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Youth Ministry And Pastoral Care

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Referring Adolescents for Assistance

Last Revised on January 14, 2012

A crisis in youth ministry can include situations where a young person could potentially cause serious foreseeable and imminent harm to themselves or others (i.e., a young person makes a suicidal threat, you become aware of a young person’s struggle with an eating disorder, you find out that one of the young people in your parish or school is abusing drugs or alcohol).

A crisis can occur at any time. When a crisis occurs, attempt to contact parent/ legal guardian/ emergency contact to communicate your level of concern, suggest the need for an assessment and ask about initiating the process.

If they cannot be reached or refuse to come and get the individual or appear to be unconcerned and are not going to do anything, as a last resort call the police, as they have emergency numbers they can call in such situations; persons may be admitted for assessment when there is a concern for their or someone else’s safety.

If the situation escalates beyond your control, call 911 or the legal authorities.

Disclosure and Confidentiality

Additional commentary about confidentiality may be found in Section Five: Leadership in Youth Ministry.

Youth ministers should recognize a young person’s expectation of privacy and try to honor that in a professional way. This does not include information that would cause serious foreseeable and imminent harm to themselves or others.

Examples of issues that would contravene a young person’s privacy include child abuse, sexual/ physical threats to others, abortion, and suicide threats.

Related Policies:

If a young person or parent request information regarding a counseling referral youth ministers must advise that the family meet with their primary care physician and receive a referral within their insurance plan. Youth Ministry leaders, unless professionally credentialed, may not make referrals directly to counselors. 2068

By law, conversations between youth ministers and young people do not have “privileged communication”. If information about what a young person says to their youth minister is requested by a parent, a court of law, or licensed professional counselor, the youth minister must share the information. 2069