Reducing the Risk Certificate and Safety Award Programs

Offered through the Institute of Church Safety

NOTICE: On December 31, 2008 the Reducing the Risk Certificate Program will be discontinued and any outstanding Test Units you have will expire; however, please note similar content will be available in a different format with your membership. Please use any existing Test Units you have for the Certificate Program by December 31, 2008. Thank you for protecting your ministry and children through ReducingtheRisk.com. For questions please contact RTRcustserv@christianitytoday.com.

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• The Institute of Church Safety
• Why the Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse Programs are Important to Churches
• The Certificate Programs in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse
• The Safety Award in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse
• Tests, Pass Rates and Notification of Results
• Using a Test Proctor
• Fees and Discounts
• Purchasing Additional Test Units
• Enrollment

The Institute of Church Safety [top]

 The Institute of Church Safety, sponsored by Christian Ministry Resources, provides opportunities for learners to complete Certificate and Award Programs through online, self-directed study. Completing these programs can elevate the practice of risk management within a church or ministry. In addition, those who complete the programs earn a Certificate or an Award in the area of study which they have completed.

Why the Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse Programs are Important to Churches [top]

The Certificate and Award programs in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse enable churches and ministries to provide accountable training to key employees and volunteers. This is important for three reasons. First, it enhances the level of knowledge that staff members have to reduce risks that can hurt individuals and harm ministry. Second, it helps demonstrate the church's commitment to safety, and makes parents feel better about having their children participate in church activities. Third, as community standards change regarding the care of children, it is increasingly important for church leaders to provide adequate levels of training to any individual who works with children or youth. This becomes a critical concern if a child is injured and a church faces an allegation of negligence and must prove it has engaged in reasonable care.

The Certificate Programs in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse [top]

The four Certificate Programs described below are available for both paid and volunteer workers. To complete a Certificate Program, a learner must pass an online examination in the specific area of study. In preparing for the exam, the learner should complete the online seminar material for the specific Certificate Program. Each online seminar also contains an interactive self-evaluation which helps prepare fore the exam. The online seminar material for each Certificate Program is available in the Online Training Seminars for Church Workers section of this web site. Below is a description of each of the Certificate Programs.

1. Understanding the Nature and Impact of Child Sexual Abuse and the Church. This Certificate Program requires completion of a 20-minute test that exams the nature and impact of child abuse, the profile of molesters, why churches are vulnerable, and the legal theories used to prove liability. The program is designed for any individual who works with children or youth. To prepare for this test, individuals should study the following two seminars: (1) Understanding the Problem of Child Sexual Abuse and the Church, and (2) Church Liability for Child Sexual Abuse. The comprehensive self-evaluation for each seminar should be completed in preparation for taking the test.

2. Selecting and Screening Workers to Reduce the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse. This Certificate Program requires completion of a 20-minute test. The program is designed for individuals with leadership responsibilities for selecting and screening both paid employees and volunter workers. To prepare for this test, individuals should study the following seminar: Selecting and Screening Church Staff Members to Work with Children. The comprehensive self-evaluation for each seminar should be completed in preparation for taking the test.

3. Principles of Supervision to Reduce the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse. This Certificate Program requires completion of a 20-minute test. The program is designed for both paid and volunteer staff members who work with youth or children. The test covers the behavioral profile of molesters, general versus specific supervision, and assessing levels of risk using the concepts of isolation, accountability, power, and activities. To prepare for this test, individuals should study the following seminar: Principles of Supervising Children and Youth. The comprehensive self-evaluation for each seminar should be completed in preparation for taking the test.

4. Responding to and Reporting Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse. This Certificate Program requires completion of a 20-minute test. The program is designed for any individual who works with youth or children. The test covers the differences between mandatory and permissive reporters, when a report must be made, and factors to consider in making a report. To prepare for this test, individuals should study the following two seminars: (1) Reporting Child Abuse, and (2) Responding to Allegations of Abuse. The comprehensive self-evaluation for each seminar should be completed in preparation for taking the test.

The Safety Award in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse [top]

The Safety Award in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse represent a more comprehensive level of study than the individual Certificate Programs. Individuals can complete the Safety Award in Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse by passing a single more comprehensive 50-minute examination that covers all the material in one test. The Safety Award is designed for individuals who have leadership responsibilities in working with youth and children. To prepare for this test, individuals should study the following seminars: (1) Understanding the Problem of Child Sexual Abuse and the Church; (2) Church Liability for Child Sexual Abuse; (3) Selecting and Screening Church Staff Members to Work with Children; (4) Principles of Supervising Children and Youth; (5) Reporting Child Abuse; and (6) Responding to Allegations of Abuse. The comprehensive self-evaluation for each seminar should be completed in preparation for taking the test.

