🛡️Know the Signs
This type of abuse involves intentionally causing physical injury to a child through actions like hitting, shaking, burning, or kicking.
What is Physical Abuse
After receiving a concerning disclosure, a volunteer wants to write down exactly what the child said as soon as possible.
What is documentation?
* Why is it important to record facts and direct quotes instead of interpretations?
This Safe Sanctuaries guideline means a child or youth should never be alone with one unrelated adult during ministry activities.
What is the Two-Adult Rule
Ann Street volunteers are generally expected to be active attendees for this long before serving with children or youth.
What is six months (The Six-Month Rule.)
When deciding whether a hug, high five, or comforting touch is appropriate, what question should you ask yourself?
What is: "Would a parent be comfortable seeing this?"
* First asking to hug, high five, give comforting touch is always a safe choice
This form of maltreatment occurs when a child's basic needs - such as food, shelter, medical care, supervision, or education - are consistently not met.
What is Neglect
The correct procedure when: An allegation is made against a children's ministry volunteer who insists they are innocent and wants to continue serving while everything is sorted out.
What is "immediately remove the volunteer from ministry during the investigation"
If a classroom door is closed, it should always have this so ministry remains visible.
What is a window (or visibility into the room)
Unlike most ministries, this Ann Street youth program may be led by one screened adult because it meets in a public setting.
What is Youth Breakfast Club at Cru Coffee Shop
A student sends you a friend request on social media and/or begins messaging you privately. What would you do?
What is keep communication transparent, avoid ongoing private conversations, and include parents or another adult leader whenever appropriate
This type of abuse includes any sexual activity or contact involving a child, including inappropriate touching, exploitation, or exposing a child to sexual materials or behaviors.
What is sexual abuse
A volunteer notices several concerning signs but isn't certain abuse has occurred. According to Safe Sanctuaries, when is it time to make a report?
What is "when there is reasonable suspicion - not proof - of abuse or neglect"
Safe Sanctuaries exists to protect these three groups.
Who are children, youth, and vulnerable adults;
* Which includes all volunteers; and the church!
When Ann Street cannot meet the ideal Safe Sanctuaries practice exactly as written, the policy calls for using this instead.
What is a Contingency Plan
A teenager asks to meet with you privately because they need someone to talk to. What would you do?
What is meet in a visible, appropriate place, let a parent or another trusted adult know, and remember that healthy mentoring is never secret mentoring
A child begins receiving special gifts, extra attention, and private messages from an adult who insists they have a "special friendship." This pattern of behavior is known as this.
What is grooming
At Ann Street, if suspected abuse involves a staff member or church member (other than the senior pastor), who should receive the report first?
Who is the "Senior Pastor"
* What if the allegation involves the Senior Pastor?
Complete this statement : "Safe Sanctuaries is not just about preventing abuse—it's about creating a ministry that is __________."
What is safe, transparent, and accountable
True to Ann Street's practical approach, this transportation rule is different depending on whether you're driving the church bus or a private vehicle.
What is: the church bus requires two unrelated screened adults, while a private vehicle may have one screened adult with signed parental consent
Safe Sanctuaries doesn't teach volunteers to avoid all physical affection. Instead, it encourages physical touch that is __________.
What is appropriate, welcome, and observable
Abuse isn't always recognized by one obvious sign. More often, volunteers become concerned after noticing this.
What is: a pattern of concerning behaviors or warning signs?
A volunteer notices something concerning about a child but isn't sure what it means. What's the best first step?
What is share the concern with ministry leadership while ensuring the appropriate reporting procedures are followed if abuse is reasonably suspected
*Why don't we carry concerns alone?
*When does teamwork help?
*When does our responsibility to report remain?
Besides completing annual Safe Sanctuaries training, volunteers working with children and youth must also complete an application and undergo...
What is: a background check ( renewed at least every 3 years )
Ann Street recognizes that meaningful mentoring sometimes requires one-on-one conversation. Name two safeguards our policy requires.
What is:
Meet in a visible/public location.
Inform a parent or guardian.
Let another staff member or church leader know.
Include parents in communication when appropriate.
Keep the meeting transparent and accountable.
A volunteer worries that Safe Sanctuaries means they can't be warm or affectionate with children anymore. What would you tell them?
What is: Safe Sanctuaries encourages caring relationships with healthy, appropriate, and transparent boundaries - not emotional distance