Safe Sanctuary Training Volunteers
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Name *
Email *
Are you 18 or older? *
In all of our ministries with children*, youth*, and vulnerable adults**, First-Centenary United Methodist Church is committed to demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ so that each person will be “... surrounded by steadfast love, established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.”  (Baptismal Covenant II, United Methodist Hymnal, p. 44).  Our Safe Sanctuary Policy demonstrates our commitment to the physical safety and spiritual growth of all our children, youth, and vulnerable adults. As a United Methodist congregation, we pledge to reduce the risk of abuse to children, youth, and vulnerable adults, and to protect children youth, and vulnerable adults, as well as adult workers (either paid or volunteer) who interact with those children, youth, and vulnerable adults in any church activity. 
1. We will follow reasonable safety measures in the selection and recruitment of workers. 
2. We will implement prudent operational procedures in all programs and events. 
3. We will educate all of our workers with children, youth, and vulnerable adults regarding the use of appropriate policies and methods. 
4. We will have a clearly defined procedure for reporting a suspected incident of abuse that conforms to the requirements of state law.
 *
Required
The Two-Adult Rule  
As a matter of safety for both the children and adults it is required that no fewer than two adults be present at all times for any church sponsored program, event, or ministry involving children, youth, or vulnerable adults. This is inclusive of the nursery area. For the purpose of this rule married couples working with the same age group are considered one adult.  If only one adult is present in a classroom then the door must remain open and an approved worker must be present in the hallway.
 *
Required

Bathroom Breaks for our children​

Bathroom door has to be open to the hallway at all times children are using the restroom. ​

If a child needs help in the bathroom, one volunteer assists the child while another volunteer is at the door in the hallway observing.

 *
Required

Bathroom Breaks for Volunteers​

Do not leave children unattended in the hall while you use the restroom.​

Volunteers or staff must choose restrooms that children are not using.

Do not leave one staff or volunteer alone with the children while you take a bathroom break.

 *
Required
The Eighteen-Age Limit Rule
 Persons hired to work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults must be at least eighteen years of age. Any person serving as a helper, who is under the age of eighteen, must be supervised by adult staff at all times.
 *
Required
The Five-Year Rule  
It is required that any volunteer or paid worker be at least five years older than the group with which they are to supervise.  For example, if a junior (20-21 years old) in college is recruited to supervise youth as a “leader,” he/she must be at least five years older than the group they are to lead.
 *
Required
State Reporting Rule
All workers with children, youth, and vulnerable adults are required by law to report any suspected cases of abuse to the proper authorities. First-Centenary will use the Report of Suspected Incident of Child Abuse form (See Appendix E) to capture the necessary information regarding allegations of abuse.  This procedure will be covered in more detail in Section IV.
 *
Required
The Six-Month Rule  
Persons supervising children, youth, or vulnerable adults must have been attending First-Centenary UMC for at least six months prior to serving.
 *
Required
Check-in/out procedures 
All children participating in First Kids Ministry activities will be electronically signed in through Planning Center.  Guardians will use their unique family code during pickup to follow safety protocols.
 *
Required
Cyber Safety
All Youth and Children’s ministry staff and volunteers will not post pictures of any child or youth to their personal social media accounts.
All Youth and Children's ministry staff and volunteers will not use their phones while with children unless instructed to do so.
 *
Required
Anti-Bullying 
First Centenary United Methodist Church believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy environment. We believe that bullying, as defined above, is inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. Therefore, any behavior that infringes on the safety of any student should not be tolerated. A student shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. 
Reporting First Centenary United Methodist Church expects students and/or staff to immediately report incidents of bullying to the staff person in charge of whichever ministry the incident occurred in or the lead pastor or designee. Staff who witness such acts should take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. Each complaint of bullying should be promptly investigated. 
This policy applies to students on church grounds, while traveling to and from church for a church-sponsored activity, or during any church-sponsored activity. 
 *
Required
Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this section. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this section. *
Required
I have Leesha Vander Wilt or Ellen Ward's phone numbers in case of an emergency. *
Required
First and Last name to confirm you have read everything.  *
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
GoogleForms
This form was created inside of First-Centenary United Methodist Church.