Quick Links:
Note: These resources are provided for informational purposes only. Their presence here does not constitute an endorsement by Dove's Nest.
Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect by Jeanette Harder
Creating Child and Youth Protection Policies
Curriculum (child abuse and neglect; parenting)
Faith Denominational Statements and Guides
Recommended Reading (adult; children)
Creating Child and Youth Protection Policies:
- Abuse: Response and Prevention, Mennonite Central Committee, 2008.
- Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect (state by state summary of current statutes), Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016.
- GuideOne Center for Risk Management: Child Abuse Resources. 2017.
- Hammar, Richard, & Liautaud, Marian. (2008). Reducing the Risk: Keeping Your Ministry Safe from Child Sexual Abuse (3rd ed.). Christianity Today International.
- Harder, Jeanette. (2010). Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect. Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.
- Making Our Churches Safe for All: An Introduction to Abuse Prevention for Local Churches, United Church of Christ (UCC) Insurance Board, 2004.
- McClintock, Karen A. (2004), Preventing Sexual Abuse in Congregations: A Resource for Leaders. Herndon, VA: The Alban Institute.
- Melton, Joy Thornburg. (2008). Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth. Discipleship Resources.
- Patterson, John C. (2004). Staff Screening Tool Kit (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: The Nonprofit Risk Management Center.
- Patterson, John C., & Oliver, Barbara B. (2004). The Season of Hope: A Risk Management Guide for Youth-Serving Nonprofits. Washington, DC: The Nonprofit Risk Management Center.
- Tchividjian, Basyle & Berkovits, Shira M. (2017). The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries. Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press.
Worship
- Alston, Renee. (2004). Stumbling toward Faith.
- Bulletin insert (flier) for Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 - Child Abuse Prevention Month Kit for Churches (April) 2018
- Goerzen, Katherine. (2017). The Bible and Our Bodies: A Worship Series in Six Parts.
- Goerzen, Peter. (2013). Bringing Jesus Home. Father's Day sermon, Grace Hill Mennonite Church.
- Holderread Heggan, Carolyn. (1993). Affirmation of Faith.
- McNeil, Rebecca Z. (2012). I Know Jesus Loves Me (prayer).
- Morely, Janet. (1993). All Desires Known. Four short poems.
- Munro, Joyce. (1993). A Prayer in Three Parts. Inspired by Isaiah.
- Munro, Joyce. (1993). Prayer for the Smallest.
- Orr, David. (2013). Darkness to Light, Child Abuse Prevention Month sermon, First Mennonite Church.
- Penner, Carol. (2009). God Save the Children.
- Penner, Carol. (n.d.). Prayer for Children in Need. www.leadinginworship.com
- Penner, Carol. (n.d.). Prayers for Survivors of Abuse.
Preaching and Pastoral Care
- Allen, Jon G. (2005). Coping with Trauma: Hope Through Understanding.
- Carr, David. (2014). Holy Resilience: The Bible’s Traumatic Origins.
- Culp, Kristine. (2010). Vulnerability and Glory: A Theological Account.
- Grieb, A. Katherine. (October 27, 1999). "Vindication: The cross as good news for women." The Christian Century magazine. (subscription required)
- Jones, Serene. (2009). Trauma and Grace.
- Lipsky, Laura van Dernoot, and Connie Burk. (2009). Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others.
- Nouwen, Henri. (1972). The Wounded Healer.
- Nouwen, Henri. (1989). In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership.
- Sojo.net. 100 Sermons on Sexual and Domestic Violence.
- Thornton, Sharon G. (2002). Broken yet Beloved: A Pastoral Theology of the Cross.
- Vieth, Victor I. (2018). On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Words of Jesus
- Volf, Miroslav. (2006). The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World.
Curriculum
Child Abuse and Neglect:
- Let the Children Come: Preparing Faith Communities to End Child Abuse and Neglect. The audience for this book is Christians who are concerned about the safety and well-being of children. Church educators will be able to use this book to lead adult Sunday school classes on the role of our faith communities in ending child abuse and neglect. Church denominations will want to use this book as they raise awareness and provide training on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
- Circle of Grace. The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and youth to actively participate in creating a safe environment for themselves and others.
- Dealing with Abuse. Close to Home series (with study guide). Child abuse is much more widespread than we’d like to admit. At least one in three girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused by the time they are 18. Physical, verbal, and emotional abuse is also far too common. This pamphlet speaks primarily to adults and teenagers who seek healing from the wounds of childhood abuse. It highlights the Bible’s emphasis on God’s passionate concern for the well-being of children.
- Body and Soul: Healthy Sexuality and the People of God. (MennoMedia). Worship resources. Curriculum for adults and youth.
