

Course curriculum

    1. Introduction Video

    2. Introduction

    3. Download the full ARTIF Essentials Book

    4. Pre-Course Assessment

    1. Train Video

    2. Train & Next Steps

    3. Train FAQs

    4. Supplement 1: Chart of Providers

    5. Train Quiz

    1. Screen Video

    2. Screen & Next Steps

    3. Screen FAQs

    4. Supplement 2: Sample Application

    5. Supplement 3: Sample Reference Check Form

    6. Supplement 4: Background Check Authorization Form

    7. Supplement 5: Red and Yellow Flag Offenses

    8. Supplement 6: Internet and Social Media Check Guidelines

    9. Supplement 7: Sample Interview Questions for Adult and Youth Volunteers

    10. Screen Quiz

    1. Protect Video

    2. Protect & Next Steps

    3. Protect FAQs

    4. Supplement #13: Sample Policies and Procedures

    5. Protect Quiz

    1. Report Video

    2. Report & Next Steps

    3. Report FAQs

    4. Supplement 8: Suspected Child Abuse Incident Report Form

    5. Supplement #12: Sample Abuse Response Plan

    6. Report Quiz

    1. Care Video

    2. Talking with a Victim #1

    3. Talking with a Victim #2

    4. Talking with a Victim #3

    5. Talking with an Alleged Perpetrator #1

    6. Talking with an Alleged Perpetrator #2

    7. Talking with an Alleged Perpetrator #3

    8. Care & Next Steps

    9. Care Module

    10. Care FAQs

    11. Supplement 9: Guiding Principles of Victim Advocacy

    12. Supplement 10: How to Search for Reputable Counselors

    13. Supplement 11: Resources for Caring for Victims/Survivors

    14. Care Quiz

About this course

  • Free
  • 5 Lessons
  • Downloadable Resources

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