Training for Volunteers Working With Children at Church and Local School?

Thanks for your question, Nancy, 

A few thoughts come to mind. The first is that Safe Church Ministry recommends every church have a team in place to assess their own community's culture of abuse prevention, facilitate background checks, training in policy and a variety of efforts to raise awareness of abuse, and respond to abuse with compassion and justice that foster healing. This looks different in every congregation, but I have been inspired from my experiences with how churches have been able to assess and identify some people from within their community that are connected to local community resources that are experts in this. I would also wonder about resources from the school to help train volunteers from the church.

Lastly, I did a quick look and found a local Childhood Advocacy Center in Rochester, NY, called Bivona Childhood Advocacy Center. Many CACs have assisted congregations in trainings to prevent abuse.

Also,  Plan to Protect has been used by a variety of churches to help create policy and train their volunteers.

Those are just a few thoughts! Feel free to email me at [email protected] and I may also be able to connect you to a person in your classis who may further support you.

 

While not specifically related to your inquiry, I would recommend Circle of Grace as a part of your youth curriculum. Circle of Grace is a Christian safe environment curriculum that helps teach the value of positive relationships with God and others. You can find out more at this Network Circle of Grace Preview article.