Children's Ministries Safety Procedures

If a worker is ‘out of ratio’ it is his/her responsibility to immediately notify Jenelle Prather. Greenhouse leadership will make diligent efforts to find substitute workers to immediately bring worker to children ______ into compliance with this policy.

ERBAL INTERACTIONS V ______ interactions between staff members or volunteers and children should be positive and uplifting. Our leaders should strive to keep verbal interactions encouraging, constructive, and mindful of their mission of aiding parents in the spiritual growth and development of children. To this end, leaders should not talk to children in a way that is or could be construed by any reasonable observer as harsh, threatening, intimidating, shaming, derogatory, demeaning, or humiliating. In addition, leaders are expected to refrain from swearing or crass language in the presence of children.

ELEASE OF CHILDREN R At any time that a child has been entrusted to our Children’s Ministry volunteers, our church incurs responsibility for the safety and well-being of the child. Volunteers must act to ensure the appropriate supervision and safety of children in their charge. They are responsible for releasing children in their care only to parents, legal guardians, or other persons designated by parents or legal guardians at the close of services or activities.

No child will ever be left unattended in the Children’s Building/Area or on the children’s playground during children’s ministry programming or classes. Children’s Ministries staff members or volunteers are prohibited from being alone with an individual child in any ______.

In the event a staff member or volunteer finds he/she alone with children after departure of other adults, that staff member or volunteer will take the child to a room or building occupied by others, or to a location easily observed by ______.

Staff members and volunteers are asked to report grooming behavior, any policy violations, or any suspicious behaviors to Jenelle Prather, Sharon Struve, or Greenhouse ______.

Because sexual abusers ‘groom’ children for abuse, it is possible a staff member or volunteer may witness behavior intended to groom a child for sexual ______.

In the event a staff member or volunteer finds he/she alone with children after departure of other adults, that staff member or volunteer will take the child to a room or building occupied by ______, or to a location easily observed by others.

After every programming event, Children’s Ministries staff members and volunteers must ensure every room and restroom is checked prior to leaving. Any two children together in an unseen or less easily viewed ______ should be redirected to another (more open) ______ of the classroom.

This church is committed to providing adequate supervision in all Children’s Ministries programs. Males must be 18 ______ or older to work in the PreK and nursery classrooms. Youth volunteers must be at least 5 ______ older than the oldest child in the class. All volunteers will be required to complete Connect, fill out an application, reference form, and background check to serve. All volunteers are subject to a background check every three ______. A minimum of two unrelated adults are required at all times using the following ratios: Nursery (0-2 ______) 2:8, PreK (2-5 ______) 2:18, K-5th (5-12 ______) 2:25.

Males must be 18 years or ______ to work in the PreK and nursery classrooms. Youth volunteers must be at least 5 years ______ than the oldest child in the class.

All volunteers are subject to a background check every three years. A minimum of two unrelated ______ are required at all times using the following ratios: Nursery (0-2 years) 2:8, PreK (2-5 years) 2:18, K-5th (5-12 years) 2:25.

Nursery (0-2 ______) 2:8, PreK (2-5 ______) 2:18, K-5th (5-12 ______) 2:25.

A minimum of two unrelated adults are ______ at all times using the following ratios: Nursery (0-2 years) 2:8, PreK (2-5 years) 2:18, K-5th (5-12 years) 2:25.