PAWLEYS ISLAND S.C. (WPDE) — Pawleys Island Community Church says it uses a five-part safety system for its children’s programs, including background checks, sexual abuse prevention training and monitoring and oversight.
The information is posted on the church’s website in a section about safety for its school and children’s programs.
According to the church, its safety system uses MinistrySafe and includes five components:
- Awareness training to teach staff members and volunteers to recognize grooming behaviors.
- A screening process to train hiring and screening personnel to recognize high-risk responses.
- Policies and procedures intended to balance ministry goals with risks associated with children’s programming.
- Background checks to check for criminal records or past concerning behavior.
- Monitoring and oversight to monitor supervision, training compliance, and system accountability.
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The church states that all staff members and volunteers serving in PICC Kids and PICC Student are required to pass a multi-point, in-depth background check and complete sexual abuse prevention training.
The church also says it uses a check-in system for PICC Kids that includes parent-and-child matching, printed name tags and pickup tags for releasing children from classrooms.
Members of the church also received an email containing details on the PICC Kids ministry.
The email states that the leaders and elders of PICC have strengthened their protection policies and procedures.
Reinforcing that background checks and training have always been required to volunteer.
“Background checks and training have always been required to volunteer in PICC Kids, but we are now even more committed to ensuring we are providing the safest and most secure environment for children in our care.” Said PICC in the email.
PICC Kids ministry will resume on Sunday.
According to the information posted by the church, areas of its children’s building are monitored to ensure that only approved staff and volunteers, along with parents who have checked in their children, are allowed into the PICC Kids area.
The church’s website information outlines the safety measures it says are in place for its children’s programs.
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