Safe Place Training

Living Christ Church

Children’s Ministry

ed. January 2019

Understanding the Issues

• What are some issues that might arise around children?
• Does the church have a role and responsibility to children?
• Who should be trained and take ownership of this responsibility?

Purpose of Safe Place

• Safe Place is designed to assist leaders of local churches in creating policies for safe people to minister in safe places through safe programs.

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• The primary purpose of Safe Place is to safeguard both students and leaders in the church setting to reduce the risks of accidents or abuse.
• Establish and Follow LCC Safe Place Policies
• Recruiting, Application, References, Background Check & Approval

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Responsibility of Local Churches : Scripture

• Avoid every kind of Evil (1 Thess 5:22)
• But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality...because these are improper for God’s holy people (Eph 5:3)
• But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and be drowned in the depth of the sea (Mt 18:6)
• Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently… Carry each other’ burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:1-2)

Scripture Cont’d

• Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom belongs to such as these (Mt 19:14)

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• Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1)

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• Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith (Heb 13:7)

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What Will Be Addressed

• Address the welfare of the Children in the Church
• Understanding Child Abuse
• Staffing and Supervising
• Nursery / Early Childhood
• Sunday School / Youth Program
• Other Church Activities/Events
• Health and Safety Guidelines
• Responding to an Injury or Illness
• Discipline Policy
• Responding to Allegations of Abuse
• Reporting Procedures

CM Recruiting/Service

• All volunteers should be church members in good standing or adherent in harmony with the doctrines and principles of the church and should be regular attendees.
• All recruits are required to receive the approval of the designated committee/board before beginning ministry.
• A volunteer personnel form & background check must be completed and will be confidentially maintained. Background check submitted every 3-4 years (you will be notified when you are due for a new background check).
• Reference Check Record and an interview should be conducted.

Staffing and Supervision

• Two Adult Rooms. This means there must be two adults per room, except for when circumstances cannot be avoided.
• When the team is short handed, 1 person must remain as a hallway monitor to be available to assist teachers, visitors, and newcomers.
• When short staffed, a hallway bell will be supplied to be rung for assistance if children need to be walked to the restroom or to parents.
• Doors (top-half) must remain open, & group must be in visual sight.
• Recommended that immediate family members will not work together in the same classroom (or a third party should be present).

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Teen Assistants

We welcome our teens to be involved with ministries!

• Teen assistants should always be paired with an adult.
• Teens must be with their parents to serve and have gone through safe place training.
• Teens are not counted as an adult or part of the “2 adults per room count” until they are 18 years of age.

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Identification and Registration

Volunteers

Volunteers should sign-in on attendance sheets weekly on days they serve in their perspective ministries/events.

Volunteers should wear ID badges or name tags to clearly identify who they are and their service to students, guests, and parents.

Registration

Regularly attending children and youth should be registered with the Children’s/Youth Ministry.

Guests who visit more than 3 times in 1 calendar year should be offered a registration form, which is provided by your CM leaders.

Releasing Children

Sunday School Children (5th grades and under) may be released to parents or informed/identified Guardian.

Youth kids should head to their designated arrangements with parents.

Diaper Changing

• Diaper changes should always be in sight of another worker.

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• Safe Place recommend that taking children to the restroom and diaper changes should be assigned to an adult female worker first.

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• We recommend parents who are potty training to take their children to the restroom before coming to EC/S.S

Taking Children to the Bathroom

• Diaper changes should always be in sight of another worker.
• Taking the children to the women’s bathroom
• If taking children to the bathroom, always try to bring more than one child.
• The worker should never lock themselves in the stall with the child.
• The worker should keep the door unlocked while helping the child.
• Always announce your action before doing. For example: if the child needs help pulling up their pants, say “Okay, I am going to help you put your pants back on.”

Blood Borne Pathogens

The following slide will go over what happens when blood is involved in any situation

Blood Borne Pathogens

• Separate the injured or ill student from other children.
• Isolate the area where any blood or body fluid may have dropped on carpet, floor, toys, chairs, etc.
• Keep other children from having contact with bloody fluid.
• Locate the infectious disease kit and put on protective gloves.

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Blood Borne Pathogens Cont’d

• Attend to the student as needed with precaution.
• Inform the custodian of the hazards and need for clean up.
• Place all soiled gauze, bandages and wrappers into a zip-closure bag. Remove the gloves and place into bag. Seal and dispose of the bag in a plastic-lined trash container.
• Wash hands carefully with soap and warm water.