Parenting:
- Active Parenting
- Laura Markum's Aha! Parenting
- Center for the Improvement of Child Caring
- Nurturing Parenting Program
- Dove's Nest's Parenting for Prevention
- Parenting with Love and Logic (Becoming a Love and Logic Parent)
- Parenting Tools (Mennonite Central Committee)
- Positive Parenting
- Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP)
Faith Denominational Statements and Guides
- American Baptist Church, Resolution Against Sexual Exploitation of Children
- The Anglican Church of Canada, Sexual Misconduct Policy Applicable to National Staff and Volunteers
- Christian Reformed Church in North America, Safe Church - Child Safety, Responding to Abuse: A Toolkit for Churches
- Church of the Brethren, Child Protection
- Church of the Nazarene, Nazarene Safe: Guidlines for Creating a Safe Environment for God's Family
- The Episcopal Church, Model Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse
- Evangelical Covenant Church, Sexual Abuse
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, An ELCA Strategy for Responding to Sexual Abuse in the Church
- The Independent Fundamental Churches of America, Policy for Sex Offenders
- Mennonite Brethren (Canadian Conference), Executive Board Clarifies Position on Sexual Abuse
- Mennonite Church Eastern Canada, Reporting Sexual Misconduct
- Mennonite Church Canada, Volunteer Screening for a Safe Church Volunteer Screening Policy and Procedures Manual
- Seventh Day Adventist: Child Protection Resource Guide for Pastors
Mennonite Church USA:
- Resolution on Male Violence Against Women (1993)
- And No One Shall Make Them Afraid (1997)
- Ministerial Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedure (2000)
- Protecting and Nurturing Our Children and Youth Resolution (2013)
- Statement on Sexual Abuse Resolution (2015)
- Panel on Sexual Abuse Prevention
- Recognizing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct Poster (2018)
- New England Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Safe Church Resources
- Presbyterian Church USA, We Won't Let It Happen Here! Preventing Child Abuse in the Church
- Southern Baptist Convention, On Protecting Children from Abuse
- Unitarian Universalist, Balancing Acts - Keeping Children Safe in Congregations
- United Church of Christ, Making Our Churches Safe
- United Methodist Church, Safe Sanctuaries - Protecting Our Children and Youth Violence Against Women and Children; Sexual Ethics
- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Speakers and Trainers
(For more information about training options, click here. To request or schedule a speaker, contact Kathy Haake, kathy [at] dovesnest.net.
- Marlene Bogard, MA; Salem, OR
- Linda Gehman Peachey, MDiv, freelance writer and teacher; cofounder of Dove's Nest; member, East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church; Lancaster, PA
- Jeanette Harder, PhD, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Grace Abbott School of Social Work; Dove's Nest board president; member, First Mennonite Church; Lincoln, NE
- Jan Slabaugh, BS, MEd, early childhood education specialist and teacher; Mechanicsburg, PA
- Brenda Yoder, LMHC, counselor, writer, speaker, educator; Shipshewana, IN
- Amy Lynn Smith, LMSW, MATSJ, licensed social worker and minister, Nazerence Church; Rochester, NY
- Anna Groff, MPA, executive director, Dove's Nest; Tucson, AZ
- Melissa Rorabaugh Heise, MEd, MTS, teacher, licensed foster care provider; Pottstown, PA
- Carol Grace Hurst, PhD, MSW, LCSW, associate professor & program director of Social Work at Eastern Mennonite University; Crozet, VA
- Katherine Burkey Wiens, MEd, MS, author, speaker, educator; Newton, KS
- Glen Guyton, BS, MEd, director of Mennonite Church USA, speaker, writer, advocate for intercultural competency, member of National Speaker Association; San Antonio, TX
Training Videos
- Church Cares curriculum for leaders
- Dove's Nest: Circle of Grace Intro and Meditation (2:07 minute video)
- Dove's Nest: Two-Adult Rule (2:33 minute video)
- Dove's Nest: Circle of Grace in Multi-age Classrooms (2:29 minute video)
- Dove's Nest YouTube Channel
- Circle of Grace 2018 25-Minute Training Video
- Safe Sanctuaries Training, First Mennonite Church, Newton, Kansas
Marlene Bogard, Minister of Christian Nurture and Resource Library Director, Western District Conference of Mennonite Church USA, Former Dove's Nest Board Member
Organizations
Background Check Registries and Resources:
- United States Department of Justice, National Sex Offender Website
- Criminal Searches
- National Alert Registry
- First Advantage: Volunteers
- Verified Volunteers
- Ministry Safe
- Family Watch Dog
- Sexual Offenders
- Protect My Ministry: Background Checks for your Piece of Mind
- PA Family Support Alliance: PA Reporting and Clearances Laws
Faith-Based Organizations:
- Anabaptist Disabilities Network: ADNet supports church congregrations, families and individuals touched by disabilities to nurture inclusive communities.
