Family Forum by Mary Ellen Cochrane Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church is located in the Denbigh suburb of Newport News, Virginia. The church has a strong 125-year history and a current membership of 1200, including a large enthusiastic youth group, young working families, singles, young adults, families with growing children and youth, and retirees. Members are from diverse economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds. Children and youth of the church and community are of utmost importance. In January 1997, Warwick Memorial was introduced to "Children and Poverty: An Episcopal Initiative" issued by the Council of Bishops. Like churches across the U.S., we were challenged to study and to attempt to address some of the needs of children, youth, and families in our community and beyond. Statistics from the previous year showed that the Newport News percentage of families with children headed by a single female was nine percent higher than the Virginia average of seventeen percent. The percentage of Newport News families living below the poverty level was four percent higher than the Virginia average of eight percent. Faced with numbers like these, the congregation decided to find ways to reach out not only to the children we know well, but also to others living in our community. Warwick Memorial's "Family Forum" was established in March 1997. To date, Family Forum has sponsored twenty-four projects benefitting children and youth; for example: We provide dinners for families who attend ongoing abuse prevention seminars in an effort to encourage them to complete the seminars. The committee supports church members who volunteer as reading tutors at an elementary school in an effort to help children whose skills are below average. We support members who create clothing and layettes for premature babies born at a local hospital. Clothing in tiny sizes is often unavailable or too expensive for the parents. We began and support a Sunday school class for children with mental or developmental disabilities. Three families have joined the church because their special-needs children have a class especially designed for them. Family Forum joins with our board of trustees and United Methodist Men to identify and correct areas within our church building and its immediate surroundings that may need to be altered to better protect our children and youth. We distribute printed information about "Prevent Child Abuse Virginia" and keep the congregation informed of state legislation that affects children and youth. In July 2000, Family Forum and the congregation welcomed and continue to help a refugee family from Sudan. One of the most important Family Forum projects has been writing and implementing Warwick Memorial's "Child/Youth Protection Policy." At first, it was difficult for the congregation to comprehend that abuse of children and youth can occur within the church family and in the church facility. However, statistics confirm the existence of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in churches. It is the responsibility of every church member to teach children and youth that each one is God's beloved child! We are responsible for modeling a community of love where each child is honored and protected. As children and youth enter the church doors, we must be able to say to them: This is the place where you are protected, loved, honored, and appreciated. Children must be able to depend on the adults whom they encounter within the walls of the church. Family Forum and Warwick Memorial's Associate Pastor, the Rev. Douglas Forrester, wrote its "Child/Youth Protection Policy" based on an example provided by Carole Vaughn, director of the Virginia Conference Office of Discipleship and Children's Ministries. The policy includes a purpose statement; a biblical foundation statement; an outline of the Virginia Child Abuse Law; definitions of the types of child abuse; a lengthy section on reducing the risk of child abuse; instructions on reporting child abuse, child neglect, or other child endangerment; and instructions on policy review. Each person who works with children or youth at Warwick Memorial must attend a three-hour seminar led by the Rev. Forrester. The seminar addresses child/youth abuse statistics and definitions, the importance of responding immediately and seriously to the crisis of child abuse in our community, and a thorough understanding of Warwick Memorial's policy. Afterward, each participant must submit to a statewide criminal background check and a Virginia Social Services child abuse check. Everyone who works with our children/youth understands the importance of these requirements and has participated with enthusiasm. It is our belief that every church in the U.S. must write, implement, and uphold a strong Child/Youth Protection Policy in order to protect the most vulnerable, important members of our society. Mary Ellen Cochrane chairs Family Forum at Warwick Memorial United Methodist Church, Newport News, VA. (Editor's Note: For more information about developing a child and youth protection policy, see Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church by Joy Thornburg Melton (Discipleship Resources, 1998)

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