(September 2009)
The Bible clearly communicates the high value that God places on children. In Mark 10:14 Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in His arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." At LifeSpring, we desire to bring children to Jesus in a safe, nurturing environment where the love of God can be seen and felt.In order to do all that we can to protect the children and students in our care, we place a high priority on the careful recruitment, screening, placement, and ongoing training of all of our teachers, caregivers, and leaders who serve in our children's and student ministries. We also believe that careful attention to the following guidelines will be of benefit to all volunteers and staff working with children and youth, and to the church as a whole.
Screening process for teachers/leaders/volunteers
1. A 6-month waiting period
All volunteers will attend LifeSpring for a minimum of 6 months before being placed in a ministry with children or youth. This waiting period allows potential volunteers time to become an active part of the church and begin to understand the church's mission, vision, and values. It also gives ministry leaders time to get acquainted with a potential volunteer, allowing a better match of ministry opportunity to volunteer interest and ability.
If a potential volunteer expresses a desire to serve in ministry with children or youth prior to a 6-month period of church involvement, they will be invited to engage in the following proces
- Attend leadership team meetings where they will be an active member participating in discussions on vision, strategy, and implementation.
- Attend new member classes.
- Meet one-on-one once during the first month and once during the sixth month with either the site-specific Minister/Director or LifeSpring cross-campus Ministry Team Leader to determine area of service. Opportunities may be made available for a volunteer to serve temporarily in another area of ministry or to serve in children's or student ministries in a role which does not involve direct contact with students.
- Explore skills/spiritual gifts through assessment tools.
The following people may be exempted from the 6-month church attendance policy:
(1) College students living in Cincinnati for the school year who have their membership placed at their hometown church but who want to serve at LCC during the school year. References from home church required plus the normal screening process.
(2) Volunteers who are working in an area of children’s/student ministry (a) “behind the scenes” with no direct contact with children/students (cooking team, set-up/tear-down team, administrative team, etc.), (b )in positions not involving teaching or discipleship responsibilities. All other screening protocols would remain in place.
2. Screening Form and background check (including reference check and criminal records check)
Great care must be given to help ensure that those who are placed in positions of leadership and responsibility over children and youth are suited to such work. No one with any history of violent criminal behavior of any criminal behavior involving minors will be allowed to serve in children’s or student ministry. References will be used to verify a volunteer’s past experiences with minors.
3. Personal Meeting
All volunteers will be personally interviewed by the staff person responsible for the ministry area in which they desire to serve. Every effort will be made to match an individual’s interests and abilities with the ministry’s need. In this interview, the screening form and background check will be reviewed and ministry expectations will be explained.
4. Training
In order to raise awareness among all volunteers working with children and youth on the issues surrounding child abuse and neglect, all regular ministry volunteers are required to participate in a training session focused on recognizing the signs of child abuse and how to respond in addition to any other training required for a specific ministry.
5. Ongoing Safety and Security Expectations
Once children and student ministry volunteers have been placed in an area of ministry, the following practices will be utilized to ensure the safety and security of children and youth under our supervision:
- A minimum of 2 volunteers (at least 1 over 18) will be present in any classroom or with any group of students gathered for ministry purposes
- A volunteer and student can set up to have a private conversation as long as it is in a public area-not alone
- Doors without windows will be left open in any classroom
- Windows will be clear of obstructions
- Children will be accompanied to the bathroom by a teacher. Teachers will remain near the bathroom door with the door open. Teachers will not enter a bathroom stall to assist a child for any reason
- Off-campus activities must be approved by a staff person
- Adult volunteers will not participate in private on line communication with students. Volunteers may communicate with students in the following electronic modes of communication as long as it is either (1) CC to another adult or (2) sent as a group distribution list:
Cell phone texting
Email
Online chatting
- Children will always be accompanied by two or more adult volunteers when being transported by car. Adult volunteers cannot be alone transporting a student. Adults transporting students need to have at least 2 students or 1 student/1 adult volunteer in the car at all times while transporting
- Adult volunteers may only contact students by telephone for administrative purposes
- When adult volunteers and students are sharing a room/tent for sleeping, there will always be at least 2 adult volunteers in a room/tent where students are sleeping and in a bathroom where students are showering
Policy Exceptions
Quick Screen
We recognize that there will be times when a thorough screening process will be unnecessary or impractical. Volunteers screened in the following manner will always serve under the supervision of another fully-screened volunteer, and will never have one-on-one access to a child.
- Minors will not be required to submit to a criminal background check. If working as a regular teacher or caregiver, minors will have a one-on-one meeting with a supervising staff member
- Parents serving in a child’s classroom on a temporary basis (fewer than 4 times a year) as a helper (under the direct supervision of a full- screened volunteer) will be required only to complete a screening form
- Drivers will complete a screening form and must be on the approved driver list
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