Best PracticesCongregational Best Practices for Safety, Security, Volunteer Background Checks, and More…

Hospitality

HospitalityThe act or practice of one who is hospitable…

… an environment pleasant and favorable for living in.

Welcome ~ Friendliness ~ WarmthKindness ~ Openness

ACTION:The act or practice of one who is

hospitable…

SPACE:… an environment pleasant and

favorable for living in.

Why Best Practices?

• To live out our mission as God’s family.• Care well for our community and

congregation.

• Provide a culture of hospitality and awareness for all.

• Serve the needs of children, youth and vulnerable adults.

PROACTIVEVS.

REACTIVE

Who should participate?

• All congregations should plan for and implement practices which care for the whole community. • Children, youth, and vulnerable adults should feel

confident that the best possible practices are being integrated into ministry and service by the congregation.

• Likewise, staff and volunteers should feel confident that they are receiving proper training and meeting standards which provide them with the tools and resources to care well for others whom they are called to serve.

When should we start?

• TODAY.

• Your presence here today is the first step in creating a culture and environment rooted in God’s call to love and care well for all God’s children.

• Urgency, paired with thoughtful and intentional planning, are key elements to the process of providing the BEST PRACTICES possible for your congregation and community.

How do we begin?• Leadership within a congregation, staff and volunteer lay

leaders, should actively pursue and plan for the integration of Best Practices within one’s congregation, as part of one’s call to leadership.

• Resources and examples are available on how to:• Implement Best Practices.• Construct and incorporate policies.• Provide current training.• Facilitate safety awareness.• Deliver clear and timely communication.

Immediate planning for implementation is recommended.

Recommendations…

• Each congregation is called to serve the individuals, the congregation as a whole, and the community.

• This includes providing the Best Practices, based on current information and resources available.

• Each congregation and its leadership is called within the role of a “leader”, to use the available resources, tools, training, and expertise to implement appropriate practices in response to the individual context of the congregation and community.

Elements of the Process

•Collaboration•Communication•Policies & Procedures•Resources & Tools

Collaboration

•Church Leadership:

• Staff• Council/Board• Committee/Team• Volunteers• Congregation, as a whole.

Communication

• Transparency throughout planning and processes .

• Education is invaluable & necessary.

• Availability of all policies and training.

• Planned communication responses, if needed

Policies & Procedures• Registration: complete, accurate, current, and responsive to

current family and culture.

• Transportation: guidelines for passengers, drivers/driving records (DMV), and transportation planning.

• Supervision/Leaders: application process; attendance within the congregation; age requirements; references; volunteer background checks; training

• Training/Education: annual event; attendance requirements.

• Safety/Security: Building audit; severe weather; fire; evacuation plan; building usage; lock-down; CPR; First Aid, others…

Registration:

•complete •accurate •current•responsive to current family and culture

Transportation:

•guidelines for passengers•drivers/driving records (DMV) check completed•transportation planning

Supervision/Leaders:

Who is considered a supervisor or leader? • application process• attendance within the congregation• age requirements• references• volunteer background checks• training

Background Checks:• Staff Background Checks• Volunteer Background Checks• Variety of options• Church staff handles process:

• Through a Provider• Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

• Contract with a providerPROCESS:• Hard copy: must be manually entered• On-line: individual volunteer enters directly to provider• Different levels/depth of checking available• Recommended: Repeat background check process on an

individual every 3 years

Training:• Available to all.• Required for specific positions/volunteers.• Different types of training:• Education & awareness• Specific to ministry- Ex: teacher, chaperone, driver …• Specific to needs-Ex: vulnerable adult, BeFrienders …• Specific to community-Ex: severe weather, flooding …• Specific to current culture-Ex: bullying, cyber bullying …• CPR, First Aid …

• WHICH ARE ANNUAL TRAINING EVENTS?• WHICH ARE REQUIRED EVENTS?

Safety/Security:• Building audit: doors with/without locks; windows in

doors • Severe weather• Fire • Evacuation plan • Building usage• Enter/Exit ~ OR ~ Drop-off/Pick-up • Lock-down • CPR • First Aid • others…

“So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:5