Safeguarding |
DISCLAIMER: The forms on the faithwebbing.com website have been drafted as templates and sample documents, and may not be appropriate for the specific needs of your particular organization. Before implementing any documents you should consult with your own congregational attorney and insurance agent to make certain that the document you eventually use is correct and current under the law of your particular jurisdiction and that the document meets your needs for your situation.
Is Your Congregation Adhering to Your Government Laws? Safeguarding has become a huge topic. It is time to make sure that your congregation has the necessary system in place to protect your children, youth, volunteers, staff members, and the church as an organization. Not Convinced? Consider this... A regional representative of one of the largest congregational insurance companies in the United States recently told faithwebbing.com that their company averages about 250 claims of sexual abuse in congregations per year. That averages to about 5 per week. And that is just one insurance company! This issue is real! In addition, the topic of Safeguarding can quickly become overwhelming as thinking through and attempting to guard against every conceivable scenario is mind-boggling. Having said that, here are some basic guidelines we can give you to get you started. The End Result: Whatever Safeguarding system you design for your congregation you want to make sure that two people are happy! They would be your congregational attorney and your congregational insurance agent. If they are happy then you can feel confident that you have done your due diligence in creating a system that is in the best interest for all. Also check out the Safeguarding webinar for a full presentation and breakout video clips. It can be accessed on the Main Menu page Click Here to get started: Safeguarding 101 When you meet with your agent: Good Insurance Questions to Ask Click Here: How Safe is Your Ministry Survey (Note: this is an extensive survey in PDF format. Feel free to convert to a format you can edit. Otherwise, read through it to glean ideas). Time to go deeper: Safeguarding 201 (a step by step guide) |
Below are some templates and documents that may prove beneficial to the creation of a Safeguarding system. You may also visit the
"Example Forms" section of the website for other pertinent templates. Best Practices Supplemental Ideas Best Practice Document Example with Supplements (A church example) Handbook of Best Practices with Supplements (Another church example) Best Practices Document Template English Best Practices Document Template Spanish Who is Your Media Spokesperson Social Media and Technology Covenant (Adult) Social Media and Technology Covenant (Teens) Church Mutual Missions Trips and Safety (An older article that gives good advice) Thinking Through Trips, Travel, and Emergencies (Good safety and liability advice) Authorization And Request For Criminal Records (Get signed approval before running background checks) Indemnity And Release Form Parent/Guardian Consent Form Parent/Guardian Consent To Medical/Dental/Hospital Release, Waiver, and Indemnity Agreement Wireless Internet Agreement |