Legal Policy for 423 Next Communities Engaging in Recovery Work with Minors

1. Purpose and Scope

a. This code of conduct, which applies to all sections that follow, provides guidance

and expectations for all individuals involved in working with minors in the context

of sexual addiction recovery support with the 423 Next Program. This code of

conduct applies to all staff, volunteers, and other individuals who interact with

minors during the course of their work or activities related to sexual addiction

recovery support in the 423 Next Program.

b. The scope of this code of conduct, which applies to all sections that follow,

includes all interactions with minors, including but not limited to one-on-one

interactions, group activities, online communication, and other forms of

engagement. The code of conduct applies to all settings where interactions with

minors may occur, including meetings, events, workshops, and other gatherings.

c. The goal of this code of conduct is to create a safe and respectful environment

for minors to receive support and assistance with sexual addiction recovery. It is

the responsibility of all individuals involved in working with minors to uphold the

standards outlined in this code of conduct and to ensure the well-being and

safety of all minors involved in the 423 Next Program.

d. The 423 Next Program for minors involves a self-discovery journey that is

empowered by trusted and trained adults sharing parts of their recovery journey

in order to remove shame and build trust, asking questions to aid the participants’

self-discovery, teaching about healthy biblical sexuality, providing emotional

support, discussing internal desires and their ties to sexuality, promoting honest

check-ins and group encouragement. However, any self-disclosure and other

forms of discussion from leaders must align with the code of conduct and be

done with the primary goal of supporting the recovery of the participants and

ensuring the well-being and safety of all minors involved in the 423 Next

Program.

2. Code of Conduct: this outlines appropriate behavior for adults working with minors,

including guidelines around appropriate language, physical contact, and one-on-one

interactions. This code of conduct applies to each section that follows, sections 1-9 are

all bound by this code of conduct.

a. Always prioritize the safety and well-being of the minor above all else.

b. Avoid any physical contact that could be misconstrued as inappropriate or

sexual.

c. Use age-appropriate language when discussing sensitive topics such as

sexuality and avoid sharing details that could be construed as sexual or

inappropriate. Never use any language that is overly licentious used in an

attempt to sexually arouse, entice, or stimulate the participants in the group.

i. Such inappropriate language includes but is not limited to any specific

details about touching oneself sexually, personal sexual fantasies, explicit

sexual desires, slang or vulgar language describing sexual experiences

or body parts.d. e. f. Never engage in behavior that could be considered grooming or manipulation.

423 seeks to ensure this conduct by making sure that all interactions with minors

are done within the context of a group setting with at least 2 adult leaders

present.

i. Grooming is defined as any behavior or action taken by an adult that is

designed to establish a relationship of trust and emotional dependence

with a minor, often with the intention of engaging in sexual activity. This

can include:

1. Excessive attention and flattery: An adult may give a child a lot of

attention, praise, and compliments to make them feel special and

to gain their trust.

2. Secret-keeping: An adult may encourage a child to keep secrets

from their parents or other adults, especially about activities that

involve physical contact.

3. Isolation: An adult may try to isolate a child from their family and

friends in order to create a sense of dependence on the adult.

4. Gift-giving: An adult may use gifts or other favors to create a

sense of obligation or indebtedness in the child.

5. Sharing inappropriate content: An adult may share sexually

explicit or inappropriate content with a child, either online or in

person, in an attempt to normalize or encourage sexual behavior.

6. Sexualizing interactions: An adult may use sexual language,

gestures, or touch in interactions with a child, even if the behavior

is presented as "harmless" or "friendly."

7. Testing boundaries: An adult may push a child's boundaries, both

physically and emotionally, in order to desensitize them to

inappropriate behavior and prepare them for further sexual

contact.

8. It is important to note that grooming behavior is often subtle and

can be difficult to recognize. It is always better to err on the side of

caution and report any behavior that seems suspicious or

inappropriate.

Maintain clear boundaries with minors, both online and in-person.

Avoid one-on-one interactions with minors when there is not a third party present,

and if a one-on-one interaction is necessary, ensure that it takes place in a

public, visible location. These guidelines are intended to ensure the safety and

protection of minors and prevent any behavior that could be misconstrued as

inappropriate or abusive.

i. Adults at times will engage in one-on-one interactions that are

appropriate, ensure the safety and well-being of the participant, have a

third party present, and are critical to support the recovery journey of the

participant.

ii. All one-on-one interactions should be consistent with section 2.d.i, which

outlines grooming and manipulative behaviors and interactions to be

avoided without exception.g. h. 1. One-on-one interactions between adults and minors should be

avoided whenever possible, when there is not a third party

present. If such interactions are necessary, they should take place

in an open, well-lit, and observable area.

