In any community-focused organization, whether it’s a school, nonprofit, or church, building trust with families is crucial. Parents and caregivers need to feel confident that their children are in a safe and supportive environment when participating in programs or events. One of the best ways to earn this trust is by prioritizing transparency and safety […]
You’re a volunteer at an organization working with young children. After your shift one week, you read an article about mandated reporting. You have heard about this, but you aren’t sure if it applies to you. On the one hand, it seems like the right thing to do. But it also seems a little intimidating. […]
In today’s world, ensuring the safety of children, youth, and vulnerable adults is crucial. Families trust organizations with the well-being of their loved ones, and it’s essential to uphold that trust with transparency and safety measures. Safe Gatherings offers a comprehensive system that gives organizations the tools to protect those they serve while creating confidence […]
An incident has happened at your organization between a volunteer and a young child. You don’t know the details, but you have heard some people speculating about it. Your organization has not said anything official about it that you know of. As you are leaving your volunteer shift one day, a member of the media […]
The amount of information we consume every day through all channels of communication often makes it difficult to distinguish between what is important and what can be added to a stack of unread paperwork. Like a lot of other documents, policies can be overlooked. People sometimes skim a policy or sign it without reading. In […]
A member of your congregation really wants to start volunteering with teenagers but has been slow to finish her abuse prevention training and because of a technicality, her background check has not come back yet. There is an event a few days away, and she comes to you asking for an exception so she can […]
Ten dollars does not go far these days. You can barely get a fast-food meal for that amount. And yet, some churches and organizations spend that same price, or less, on a background check, expecting it to provide an acceptable measure of safety and peace of mind. When in reality, the bargain you thought you […]
Imagine this scenario: You are the payroll manager at a medium-sized church. In addition to your work there, you also fill in as a volunteer with the youth program. You learned about mandatory reporting from your abuse prevention training, but you still aren’t sure whether it applies to you. What do you do? It’s important […]
For many, the start of a new year means making resolutions. More sleep, a more balanced diet, more exercise, travel, you name it. The possibilities are endless. This mindset can be a very positive start to the new year and set you on the right course. As an individual, you may have already mapped out […]
What would you do? It’s Trunk or Treat time at your small church and you are busy lining up cars in anticipation of children in costumes walking around and playing games with congregation members. Most of the cars are registered for the event, but someone you don’t recognize lines up their car at the end […]
When thinking about health, people often think about blood pressure, heart disease and other physical conditions. But that’s not a whole picture of a person’s health. Mental health, which includes a person’s emotional, psychological and social well-being, is important for people of all ages—and just as essential as taking care of our physical selves. According […]
On the playground one day as you are volunteering, you overhear a young girl tell her friend that she has an important secret with Uncle John, a friend of her dad’s. There is something about the way she says it that gives you pause. On the one hand, it could be a surprise party for […]