Tuesday, January 24th, 2017
On December 30, a 12-year-old student at Cedartown Middle School in Polk County, Ga., took a live video while she hanged herself in her backyard. In the video, she says she was sexually and physically abused by a relative. The video, initially posted through the livestream app LiveMe, went viral and was uploaded to sites […]
Read More >>Tuesday, January 24th, 2017
As someone who works with children, you know there are some situations that are inevitable around little ones. You’ll be wiping noses, cleaning up crumbs, using tissues to brush tears away, and then there’s that other task—discipline. No matter how long your volunteer shift or work day is, there will be times during the day […]
Read More >>Tuesday, January 24th, 2017
Imagine this scenario: You are a volunteer working late and you look out the window to see an acquaintance of yours, Mike, dropping off a young child back to the facility where you are volunteering. They were alone in the car, and the child looks upset as she runs back into the facility. Mike has […]
Read More >>Tuesday, January 24th, 2017
If you are the administrator on your Safe Gatherings account, did you know that you can easily change your payment options in the Safe Gatherings system? It’s easy and takes just one step. “How do I change from Applicant Pay to Organization Pay?” is a common question we get from Safe Gatherings administrators. It’s easy […]
Read More >>Monday, October 24th, 2016
Are your applicants having trouble finding their church, school, or organization during the registration process? We’ve made changes to help clarify the process. “My church or organization isn’t on the list” is a common statement from applicants who are new to Safe Gatherings. That’s why Safe Gatherings has added new language to the first page […]
Read More >>Monday, October 24th, 2016
As someone who works with children and youth, you probably know the basic definition of sexual abuse. According to childhelp.org, sexual abuse occurs when an adult (or older/more powerful child) uses a child for sexual purposes or involves a child in sexual acts. In addition to the physical aspect, sexual abuse can also involve non-contact […]
Read More >>Monday, October 24th, 2016
Imagine this scenario: You are a volunteer at your church, school, or organization’s Trunk or Treat event. Your main task is to make sure that kids are following the path of cars to keep the line moving. You notice a man walking around with a camera, taking photos of children. You don’t recognize the guy, […]
Read More >>Monday, October 24th, 2016
Kind behavior and bullying behavior have one thing in common: they both have lasting effects. A kind word or smile can make a young person feel good for the rest of the day. Name-calling and other bullying behaviors will not only make a child feel bad in the moment—it can have effects that range from […]
Read More >>Friday, September 30th, 2016
Whether you call it your “sixth sense” or listening to your gut, you know when something doesn’t seem right. Your responsibilities put you in a good position to observe children and be alert to unusual changes in behavior or moods. Unfortunately, you may even see an adult acting irresponsibly with a child or youth under […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 26th, 2016
Imagine this scenario: You are a volunteer at a camp and you are instructed to be there at 8 a.m. to be ready for the kids coming at 8:30 a.m. Your co-volunteer called to say she’s running late. Soon after, a mom pulls up to drop off her son early. You know from your training […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 26th, 2016
Pokemon GO: It’s a gaming phenomenon like no other and currently, the most popular phone app in U.S. history. Many people are quick to dismiss the game, whether because of long-held ideas about Pokemon (a successful video game franchise from the 90s), or resistance to social media, technology, or kids using cell phones. But let’s […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 26th, 2016
Some people are born leaders, and others work their entire lives to get there—but everyone can use some reminders about what it takes to be a good leader. Here are some tips for effective leadership: 1. Be a good listener. Open your ears to those around you. A good leader listens to ideas, feedback, and […]
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