2. Adults should inform other adults or parents/guardians before

conducting any one-on-one interaction with a minor.

3. If a minor initiates a private conversation, the adult should redirect

the conversation to a more public setting or involve another adult

in the conversation.

4. Physical contact with minors should be limited to non-sexual and

appropriate touch, see “Grooming definition in section 2.d.i for

more information.

5. Adults should avoid giving gifts or providing personal contact

information to minors without the approval of their

parents/guardians.

6. Adults should not engage in any one-on-one communication with

minors via social media, texting, or other electronic means without

the approval of their parents/guardians.

7. Adults should never invite a minor to their home or go to the home

of a minor without the presence and approval of their

parents/guardians.

Immediately report any concerns about a minor's safety or well-being to the

appropriate authorities.

Self Disclosure: Obtain written consent from parents or guardians before

discussing sensitive topics with minors. Adult leaders should exercise caution

when self-disclosing personal experiences related to sex addiction, pornography,

masturbation, or any other potentially sensitive topic. While sharing personal

experiences can help to build trust and remove shame, it is important to ensure

that such sharing is appropriate and does not cross any legal or ethical

boundaries. When self-disclosing, adult leaders should keep the following in

mind:

i. All adult leader self-disclosures should be consistent with section 2.d.i,

which outlines grooming and manipulative behaviors and interactions to

be avoided without exception.

1. Only share information that is necessary for the therapeutic

purposes of the group or conversation.

2. Avoid sharing graphic or explicit details that could be construed as

sexually arousing or inappropriate.

a. Please refer to the inappropriate language descriptions in

subsection 2.c.i.

3. Use age-appropriate language and avoid using language that

could be misconstrued as sexual or inappropriate.

4. Do not pressure minors to disclose personal information or

experiences.5. Be mindful of the power dynamics at play and ensure that self-

disclosure does not create an environment where minors feel

pressured or obligated to disclose personal information.

a. Minors will also be trained in such power dynamics and

how to respond and who to contact if they feel pressured

or obligated to share anything they are uncomfortable with.

b. Minors will be supplied with an anonymous hotline where

they can report any suspicious adult leader behavior or

behavior/actions that have made them uncomfortable in

any way.

i. ii. iii. Such reports will be immediately investigated by

the 423 supervisor.

Respect the privacy of minors and do not disclose any information about

their personal lives without their consent.

Regularly review and update this code of conduct to ensure that it reflects

the latest best practices and legal requirements.

3. Confidentiality

a. We recognize the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of minors who

participate in our programs. We are committed to protecting the privacy of minors

and to creating a safe and supportive environment for them.

b. Confidentiality will be maintained except in cases of immediate safety concerns,

such as when a minor expresses a desire to harm themselves or others or when

abuse or neglect is suspected. In such cases, we will follow all legal reporting

requirements.

c. We will not disclose any information about a minor to parents or guardians

without the minor's consent, except in cases where it is necessary for the

protection of the minor's health and well-being. This includes situations where a

minor is engaging in self-harm or is engaging in behaviors that put themselves or

others at risk.

d. We will educate minors about the limits of confidentiality and the reasons why

confidentiality may need to be breached. We will encourage minors to discuss

any concerns they have with their parents or guardians, and we will provide

resources for minors who need additional support.

e. We will document any disclosures made by minors, as well as any actions taken

to address those disclosures, in order to protect the safety and well-being of all

participants.

f. We will train all staff and volunteers on the importance of confidentiality and the

procedures for handling confidential information. We will ensure that all staff and

volunteers understand their legal and ethical responsibilities with regard to

confidentiality and reporting requirements.

g. By participating in our programs, minors are agreeing to respect the

confidentiality of others and to comply with our confidentiality policies.

4. Training Requirements: Requirements for training and education for all adults who work

with minors, including training on appropriate behavior, signs of grooming, and how to

recognize and report abuse.5. a. Leaders - All adult leaders working with minors in the 423 Next Program must

complete a training program that covers the following topics:

i. ii. Understanding the dynamics of sexual addiction and compulsivity.

Recognizing grooming behaviors and boundary violations. (See section

2.d.i.)

iii. Appropriate ways to communicate with minors about sex addiction and

related topics.

iv. Identifying and responding to disclosures of abuse or other inappropriate

behavior.

v. vi. vii. Recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

Creating and maintaining appropriate boundaries with minors.

