Checklist For Policy And Procedures

Checklist for Developing Safe Sanctuary Policy and Procedures This checklist is a guide to assist congregations in completing appropriate tasks related to keeping safe children, youth, and the adults who work with them.

First Steps • Read this book. • Talk with appropriate leaders in the congregation, beginning with the pastor. • Recruit appropriate people for the task force, as approved by the church council. (See pages 43 and 62.)

Task Group • Read this book and discuss it as group, identifying specific issues for your congregation. (See page 43.) • Begin educating the congregation. (See pages 5—21.) • Set a timetable and make task lists. Allow time for congregational education and discussion and for thinking, discussing, planning, and testing. (See pages 43—44.) • Develop a policy statement that includes the what (keeping children safe) and the why (theological statements). (See page 63.) • Test the policy statement with the appropriate people. • Develop implementation procedures that include suggestions from parents, teachers, staff, and others as appropriate. (See pages 31—36 and the list below.) • Test the implementation procedures with the appropriate people. • Provide regular progress updates to the appropriate groups.

Approval • When ready, take to the church council the policy statement for approval and the implementation procedures for information only. (See page 48.) • Plan a congregational celebration. (See pages 49—50 and 77—78.) Consider these areas for inclusion in the implementation procedures: • Nursery • Sunday school • Weekday childcare, children’s groups, and other regular and special settings where children are present • Youth, including transportation, overnights, mentoring/counseling • Hiring staff and recruitment of volunteers (See pages 23—29 and 46—47.) • Response to allegations of abuse (See pages 37—41 and 47—48.) • Plan for caring after abuse (See pages 55—60.) • Storing, accessing, and managing records and files • Ongoing training of staff, volunteers, parents, church leadership, and new members/attendees (See pages 17— 21, 31—36, 51—54, and your policy and procedures.) • Regular review of policies, including the assignment of responsibility to a particular church office/committee • Process for making procedural changes (and possible changes in the policy statement)

© 1998 Discipleship Resources Permission is given to reproduce this form for churches who have purchased Safe Sanctuaries.