For Churches

These resources will educate and assist churches in setting up proper prevention systems as well as creating environments of care for victims and survivors.

Books:
The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches & Ministries
Basyle Tchividjian and Shira M. Berkovits

On Guard: Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse at Church
Deepak Reju

Becoming a Church That Cares Well for the Abused
Brad Hambrick

A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing
Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer

Reporting Information for MD/DE:
County-specific phone numbers for reporting in Maryland
Reporting information for Delaware
Darkness To Light

Trauma-Informed Biblical Counselors in Maryland:
CentrePointe Counseling
Centrepointecounseling.org
800-491-5369
info@centrepointecounseling.org
Trauma-Informed Counselors:
Tom Rodgerson
Carolyn Buresh
Julie Pratt
Cass Mitchell
Terry Bates
Israel Garcia
Karen Richardson

Led Life, LLC
Dr. Bergina Isbell
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/psychiatrists/bergina-brickhouse-isbell-ellicott-city-md/350151
507-533-5433
Support@ledlifellc.com
Trauma and PTSD
Cognitive Processing Therapy
Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Life Counseling Center
lifecounselingcenter.org
2600 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville, MD 21104
443-419-3884
lccadmin@chapelgate.org
Jeff McMullin

Christian Trauma Counseling
Esther Smith
christiantraumacounseling.com
443-312-2983
info@christiantraumacounseling.com

Websites:

• MinistrySafe – Use this landing page to receive a discount for MD/DE churches.
• Protect My Ministry– Use this landing page to receive a discount for MD/DE churches.
• GRACE Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment
• Caring Well
• Church Cares
• Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention
• Brotherhood Mutual
• Church Mutual
• Maryland Child Advocacy Centers (for each county) – These centers provide a one-stop location for families recovering from the devastation of child abuse by providing forensically sound interviews, scheduling medical examinations, on-site therapy, and follow-up services. All of these services are provided free of charge. A great place to assist families with where to turn when abuse has occurred inside or outside of the church.

PDF downloads, including sample documents:

• Caring Well Hiring Guide
• Sexual Abuse Prevention Assessment for Churches – Church Mutual
• Dealing with Sex Offenders – This fact sheet addresses the delicate situation in which a congregation learns that a convicted sex offender has been attending its services or activities.
• Registered Sex Offenders In Ministry – Brotherhood Mutual
• Response Plan for Sexual Abuse Against a Minor – Brad Hambrick
• Sample Application for Volunteers and Employees
• Sample Volunteer Application – Youth
• Sample Code of Conduct – Youth
• Sample Code of Conduct – Adults
• Sample Policies and Procedure for Children’s and Youth Ministry