Tests, Pass Rates and Notification of Results [top]

The tests for both the Certificate Programs and the Safety Award consist of 4-part multiple choice questions. The tests are randomly constructed from a database of test questions. No two tests are the same. Individuals may take the tests as many times as needed in order to pass, but no more than twice in one day. To pass a Certificate Program, a score of 80% correct is required. The test consists of ten questions, and participants have 20 minutes to complete the test. To pass a Safety Award, a score greater than 75% correct is required. The test consists of 25 questions, and participants have 50 minutes to complete the test.

At the conclusion of the test, the participant receives his or her score. If a passing mark has been achieved, the participant may print out the Certificate or Safety Award. He or she also receives an e-mail notification. In addition, notification will also be sent to any other individual who was designated at the time of enrollment to be notified after successful completion of the program. Some churches may desire notification to validate that an individual has passed the program.

Key point. Some churches may require e-mail notification when a participant has successfully completed a program. In a such a case, the mandatory e-mail notification option should be selected at the time test units are purchased. The participant must also agree to the notification, otherwise, he or she will not be permitted to take the test. You may also select an optional notification preference, which leaves the decision to the participant, or no notification.

If the participant fails the examination, he or she receives a list of seminar lessons from which missed questions were based. This provides the participant guidance on areas that may need additional study. A participant who fails may take up to two examinations per day. Each test is different. Tests may be taken as many times as needed to complete the program successfully.

Key point. A participant should complete only one program at a time. The Participant ID will remain active until the program has been completed successfully. At that time, the participant is free to select a different test.

Using a Test Proctor [top]

Some individuals, churches, or ministries may desire to use a proctor to increase the accountability of the examination. The option of using a proctor is available on all examinations at no additional expense. However, to be available, the proctor option must be selected at the time of purchasing the test units. Here's how it works.

At the time of purchasing test units, a Proctor option can be selected. If selected, a unique Proctor ID is emailed to the identified proctor. Then at the time of taking the test, the participant has the option of taking either a proctored exam or an exam that is not proctored. If the proctored option is selected, the proctor must be present to enter the unique Proctor ID before the exam will appear online. The Certificate or Award and the e-mail notification will then note the Proctor ID. No Proctor ID appears on a Certificate or Award that is not proctored.

Key point. Groups or individuals that select the Proctor option are not locked into the use of a proctor. It simply provides the option of using a proctor each time a test is taken. The final decision to use a proctor occurs at the time of the test. On the other hand, if the proctor option is not selected at the time of purchasing the test units, it cannot be added later.

Key point. It is the responsibility of the organization that purchases the test units to oversee the use of a proctor.

Fees and Discounts [top]

The fees for the Certificate Programs and Safety Award vary based upon the number of units purchased at the time of enrollment. A Certificate Program equals 1 unit and a Safety Award equals 2.5 units. Many churches and individuals will desire to purchase multiple units in order to qualify for discounted rates. The fees are listed below:

Upon completion of the Enrollment Form to purchase test units, you are issued a Participant ID which has a value equal to the number of units purchased. Each time the Participant ID is used to select a Certificate Program or the Safety Award, it decreases in value based upon the value of the program selected. Furthermore, more than one individual can use the same Participant ID. Our testing program tracks each individual user based upon both the Participant ID and the user's e-mail address. Below are a few examples that illustrate the purchase and use of varying units.

Example 1. An individual purchases 1 unit for $10. This enables one person to select one Certificate Program. The unit expires after the person successfully completes the online test.

Example 2. An individual purchases 2.5 units for $25. This enables one person to select the Safety Award program. The units expire after the person successfully completes the online test.

Example 3. A church purchases 10 units for $65. The 10 units can be used in a variety of combinations. The church may desire that 10 different people each complete an online Certificate Program. Those Certificate Programs can be the same or different. The church could also use the 10 units for two Safety Awards plus five Certificate Programs. The key point is that the units can be used in any combination of Certificates and Safety Awards, and for one or more people. Each time a person enrolls, the Participant ID decreases in value until it has been completely used. Individual participants are tracked based upon the Participant ID and the participant's unique e-mail address.

Purchasing Additional Test Units [top]

Once you have obtained a Participant ID, you can add additional test units to it at any time, even if it has expired. This enables a church or ministry to keep and use one permanent Participant ID. Each time you select a test, you will be told how many units are remaining on your Participant ID.

To add additional units, select the <i>Purchase Additional Test Units</i> button. You will be asked to enter your current Participant ID along with your email address. The email address must be the same one that was used when you originally enrolled in the program.  You will then be able to select how many units you want to purchase, which will then be added to the value of your Participant ID.

Enrollment [top]

Enrollment consists of a two-step process.

Step 1: Purchase the number of desired units.

Complete the online enrollment form in order to obtain a Participant ID with the number of units you desire. At this point you do not need to identify anyone that will actually be using the Participant ID.

Step 2: Enroll for a specific program.