MK forum

What is NTM doing currently to ensure their dorm schools are safe with the personnel they have in place right now?

Is this addressed anywhere?

I don't have an answer, but I do think it is an important topic. People seem to look at these events as having taken place "back then." What they don't realize is that when there are no safeguards in place, and no accountability among the staff, abuse can easily happen, even today. Kids need to know who they can talk to when they have a concern- some kind of mentor, and know that they will be taken seriously.

Anyway, good topic. I hope more people weigh in!

quote from page 5 of the NTM-USA CHILD PROTECTION MANUAL, Revised September 2010, http://www.ntm.org/news/pdf/ntm_usa_child_protect_manual.pdf


3. TRAINING

AT THE MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER

NTM-USA candidates are equipped at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in the area of Child Protection. A 12-hour module is presented regarding NTM-USA policies and procedures. Candidates are encouraged through lecture, PowerPoint, media, and discussion groups to gain ownership in the area of protecting children.
NTM-USA candidates’ children, along with their parents, are trained at the MTC using a professionally recognized age-appropriate curriculum. This program uses discussion, media, and role-play to encourage learning, comprehending, and exhibiting the concepts of personal safety for children. It is very practical, concrete, non-threatening, positive, multi-cultural, and enabling for children.

TRAINING FOR ASSOCIATES

NTM-USA associates will be equipped in the area of Child Protection during Pre-Field orientation.

TRAINING FOR HIRED STAFF

Hired staff (e.g. NTBI, national childcare, etc.) will be trained in current child protection practices.

ONGOING TRAINING FOR MEMBERS

NTM-USA leadership will facilitate annual training in awareness and current practices in child safety.
Members and associates will also be required to take a yearly online child protection course to be implemented in October of 2010.





quote from NTM updates http://www.ntm.org/news/fanda_home.php,
http://www.ntm.org/news/11543



CHILD PROTECTION REVIEW FAVORABLE

November 24, 2010


An independent review describes New Tribes Mission's Child Protection Manual as "thoughtful and thorough."

GRACE conducted a review of the manual as the second part of its work in regard to child abuse that took place at NTM's Fanda School in Senegal in the 1980s and 1990s. While this manual has been updated as recently as September, the majority of it has been in place since 2001.

"The NTM-USA Child Protection Manual is very well done with a great many strengths," says GRACE's memorandum to NTM.

"For example, GRACE applauds NTM for not requiring, or even allowing victims to be confronted during an investigation by the alleged offender … and for requiring an alleged offender to be placed on administrative leave and, if need be, to be relocated during an investigation …. These and many other provisions are thoughtful and consistent with best practices."

Most of GRACE's recommendations can be characterized as refining what is already in place.

However, the memorandum raises a concern that is shared by NTM USA's Executive Board. New Tribes Mission is made up of organizations in a number of countries, including NTM USA, that cooperate to provide training, support and oversight to ministries around the world. With no central governing authority, GRACE points out, child protection policies may be inconsistently and inadequately applied.

To begin addressing that, members of the body that directly oversees NTM's church planting ministries will meet with representatives of the NTM USA board in January to discuss the standardization of best practices for schools and a third-party audit.

Is there anyone within NTM presently who could clarify to us whether NTM is still operating boarding homes for elementary-aged children on any field in the world?
Maybe these horribly misguided mistakes called "dorms" for young children are now a thing of the past?
If so, what is the youngest age at which NTM children are still being placed in the 24/7 months-on-end care of people who are not their own parents, in any country?
I hope someone will know, and be willing to post honest answers.
I humbly acknowledge that I myself placed my children in NTM dorms, some at a very tender age, but also through the junior high and high school years.
So I am not without blame myself. I'm just wondering what is actually taking place on the various fields today, and I am no longer in NTM, so I don't know how to access that information.

Down and Out:
Well said!! It certainly wasn't God who thought up such a misguided plan to send children away from parents and have strangers "raise" them!! From all the posts I've seen about negative, destructive experiences in NTM boarding schools, it would seem appropriate to shut all of them down!

It's really quite ghastly and horrific, isn't it! In Aritao, the man who taught "Bible class" is the maniacal pedophile who repeatedly molested most of the pre-pubescent girls entrusted to his care.
Imagine what THAT does to your theological understanding and development!

@ D&O - I don't remember much about chapels at Numonohi. I was probably too concerned about not getting into trouble to notice what heresies were being taught. I do remember some good Bible classes where we learned how to study the Bible and studied through books of the Bible - those were great. Sounds like your chapels were horrendous.
Hey, I feel for you as you wait for Tambo MKs to talk (from the Tambo thread). I feel the same about PNG MKs.

@ Raz - I just want you to know I'm really hurting for you. It must be really frustrating and painful as you wait for the Aritao pedophile to be dealt with and wait for updates. I don't know of any of the NTM boarding schools that do take in little kids into the dorms, although it seems like PNG was still taking in 5th and 6th graders last I knew but it might be up to 7th grade now. I don't think that information is available anywhere - we would have to ask someone.


Little kids are persons! Not pets! Not Property! Not your reflections! Not impediments!
So true, D&O. Keep preaching it please. Every parent needs to hear that.

It sounds like each field decides what age they will allow children to board in the dorms.