First Congregational has set the following guidelines to foster safe interactions while working with youth or children: Safe Numbers All volunteers and full-time employees will strive at all times to observe the adult or two children“ rule when meeting with youth. The two adults will “two preferably be unrelated and unmarried/unpartnered. If an adult is teaching or supervising a group of youth alone, he or she will adhere to the rules outlined in this document. Adults should avoid one-on-one meetings with youth in private. Safe Environment At church Doors will remain open when meeting with a child or youth, regardless of either party’s gender. If the door to be closed for privacy reasons, the meetings must be held in rooms with a window so that parties in the room are visible from the outside. Meetings outside church Meetings held outside church-for example, of a mentor and confirmand- will be in a public rather than one-on-one in the mentor’s home unless prior parental/guardian approval is given, preferably in writing. Parents will always be aware of meetings and will have given prior approval, preferably in writing. Overnights Will have at least two adult chaperones (at least one male and one female). Will have separate sleeping accommodations for male and female youth. In cases where there is only 1 large room available, males will be supervised in an area by male chaperones and females in another section by female chaperones. Will have private changing/bathroom facilities for youth Parents will give prior approval in writing. At no time will sleeping accommodations include only one adult and only one youth sleeping in the same room. Safe Ages All volunteers will be over the age of 16, or work the supervision of an adult over the age of 18. We follow the years older” rule. Any leader or volunteer working with “five youth should be at least five years older than the oldest youth in the group. The use of older youth volunteers will occur only when there is adult supervision. Safe Transportation
First Congregational has set the following guidelines to foster safe interactions while working with youth or children: Safe Numbers All volunteers and full-time employees will strive at all times to observe the “two adult or two children“ rule when meeting with youth. The two adults will preferably be unrelated and unmarried/unpartnered. If an adult is teaching or supervising a group of youth alone, he or she will adhere to the rules outlined in this document. Adults should avoid one-on-one meetings with youth in private. Safe Environment At church Doors will remain open when meeting with a child or youth, regardless of either party’s gender. If the door to be closed for privacy reasons, the meetings must be held in rooms with a window so that parties in the room are visible from the outside. Meetings outside church Meetings held outside church-for example, of a mentor and confirmand- will be in a public rather than one-on-one in the mentor’s home unless prior parental/guardian approval is given, preferably in writing. Parents will always be aware of meetings and will have given prior approval, preferably in writing. Overnights Will have at least two adult chaperones (at least one male and one female). Will have separate sleeping accommodations for male and female youth. In cases where there is only 1 large room available, males will be supervised in an area by male chaperones and females in another section by female chaperones. Will have private changing/bathroom facilities for youth Parents will give prior approval in writing. At no time will sleeping accommodations include only one adult and only one youth sleeping in the same room. Safe Ages All volunteers will be over the age of 16, or work the supervision of an adult over the age of 18. We follow the “five years older” rule. Any leader or volunteer working with youth should be at least five years older than the oldest youth in the group. The use of older youth volunteers will occur only when there is adult supervision. Safe Transportation
Safe-Child-Policy-Revised-Adopted-February-2012-FINAL.docx