Maintaining confidentiality, the limits of confidentiality, and the reasons

why confidentiality may need to be breached.

viii. Understanding the legal and ethical considerations of working with minors

in a sex addiction recovery support group.

ix. The training program must be completed prior to working with minors in

the 423 Next Program, and refresher training must be completed on an

annual basis. All adult leaders must provide documentation of completion

of the training program to the group coordinator or other designated

person.

5. Reporting Procedures: Clear procedures for reporting any concerns or suspicions of

abuse or inappropriate behavior to the appropriate authorities.

a. If a staff member or volunteer becomes aware of or suspects any behavior that

violates the code of conduct, they must immediately report the situation to the

designated supervisor or an appropriate agency.

The following steps outline the reporting procedure for incidents involving minors:

i. Obtain information: The staff member or volunteer should gather as much

information about the incident as possible, including the names of all

parties involved, the date, time, and location of the incident, and any other

pertinent details.

ii. Report to supervisor: The staff member or volunteer should report the

incident to their designated supervisor or an appropriate agency as soon

as possible. The supervisor will determine whether or not the incident

should be reported to law enforcement or child protective services.

iii. Document the incident: The staff member or volunteer should document

the incident in writing as soon as possible after the incident. The report

should include a detailed description of the incident, the names of all

parties involved, the date, time, and location of the incident, and any other

pertinent details.

iv. Maintain confidentiality: The staff member or volunteer should maintain

confidentiality about the incident to the extent possible, sharing only with

those who need to know.

v. Follow-up: The supervisor will follow up with appropriate agencies as

necessary and provide support to the staff member or volunteer as

needed.

b. All staff members and volunteers must be trained on this reporting procedure and understand their responsibilities to report any incidents involving minors

immediately. Failure to report an incident may result in disciplinary action, up to

and including termination of employment or volunteering.

c. A section outlining what constitutes a reportable offense is included at the end of

this document.

6. Background Checks: Requirements for background checks for all adults who work with

minors, including criminal background checks and reference checks.

a. To ensure the safety and well-being of all minors involved in our program, all

adult leaders and volunteers must undergo a comprehensive background check

prior to participation. This includes but is not limited to, a criminal history check,

employment verification, and reference checks.

b. All background checks will be conducted in compliance with state and federal

laws, and the results will be kept confidential. Any adult leader or volunteer who

fails to pass the background check will be disqualified from working with minors

in any capacity.

c. Background checks will be conducted upon initial application and will be renewed

every three years for all adult leaders and volunteers. If any criminal history is

uncovered during the background check process, the program leadership team

will assess the offense's severity and determine whether the individual may

continue to work with minors in the program.

d. It is important to note that a clear background check does not guarantee an

individual's suitability for working with minors. The program leadership team

reserves the right to revoke an individual's privilege to work with minors at any

time, even in the absence of any criminal history or negative background check

results.

7. Parental Consent: Requirements for obtaining parental consent and informing parents or

guardians about the purpose and nature of any program or activity involving minors.

a. Parents or legal guardians must provide written consent before a minor can

participate in a 423 Next Program support group. The consent form will outline

the nature of the program, including the group's goals, meeting frequency, and

topics covered. The consent form will also inform parents that adult leaders will

provide age-appropriate education about healthy sexuality and that adult leaders

will maintain appropriate boundaries when interacting with minors. The consent

form will emphasize that the program is not a substitute for professional

counseling and that participants with significant emotional or mental health needs

should seek professional help.

b. Parents or legal guardians must also sign a waiver indicating that they

understand the risks and benefits of participation in the program and that they

acknowledge and accept the policies outlined in this document. Additionally, the

waiver should acknowledge that parents or legal guardians have read and

understand the confidentiality policies outlined in the Code of Conduct.

c. Parents understand and acknowledge that self-disclosure from leaders is a part

of the process but that such disclosures will align with the Code of Conduct and

be done with the primary goal of supporting the recovery of the participants and ensuring the well-being and safety of all minors involved in the 423 Next Program.

d. The program will retain copies of all signed consent forms and waivers on file for

the duration of the minor's participation in the program, and for a reasonable

period thereafter, as required by applicable laws and regulations.

