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Safe Church
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"What could possibly happen when you combine a little glue and glitter along with energetic kids and well-meaning volunteers?" A bit of planning will ensure that the environment you provide is secure and safe for all of the children who attend your VBS.
Remember that being in this situation is not your fault! Be true to yourself.
"Maybe we’ve focused so much on trying to keep children from becoming victims that we’ve forgotten to teach them not to be perpetrators." Let’s stop assuming that children know these values intuitively and realize we need to teach them explicitly.
Now is the time to think and prepare for next year.
"These are the ‘CAPE-abilities’ that can interrupt and prevent abusive behavior and help those recover who have experienced abuse." - World Institute on Disability
Children living with disabilities are more likely to be abused. An article states that one in three children with an identified disability for which they receive special education services are victims of some type of maltreatment compared to one in 10 nondisabled children.
An emotional abuser intentionally and repeatedly threatens or says harsh words to wear another person down. Once worn down, the victim will try to avoid hearing the threats or nasty words again by doing what the abuser asks.
Churches and caring individuals can help stop elder abuse and mistreatment in their families and the community. Stand up for vulnerable adults in your neighborhoods and congregation.
Synod has encouraged each classis to have a Safe Church team made up of representatives from each church. The team is a resource to churches, can support local churches in creating safety at the congregational level and empowers churches to be a support to individuals affected by abuse.
Explain to children that, if they think that they are being abused, they need to tell someone they trust. Urge them never to keep abuse a secret, even if the person hurting them tells them that something bad will happen if they tell.
Some Parts are NOT for Sharing is a child's first book on body safety and is a must read for every child. Protect your children today, there is no greater gift you can give them.
Abuse is not always physical or sexual; there are many other ways that power and control can be maintained in a relationship.
Why does the CRC have Safe Church Ministry? How did it come to be? What does the denomination say about it? The resources below will help answer these questions.
“Dating violence refers to a pattern of actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse perpetrated by an adolescent against a current or former dating partner.”
Attached is a link to a free webinar on mandated reporting for churches.
Power can control many things in your life, but it cannot control, or bring you, the love you seek.
Find a link to the Safe Church Ministry Poster and learn more about our ministry as we strive to equip congregations in Abuse Awareness, Prevention, and Response.
Find helpful books, articles, and documents on child abuse awareness.
Here's a link to the Safe Church Ministry brochure. Learn more about our ministry as we strive to equip congregations in Abuse Awareness, Prevention, and Response.
Here are four books that Safe Church Ministry recommends on the topic of bullying.
"Part of the work is ensuring that boundaries are established and maintained, the harm of sexual abuse is understood, and healthy relationships are actively talked about. Each of these is essential to prevention.”
Dove's Nest has created resources to help churches focus on the role they can play in child abuse prevention.
"Often, ministers want to resolve such matters internally through counseling with the victim or the alleged offender, without contacting civil authorities.” Richard R. Hammar goes on to explain that “such a response can have serious legal consequences.”
We can begin to prevent abuse by starting at an early age to teach our children respect for themselves and for one another; and by helping them learn what to do in situations that feel unsafe.