Keeping Kids Safe

As a Children’s Ministry Leader, safekeeping is always the one thing expected of you at all times—whether spoken or unspoken—and it requires much more than common sense on your part and the part of others.

Keeping kids safe requires planning, policies, training and continual re-assessment. It demands an intentionality so well done, that hopefully, it will go unnoticed.

If you are going to be ferocious about one area of ministry over all others, this is it. It only takes one child or one parent one incidence for uncertainty to set in and put the reputation of your church at risk. If kids don’t feel safe, they will make it difficult for their parents to leave them; and if parents don’t feel safe, they will choose alternatives. Either way, you will limit your opportunities to share the gospel and impact families for eternity.

Begin by screening all staff and volunteers.

• Create a system and practice it on your core team and staff.
• Make the system internet-accessible, sequential and thorough.
• Include an application, background check, reference check and interview on all individuals who will be serving children or students under the age of 18.
• Require all volunteers to attend at least one training class prior to serving. Continue the training period by partnering new volunteers with those who are trusted veterans and never allow anyone to work alone with one child or one student.

Due diligence is the least we can do to combat the dysfunction in today’s society. Establishing a complete application process sends a message to parents, volunteers and staff that says, “Safekeeping is at the core of our organization.”

Next, consider the safety of each environment.

• Take a hard look at each room. Check for sharp objects and potential choking hazards. Protect electrical outlets and ensure that furniture pieces, toys and manipulatives are age-appropriate and made of proper materials.
• Consider allergies when offering snacks. Post ingredients and obtain parent permission for each child at check-in. Ensure that all food items are stored safely and distributed according to policies.
• Store cleaning supplies, equipment and tools out of reach (and sight, if possible). Scrutinize current cleaning practices of toys, furniture, carpets, etc.
• Routinely check to see that standards are being maintained.

Establish an adult-to-child ratio for each age/grade level environment.

There is no national standard or law in place for churches regarding safe or legal ratios, but a good rule of thumb has been one adult per twice the age of children in that environment. It looks something like this:

Infants              1:1 to 1:2

Walkers            1:2 to 1:6

Preschool         1:5 to 1:10

Elementary     1:10 to 1:24

You’ll notice that these ratios do not support the idea of small groups in elementary environments. Knowing each child personally seems best in groups of 1:8. Make it your goal to staff to the lowest number, but still feel safe at the top of your range. Post ratios in rooms so volunteers know the standard and can ask for help when ratios become at risk.

Scrutinize the logistics of your check-in and check-out systems.

• Put systems in place which guarantee that every child entrusted to you can be accounted for at all times, has safe access to restrooms and will be returned to the appropriate parent or guardian in a timely manner at the end of each service.
• Consider adding extra volunteers to your team to ensure safekeeping at all exits and entrances.
• Ask friends who are unfamiliar faces to your team to come in and test your system. [i.e.: give misinformation, check-out early, return without proper identification, sweet talk leaders into by-passing the system, etc.] Let leaders know you will have “spies” on occasion randomly testing the rules.

Plan for emergency situations.

Acknowledge the fact that emergency situations such as natural disasters (fires, earthquakes, tornadoes) or dangerous intruders can occur.

• Establish plans for both evacuation routes and lock-down locations. Post evacuation maps on walls in each room by desired exits. Consider potential hazards and note alternate routes wherever possible. Do not post lock-down locations for public viewing.
• Everyday check-in procedures should generate emergency rosters as a precautionary measure. Rosters should list current attendance of all children, students and volunteers in your care at any particular moment. This will enable you to guarantee that everyone has been evacuated or accounted for during an emergency. Do not depend upon your ability to utilize computers as electricity and/or on-line access may be affected by the emergency and evacuation time may be too limited.
• Identify staging areas for reunification. Not only will Children’s Ministry Leaders need to know where to evacuate children, but adult venues will need to be able to tell parents where to go to pick up their children. Over communicate locations and procedures so that all leaders on site may direct parents with calm confidence.
• Release procedures will also need to be established. You will want to maintain the same level of safekeeping in the staging environment that ensures that all children are returned to the appropriate parent or guardian once the emergency has ended.
• Create contingency plans for injuries and/or missing parents.
• Consider storing basic emergency supplies in strategic locations: flashlights, water, first aid kits, diapers, blankets, etc.
• Practice evacuation plans and lock-downs with your core leaders, volunteers and staff.
• Empower people to act on their own. In an earthquake, you will not have enough time to run/walk to each environment and encourage them to evacuate. The leadership in each room must be able to make that call and execute the procedures with confidence.