8. Age-Appropriate Programming: Guidelines for age-appropriate programming, including

appropriate language, topics, and activities that are tailored to the needs and maturity

levels of the minors involved.

a. All programming offered by 423 Communities will be designed with the age and

maturity level of the minors in mind. Age-appropriate language and concepts will

be used at all times. When discussing topics related to sex addiction, the

following guidelines will be followed:

b. Programming for minors ages 14-18 may discuss sex addiction, pornography,

masturbation, or other sexual behaviors in an educational context, to provide

information and support for those struggling with these issues. Any discussion

will be done in a group setting (with multiple adult leaders present), and all

language and concepts will be age-appropriate.

c. No explicit or graphic language will be used at any time, regardless of the age

group of the minors. All programming will be designed to create a safe and non-

threatening environment for all participants.

d. Adult leaders at times will engage in their own personal stories of recovery but

will be limited per the code of conduct section pertaining to grooming and

manipulation behaviors, see sub-section 2.d.i for more information.

e. If a minor brings up a topic related to sex addiction, pornography, masturbation,

or other sexual behaviors, the adult leader will provide appropriate information

and support, without going into explicit or graphic detail.

f. By following these guidelines, 423 Communities will ensure that all programming

is appropriate for the age and maturity level of the minors in its care and that all

participants feel safe and supported.

9. Professional Support: Encouraging and promoting professional support for minors who

are struggling with sexual addiction or related issues, including counseling, therapy, or

support groups.

a. The organization will provide ongoing training and support to all adults working

with minors to ensure that the adults understand their responsibilities and are

equipped to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

b. In addition to training, the organization will provide regular opportunities for adults

working with minors to discuss concerns and receive feedback from peers and

professional mentors.

c. The organization will maintain a list of qualified professionals who can provide

additional support or guidance to adults working with minors.

d. The organization will ensure that all adults working with minors are aware of the

availability of professional counseling services and encourage the adults to seek

help if needed.e. f. The organization will take any concerns about inappropriate behavior seriously

and will conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action as

necessary, which may include reporting to the appropriate authorities.

The organization will maintain confidentiality for all parties involved to the extent

possible while complying with legal requirements and protecting the safety of

minors.

Reporting Specifics

Policy statement of 423 Communities International’s commitment to reporting abuse of minors

adopted March 14, 2019.

423 Communities International (423) mission of working with men and women who are

overcoming sexual addiction includes the protection of a child from the types of abuse described

in this policy. 423 is committed to notifying the appropriate governmental agencies when a

leader, as he or she carries out their assigned responsibilities within 423, has a reasonable

belief that a child with whom he or she has been in contact may recently have been or maybe is

being abused. This commitment is fulfilled by training its leaders to understand what constitutes

abuse; what is a reasonable belief that abuse may have or is occurring; what constitutes

contact; and how to make a report.

This policy applies to the abuse as described below to a child (a person who has not reached

his or her eighteenth birthday):

1) Any assault, as defined in ORS chapter 163, of a child and any physical injury to a child

which has been caused by other than accidental means, including any injury which appears to

at variance with the explanation given of the injury;

2) Rape of a child, which includes but is not limited to rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration

and incest, as those acts are described in ORS chapter 163;

3) Sexual abuse, as described in ORS chapter 163; 4) Sexual exploitation, including but not

limited to:

A) Contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, as defined in ORS chapter 163,

and any other conduct which allows, employs, authorizes, permits, induces, or encourages a

child to engage in the performing for people to observe or the photographing, filming, tape

recording or other exhibition which, in whole or part, depicts sexual conduct or contact, as

defined in ORS 167.002 or described in ORS 163.655 and 163.670, sexual abuse involving a

child or rape of a child;

B) Allowing, permitting, encouraging or hiring a child to engage in prostitution as

described in ORS 167.007 or a commercial sex act as defined in ORS 163.266, to purchase sex

with a minor as described in ORS 163.413 or to engage in commercial sexual solicitation as

described in ORS 167.008; andC) Intentionally observing or photographing, filming, tape recording or other exhibition

which, in whole or part, violates a child’s expectation of privacy without reasonable rationale or

intent.

All acts described above that occurred prior to the running of the statute of limitations or have

been previously reported to state authorities are not acts covered by this policy.

In addition to abuse described above that are acts resulting in notice to appropriate

governmental agencies, communication and/or acts with reasonable interpretation that can be

construed as seductive, grooming, luring, enticing or promoting a relationship with a child that is

of a sexual nature are deemed by 423 to be in the nature of abuse and are covered by this

policy to the extent that such acts shall be reported to the leadership of 423.