SPONSOR TRAINING FOR CHURCHES

	training manual
	exam
	answer key
	sponsor guidelines & expectations/sponsor form prscc
	powerplus youth camp
	pineywoods girls camp
	aim boys camp
	powerplus preteen camp
	over the edge preteen camp
	tryon-evergreen/ neches river preteen camp

In an effort to comply with the Youth Camp Act (SB990) enacted by the Texas State Legislature, Pineywoods requires all sponsors and staff to successfully complete Sponsor Training and provide the necessary documents to the camp.

This law governing all resident youth camps in the state of Texas mandates the following regarding all sponsors and staff:

• Printed proof of a current annual criminal and sex offender background check (run both checks annually).

• Each individual serving in a position involving contact with campers at a youth camp must successfully complete an approved sexual abuse and child molestation awareness training and examination program before attending camp.

In order for Pineywoods Baptist Encampment to fully comply with these regulations, we must rely on you, the church, to be vigilant in your sponsor selection and thoroughly go through the below process to ensure the safety of our children and youth.  Unfortunately, in today’s society we must do everything in our power to protect them from harm.  State law requires that adults complete the training every two years, but Pineywoods encourages you to do it every year to keep the information, warning signs, and other protective measures at the forefront of your mind and your sponsors’ minds.  We ask you to take every possible step to verify that the sponsors coming to camp are who they say that they are and that they are above reproach with our students.

Should Pineywoods be audited by the Texas Department of State Health Services regarding our compliance with this statute, we will be requesting proof of compliance from your individual church.  Accurate record-keeping and updated filing is a must.  Any monetary fines imposed upon Pineywoods due to the lack of compliance by a particular church will be passed on to the errant church.  Following are detailed instructions to comply:

1. Perform and print a thorough criminal and sexual offender background check on each potential sponsor (including ministers).  This can easily be accomplished via the internet, but will cost a few dollars.  Pineywoods uses www.publicdata.com to screen our own employees.  This site allows you to pay only $9.95 for 400 look-ups.  Churches need to run both a separate criminal check and a sex offender check for each name a sponsor has used throughout his/her life.  Be certain to print both the page showing what the search is for and the search results page for each search conducted.  You must maintain background checks FOR THE CURRENT YEAR FOR EACH SPONSOR.  Keep these printed copies of background checks on file AT YOUR CHURCH.

2. Have adults accompanying children and/or youth to camp individually view the sexual abuse and child molestation awareness training video below or schedule a time for all of them to view it together.  A printable Training Manual is also available to accompany the video.  DVD's are available upon request.

3. Have each adult take the exam and return it for grading.  A password-protected answer key is available for church leaders.  Each potential sponsor must score a minimum of 70% on the exam in order to be a sponsor at camp.

4. Provide a copy of the Sponsor Guidelines & Expectations/Sponsor Form (PRSCC) to each potential sponsor.  Encourage him/her to fully understand the Sponsor Guidelines & Expectations document and to bring it to camp.

5. Submit the completed Sponsor Form (PRSCC) to Pineywoods for each sponsor coming to camp.  The church pastor, youth minister, or other member of the ministerial staff must complete the Pastor Reference portion.  The sponsor must sign and date his/her portion.  You or another member of the ministerial staff must complete the certificate portion.  You must provide Pineywoods with this document before your sponsors will be allowed to serve.

6. Keep the following items on file AT YOUR CHURCH:

• The completed and graded exam.

• A copy of the Sponsor Form (PRSCC)

• The criminal and sex offender background checks.

All sponsor documents on file at your church must be kept for a minimum of two years after the sponsor has served at Pineywoods.

 

Remember these measures are required by state law for each adult coming to camp (including ministers).  This program is required to ensure the safety and welfare of children and youth in today’s society.  Please be thorough in your church’s compliance with these measures.