- A Better Way
- Blue Sunday New Expressions in Child Abuse Prevention
- Circles of Support and Accountability: U.S. Canada
- Faith Trust Institute
- GRACE: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment
- MAP List: Mennonite Abuse Prevention
- Mennonite Central Committee Child Abuse
- Mennonite Central Committee, We Will Speak Out
- Mennonite Church Committee, SMAART
- Mennonite Church Eastern Canada: Sacred Trust
- MK Safety Net Resource and Advocate for Missionary Kids (MKs) and Third Culture Kids (TCKs)
- Our Stories Untold A Safe and Open Place to Discuss Sexualized Violence within Christianity and the Mennonite Church
- Religion and Violence eLearning (RAVE)
- Safe Church Ministry: Christian Reformed Church
- Samaritan Counseling Center SafeChurch
- Shepherd Heart Emotional Wellness among Clergy & Congregations
- Stop It Now! Child Abuse Prevention for Faith Communities
- Tamar's Voice
- VIRTUS Online
Insurance:
- Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Safety Library
- Brotherhood Mutual Abuse Prevention
- Church Mutual Safety Tips on a Sensitive Subject: Child Sexual Abuse
- GuideOne
- Protect My Ministry: Church Background Checks
Other Organizations:
- 1 in 6 (Support for Men)
- Anna Salter on Offenders
- Child Welfare Information Gateway
- Child Welfare League of America
- Convention on the Rights of the Child from the United Nations
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
- Darkness to Light
- Defend Innocence
- Early, Open, Often
- FRIENDS, National Resource Center for Child Abuse Prevention
- GenerationFive
- Healthy Families America
- Into Account: Support for Survivors Seeking Justice, Accountability and Recovery in Christian Contexts
- Jimmy Hinton
- Ministry Safe
- National Children's Alliance (Children's Advocacy Centers)
- National Exchange Club Foundation
- On the Wagon (Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Education)
- Prevent Child Abuse America
- PreventConnect: A CALCASA National Project
- Samaritan Counseling Center
- Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
- Thrivent Therapists
Recommended Reading
Adult:
- Adams, Carol, & Fortune, Marie M. (1995). Violence against Women and Children: A Christian Theological Sourcebook. New York: Continuum.
- De Becker, Gavin. (1999). Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane). New York, NY: Random House, Inc.
- Fortune, Marie M. (2005). Sexual Violence: The Sin Revisited. New York: The Pilgrim Press.
- Gooden, Darla. (2010). The Restorer of the Breach. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse.
- Harder, Jeanette, & Haynie, K. (2012). "Child Protection Policies and Practices in Mennonite Church USA congregations." Journal of Social Service Research, 38, 248–259.
- Levavi-Eilat, Sara. (2018). The Empowering Internet Safety Guide for Women. vpnMentor.
- Making the Call: Reporting Suspected Child Abuse in PA. Samaritan SafeChurch.
- Maryville University. Me Too: A Sexual Harassment Awareness Guide.
- Mennonite Central Committe (2016). Intersections: Child Protection.
- Mennonite Central Committee (2011). Understanding Sexual Abuse by a Church Leader or Caregiver. Second Edition.
- O'Neill, Erin M. O., Huckins, Stephanie, Gable, Jodi, & Harder, Jeanette. (2010). "Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect through Church and Social Service Collaboration," Social Work & Christianity, 37, 381–406.
- Poling, James Newton. (2003). Understanding Male Violence: Pastoral Care Issues. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press.
- Protection and Inclusion: Guide for Faith Communities on Safely Including Person Who Have Committed Sexual Offenses. Dove's Nest, 2018.
- Resources for Junior Youth and Youth. Dove's Nest, 2016.
- Safety for All Vulnerable Populations. Dove's Nest, 2015.
- Safety Contract: Chaperones. 2017.
- Stutzman, Ervin. (2015). Showing Care for Victims of Sexual Abuse. Mennonite Church USA.
Children:
- Anderson, Hans Christian, & Gilmore, Jr., Stanley F. (2010). The Little Match Girl. Old Line Publishing.
- Cook, Julia. (2011). The Bubble Wrap Queen. National Center for Youth Issues.
- Dietzel, Mary. (2000). My Very Own Book About Me: A Personal Safety Book. ACT For Kids.
- Feigh, Alison. (2008). I Can Play It Safe. Free Spirit Publishing.
- Federico, Julia. (2009). Some Parts are NOT for Sharing. Tate Publishing.
- Freeman, Lory. (1986). Loving Touches. Parenting Press, Inc.
- Holcomb, Justin & Lindsey. (2015). God Made All of Me. Greensboro, NC: New Groth Press.
- Holmes, Margaret M. (2000). A Terrible Thing Happened: A Story for Children Who Have Witnessed Violence or Trauma. Magination Press.
- Hunter, Naomi. (2015). A Secret Safe to Tell. Jo Jo Publishing.
- Johnsen, Karen. (1986). The Trouble with Secrets. Parenting Press.
- King, Kimberly. (2016). I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private. Boulden Publishing.
- Kleven, Sandy. (1998). The Right Touch. Illumination Arts Publishing.
- Sanders, Jayneen. (2016). My Body! What I Say Goes! Educate2Empower Publishing.
- Simeone, Adrianne. (2018). My Body is Special and Private. The Mama Bear Affect.
- Spelman, Cornelia Maude. (2000). Your Body Belongs to You. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
- Starishevsky, Jill. (2009). My Body Belongs to Me. Safety Star Media.
- Walvoord, Linda. (1992) My Body is Private. Albert Whitman and Company.
- Wintermote, Jennie. (2017). Children's Books for Child Abuse Prevention Month.