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 >>Tuesday, October 18th, 2016
Halloween can be a magical night for children and youth. It’s the one day of the year when young people use their imagination to dress up as someone or someTHING else and fill their bags with treats! But as you invite the community in for trunk-or-treat or other Halloween-related activities, it’s important that your staff […]
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 >>Wednesday, September 14th, 2016
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 was the 15-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City and beyond. The day left us thinking about safety in general. As you enter your school, church, or organization, is safety on your mind? The nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11 were nearly all adults, either workers in the Twin […]
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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