Youth Safety Policy
"SAFE BOUNDARIES"
Guidelines For Interaction With Youth
at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church
Children should receive love, nurture and protection. Negative remarks about children and their parents shall not be tolerated.
All adult supervisors should serve as role models of the adult Christian life as they relate to youth and as they conduct themselves at St. Aidan's and in the surrounding communities.
Parents should be welcome at all youth activities.
Don't ignore problems by looking the other way. Youth will respect and trust
your authority and ability to work through problems.
Always protect a youth who may be a victim.
Discipline action may never take the form of physical or psychological punishment. A threatening manner or voice is never to be used with a youth.
The only two acceptable forms of discipline action you should consider are talking things over with the youth and declaring a brief "time-out" from activities being conducted at the moment. If difficult behavior persists, then bringing the matter to the attention of the staff members is appropriate in order to consider what additional behavior modification might be pursued. The final resort will be calling the youth's parents.
If you lose your patience with a youth, you are to take a "time-out" by placing the youth in the care of another supervising adult. Always think about safety first.
Develop an appropriate emergency plan for all youth outings. This plan should include identifying who is responsible for coordinating an emergency response, accessible emergency phone numbers, health history and permission-to-treat forms, and first aid kits.
Only adult supervisors (21 years old or older) shall be permitted to drive in any youth activities.
In no event shall any youth be permitted to ride in a car without a buckled seatbelt.
Children should never be dropped off at a ministry activity unless there is a leader present. Parents should stay with their children until a leader arrives.
For elementary school children or younger, a single child or group of children shall not be left unattended in any room at the Church or ministry.
All youth activities must have at least two adults (21 years old or older) present. For events such as Sunday School, the second adult (such as the Sunday School coordinator) can be checking classrooms on a periodic basis.
One-to-one counseling with a youth should always occur in a public place - never alone behind a closed door, in a car or in a private place.
Except in the event of an emergency, avoid being alone with a youth in an automobile.
If it is necessary to ride or drive alone with a youth, special care is to be taken:
(a) don't sit close to one another in the car;
(b) no physical contact;
(c) do not stop the car to talk;
(d) if you must stop, turn on the inside light of the car;
(e) be aware of the time when you depart and arrive and mark those times in your diary or record.
Any verbal or nonverbal sexual behavior with any student is inappropriate.
Dating or going out with any high school student is forbidden.
Discretion must be used in dealing with all students, especially regarding physical contact. Innocent behavior can be misinterpreted. A hug around the shoulders is not sexual abuse, but a full body-to-body hug, stroking, massaging, or an affectionate kiss raises questions and should be avoided. Any overt display of affection should be made only in a public setting in front of other group members.
Sexual gestures or overtures to a staff member by a student should be reported so that discussion can be held with the student.
Sexual harassment, either active or passive, verbal or nonverbal, is inappropriate among youth leaders, workers, and youth group members.
Be alert to signs of physical or sexual abuse. Evidence of abuse should be
immediately reported.