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Appropriate vs. Inappropriate Touch

The following slide will go over examples of appropriate touch and non-appropriate touch with children under your care.

The Following Types of Touch Must be Avoided:

• Kissing a child or coaxing a child to kiss you.
• Extended hugging and tickling, or prolonged physical contact of any kind.
• Touching a child in any area that would be covered by a bathing suit (exception: properly assisting a child in the restroom.)
• Carrying an older child or sitting him or her on your lap.
• Being alone with a child.
• Giving a full contact, body-to-body hug.

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The Following Types of Touch are Acceptable:

• Meet children at their eye level by bending down to sitting.
• Listen to individuals with your ears, eyes (eye to eye) and heart.
• Hold the child’s hand while listening or speaking to him or her when walking to an activity.
• Putting an arm around the shoulder of an individual when comforting, quieting or greeting is an appropriate way to hug. This side-to side hug should only be done in public.
• A light tough to a hand, shoulder or upper back when encouraging is acceptable.

Classroom Discipline

If there is a time where a student is disruptive these are the steps to take:

• Group Verbal – Remind student of proper classroom behavior.
• Student to Teacher – Redirect the student. Time out if necessary.
• Teacher to Administrator – Teacher should inform Administrator.
• Student to Administrator – Student should be sent to the Administrator if poor behavior persists.
• Administrator to Parent – If following steps 1-4 fails, the parent will be informed and assure the parent that the child is welcome to come back.

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Allegations

The following slides will inform you on the procedures and who to inform when an allegation occurs.

What To Do

• All allegations need to be taken seriously. Maintain adequate records.
• Situations must be handled forthrightly, with due respect for individual privacy and confidentiality of all parties involved.
• Full cooperation must be given to civil authorities under the guidance of the church’s lawyers.
• Appropriate care must be shown for the well-being of alleged victims.
• The alleged perpetrator is not considered innocent or guilty until a thorough investigation is completed, but they should be immediately removed from their ministry responsibilities for the duration of the investigation.
• The church officials should be informed immediately. The church’s insurance agent should be contacted by church officials.

Things To Look For (Abuse)

The following slides will explain child’s physical and behavioral indicators and parents’ behavioral indicators of abuse.

Signs of Abuse

• Physical Bodily Harm
• Consistent Lack of Supervision
• Extreme Aggression or Withdrawal
• Moves with discomforts and shies away from physical contact
• Withdrawn, Depressed, Listless
• Torn, stained or bloody clothing
• Irritation of the mouth or genital/anal area
• Inappropriate Sex Play, acting out, promiscuity
• Sudden changes in performance, appetite or perceived self-worth

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Signs of Abuse Cont’d

• Wary of adult contact
• Apprehensive when other children cry
• Extreme behaviors
• Afraid to go home
• Wears clothing inconsistent with weather (e.g. summer but wearing long sleeves)
• Very protective or jealous of child

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Children Can Speak in Confidence

Confidentiality

• It is important to keep the information confidential at all times. Therefore, all suspicions of abuse should be confined to the ministry head and pastoral staff unless otherwise required by law. It is the responsibility of the pastoral staff to contact the appropriate agency in your state.
• Mandated reporters→ You are not required to report anything unless it is where you are currently employed by state in a public or private school grounds.

Rooms with Only One Volunteer in Nursery Room

• If there is only one volunteer signed up, the nursery will have to be closed during the service OR the nursery will be opened with no volunteers but parents must stay with their little ones. A sign should be posted on the door to ensure parents are aware.

Congratulations! You have concluded Safe Place Training.

Next Steps: Complete the certification test. The test is comprised of short answer questions and multiple choice. Please do not use the powerpoint to take the test. You may take as much time as you need to review before taking the test. Good Luck!

Click here to Take the Certification Test

The next slide is the certificate that you will need to sign after completing this training and have passed the test.

SAFE PLACE�CERTIFIED

Upon the completion of this training session, I,

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hereby acknowledge that

Living Christ Church and it’s Children’s Ministry

establishes and enforces their SAFE PLACE guidelines to safeguard both

students and leaders in the church setting to reduce the risks of accidents or abuse.

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I acknowledge and agree to follow

the SAFE PLACE Guidelines of Living Christ Church.

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PRINT YOUR NAME HERE

SIGN YOUR NAME HERE

TODAY’S DATE

CM Director Signature

Pastor Signature