Abuse and Misconduct

Foothill Unitarian Church seeks to provide a safe and secure environment for all who engage in our community, with special care for the children, youth and vulnerable adults who participate in our program and activities. By implementing the practices described in this handbook, our goal is to protect our community from incidents of misconduct or inappropriate behavior while protecting our staff and volunteers from false accusations. 

We strive to ensure the existence of a caring religious community, free from violence and abuse of all kinds including intimidation, coercion, sexual harassment and physical and sexual abuse. By adopting this policy, we declare our support and concerted effort to create a life-affirming culture and safe environment for children, youth and adults.

This policy has been written with the following objectives: 

• To provide guidelines and procedures that will promote a safe and caring environment for all who participate in programs offered by Foothills Unitarian Universalist Church. 

• To provide guidelines to decrease the risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse while an infant, child or youth is in the care of a Foothills Unitarian Universalist Church staff person or volunteer and for vulnerable adults who are visited or transported by volunteers.

• To provide guidelines and procedures regarding the selection, training and supervision of adult staff and volunteers. 

• To provide a caring and appropriate response to victims of abuse. - To provide guidelines for dealing with a report of abuse and for communicating with authorities and with the press in such an event.

•  To help reduce Foothills Unitarian Church's exposure to risk and liability in our programs.