Clarity Camp ministers to children and their families in the United States. It is Clarity Camp’s intent to promote a safe and loving environment where children are valued, protected and encouraged in their faith.
Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. Establishing a common set of expectations will serve to inform parents, adults, and children regarding behaviors which are either to be practiced or avoided in order to protect children in our ministries from abuse. This will also serve to protect adults caring for children from false or invalid reports of inappropriate behavior.
The most effective way to prevent abuse of children is to be vigilant. Within our ministry and facilities, our safeguards will reduce the risk of inappropriate behavior and demonstrate wisdom in healthy interactions with children.
To guide us in these efforts, Clarity has developed this Code of Conduct and established an Internal Complaint channel at childsafety@claritycamp.com.
A person who is under eighteen years old, and sometimes also known as a “minor”; the plural is children.
Child Emotional Abuse
Child emotional abuse “is a repeated pattern of parental or caregiver behavior that communicates to the child that he or she is worthless, unloved, unwanted, or endangered. This behavior can impair a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth. It may include constant criticism, threats, rejection, or the withholding of love, support, or guidance.”
Child Physical Abuse
“Child physical abuse is non-accidental physical injury that is inflicted by a parent, caregiver, or other person who has responsibility for the child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether or not the caregiver intended to hurt the child and can result from severe discipline or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age or condition. Physical abuse may occur as the result of a single episode or of repeated episodes and can range in severity from minor marks and bruising to death.” A non-accidental physical injury does not include appropriate medical care, appropriate restraints, or appropriate discipline.
Child Safety Coordinator
Person responsible for managing child safety at the organization.
Child Safety Program
The combination of governance, oversight, policies, committees, and operations that work together to ensure child safety and response within the organization.
Child Sexual Abuse
“Child sexual abuse generally refers to sexual acts, sexual exploitation, or sexually motivated behaviors involving children. It includes both touching offenses, such as fondling or sexual intercourse, and non-touching offenses, such as exposing a child to pornographic materials. It can also involve varying degrees of violence and emotional trauma.” State laws typically define this term similarly.
Code of Conduct
A set of biblically based rules or guidelines for behavior in a specific context. For example, an organization should have a Code of Conduct for employees and volunteers during the period that they work with or volunteer for the organization.
Mandated Reporter
A person who is legally obligated to report suspected or known child abuse, as provided by state or other applicable laws, and typically arising out of the person’s professional training or specific responsibilities (e.g., a nurse, doctor, social worker, or more broadly as identified in some state laws).
