Child Safety

The vision of SIM is “to see a witness to Christ’s love where He is least known, disciples of Jesus expressing God’s love in their communities, and Christ-centered churches among all peoples.”  This vision includes caring for and showing God’s love to those who often cannot care for themselves, the vulnerable.  (Psalm 68:5).

We believe that all people, including children, are valuable and worthy of respect and care because they are made in the image of God.  The Lord Jesus himself expressed the value of children and our responsibility to protect them (Matt. 18, Mark 9).

Children are vulnerable, and therefore require special care and attention to prevent them from being harmed.  We recognize that harm may lead to serious injury, whether physical, emotional, or sexual.  Harm may be intentional or unintentional, may come from a parent, another adult, a child, or even from a child’s own actions.

SIM USA’s passion is to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to hard places.  We value being biblically grounded, kingdom-focused, and intentionally relational.  Being intentionally relational includes seeking excellence in the care, nurture, and protection of children and young people.

Therefore, SIM believes that it has a responsibility as an organization, before God, to safeguard the welfare of all children within its care by earnestly striving to protect them from harm, and seriously addressing concerns and reports of possible Child Safety issues regarding:

• the children of SIM USA workers.
• any child who may have been harmed by any SIM USA worker, ministry or project, occurring in the past or present.

SIM USA expects every individual (child and adult) to be treated with dignity, care and respect.

SIM USA will not tolerate child abuse of any kind.

SIM USA will seek to reduce the risk of harm to children under the care of SIM USA and to reduce the risk of misconduct towards children by its workers.

To achieve these objectives, SIM USA will implement the SIM USA Child Safety Principles and Practices which outlines its Child Safety Program, including the following:

• Prevention Strategies that incorporate safe recruitment procedures, awareness training, a Code of Conduct to provide clear expectations, and monitoring of SIM USA workers

• Response Strategies that include guidelines for reporting and responding to Child Safety concerns, disclosures, or allegations.

 

Revised May 27, 2020

The Child Safety Team promotes the safety of children and the protection of SIM workers through prevention and response strategies that fulfill our Biblical, legal and ethical responsibilities, thereby helping to preserve the integrity of SIM USA. If you have any questions, concerns or would like more information regarding SIM’s Child Safety Program, please feel free to contact any of the following people:

Jason Hazell – SIM International Child Safety Coordinator
Jody Hilt –SIM International Child Safety Specialist
Mary Decker – SIM USA Child Safety Advocate