Illinois Great Rivers Conference 2025 Journal-Yearbook
and district sponsored events in which participants include children under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults. Various conference entities, such as Camping and Retreat Ministries, may develop procedures specifically related to events sponsored by that entity so long as they contain provisions to meet all the procedures outlined below. Selection and Recruitment of Workers Four-Years-Older Rule : All volunteers and staff supervising children under 18 will be at least four years older than the oldest participant. Youth age 14-17 and young adults who do not meet the four-years-older rule may serve as staff/volunteers once they have completed training, provided that they serve under the supervision of one or more adults who do meet the four-years-older rule. No one under 18 and no one who does not meet the four-years-older rule will be given sole responsibility for a group of children. Criminal Background Checks : Prior to beginning service, each prospective staff member or volunteer must complete an application form and an authorization for criminal background check. All criminal background checks for volunteers and staff of district and conference events must be run through the conference office. Criminal background checks for volunteers and seasonal or single-event staff will be repeated annually. The conference, in its discretion, may allow a person to serve as a volunteer whose local church presents on the person’s behalf evidence of a criminal background check generated within the previous twelve months. Operational Procedures Two Adult Rule: During all district and conference events, one adult staff or volunteer will not be alone with a child or vulnerable adult. For small group activities in which one adult staff or volunteer supervises each group, groups are to meet in open areas, ideally in sight or sound of another group. At no time will a child or vulnerable adult participant be left unsupervised during an event. Open Door Rule : All district and conference activities with children under 18 or vulnerable adults shall be held in open areas or rooms with windows in the doors. Where this is not possible, doors should be left open. Safety gates or similar measures may be necessary to protect young children’s safety where doors must be left open. Where it is necessary for a participant to speak privately with a staff member or volunteer, such conversations should take place in an open area in sight of others. Where this is not possible, a second adult should be alerted to monitor the conversation. Social Media : Any social media group set up in the name of a conference camp, youth event, or other ministry shall have at least two adult staff/volunteer administrators. Social media communication, texting, or other electronic communication between staff/volunteers and children under 18 should be confined to public posts or copied to another adult leader and/or the participant’s parent. Staff/volunteers will not post photos or personal information regarding participants under 18 years of age (to whom they are not related) on a personal social media page or website, even with permission. Special Situations : When individuals under 18 years of age attend an event not designed for children or youth (or unexpectedly accompany an adult to an event designed for adults), then those in charge of the event cannot be expected to have had screening of volunteers or staff or appropriate supervision requirements established, nor can they be expected to assume responsibility for such attendees. Transportation: Written permission from a parent/legal guardian is required for conference and district events requiring transportation during the event itself. This
320 Historical and Official Information
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