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STANDARDS

Update: 22 January 2021

The Legal Review Team and the Expert Panel (drafting committee) have finalized the child safety standards and will shortly present to the ECAP Board of Directors. Currently the Board is reviewing the accreditation program which has been developed in collaboration with Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) in preparation for beta testing Spring 2021. A diverse selection of ministries will be invited to beta test the accreditation program before being launched publicly.

Check back to this page in the coming weeks for the public review and comment phase of the standards process.

A team of experts including investigators, attorneys, pastors, risk managers, school leadership, victim advocates, and abuse prevention experts have been assembled to establish abuse prevention standards in ministry. Spearheading our team of experts is attorney, Theresa Sidebotham. Theresa speaks around the country on the topic of abuse prevention and has led numerous abuse investigations. Sally Wagenmaker, board president of the Christian Legal Society, is serving as ECAP general counsel and leading the Legal Review Team.

The formal standards process will require a legal review, a public review and comment phase, and board approval. These criterions will be made public as the basis for the accreditation program. Organizations that demonstrate compliance will receive the ECAP “stamp of approval” and be visibly recognized as members. Accredited members will undergo periodic review and a process will be established to evaluate incidents or allegations of abuse.

Initially, the expert panel met prior to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) Caring Well Conference on October 1-3, 2019 in Dallas to draft child protection standards for the evangelical community.

Expert Panel (Drafting Committee):

  • Chair: Theresa Sidebotham, esq. Telios Law, Monument, CO
  • Jeremy Herron, Director Providence Kids, Providence Church, Frisco, TX
  • Dee Dee Mayer, Associate Head of School for Spiritual Life, Oaks Christian School, Westlake Village, CA
  • Rick Braschler, Director of Safety and Risk, Kanakuk Kamps, Branson, MO
  • Melodie Bissell, President & CEO, Plan to Protect, Ontario, Canada
  • Ed Sherrill, Executive VP, Red Barn Risk Consulting, LLC
  • Scott Beard, esq. Deputy Director, Crime Victim Compensation, South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Columbia, SC
  • Randy Coffman, retired forensic nurse and police investigator, Andover, KS

The Legal Review Team:

  • Sally Wagenmaker, General Counsel, ECAP
  • Robert Showers, Simms Showers, LLP
  • Cindee Coffee, General Counsel, Southeast Christian Church
  • Alexandra M. Ableitner, Corporate Attorney, Church Mutual
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