Friday, February 11th, 2022
We are excited to see you at the ELCA Extravaganza 2022 in Minneapolis, starting today! Visit our booth to learn more about Safe Gatherings and ask us about our newest product, Policy Builder!
Read More >>Monday, January 24th, 2022
Want to know who is Safe Gatherings approved or their status in the process? Need to know who is pending and needs to provide a new reference? All you have to do is log in, and the information is right at your fingertips. When you want to find out who is pending and why, login […]
Read More >>Monday, January 24th, 2022
Imagine this scenario: You are the office manager at a small church. Because you are at a small church, you wear many hats and also fill in for the children’s ministry, including helping in the classrooms periodically. You’ve heard the term “mandatory reporter,” but you don’t know whether it applies to you. What do you […]
Read More >>Monday, January 24th, 2022
I think we can all agree on one thing: it’s been a difficult couple of years for most people. Covid-19 has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind, whether it’s been an illness or death among family and friends, an uncertain work situation or the general sense of unrest. In challenging times, we also know […]
Read More >>Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
Over the past few months, Safe Gatherings sent window clings to churches and organizations that met the criteria so far in 2021. We send these out each year to recognize those organizations that demonstrate a commitment to the Safe Gatherings program. When churches and organizations post the window clings on the windows and doors of […]
Read More >>Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
You are volunteering in a children’s department at your organization, and you are supervising kids outside on the playground. A child approaches you and says his uncle has been hurting him. The child says his uncle told him it is a secret just between them, and the boy is afraid he will get in trouble […]
Read More >>Wednesday, October 20th, 2021
There are many areas in life where adults don’t need a written set of instructions on how to do something, or a set of rules or guidelines to review. We just know what to do—whether by experience or by instinct. The same does not hold true when it comes to a child protection policy at […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
Do you know the most frequent reason that a Safe Gatherings application is delayed? It might not be what you think. You may be thinking that the background check is most frequently what causes an application to be delayed, but that’s not correct. The most frequent reason? The applicant’s own references! How can that be? […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
A regular volunteer comes to you two days before the mission trip she has planned to attend and says that her Safe Gatherings approval has not come back yet. You had reminded her a couple of times over the last month or two, but she still hasn’t completed the necessary steps. She says, “I’ve been […]
Read More >>Tuesday, July 27th, 2021
Comparing the store brand with the name brand in a grocery store is a good use of time. The ingredient lists are often the same, despite one being a little more expensive. When it comes to background checks, though, it’s really important that you think about the phrase, “You get what you pay for.” In […]
Read More >>Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Over this past year, we know there have been many changes in organizations, and this includes staffing. This newsletter’s administrative tip is to remind you to let us know about these changes. We want to make sure we are still communicating with the right people. If you have Safe Gatherings admin changes, please call us […]
Read More >>Friday, April 23rd, 2021
You are a leader in a children’s ministry and your current policy is that all staff, volunteers, and congregants wear protective masks during church activities because of COVID-19. This policy was communicated to all staff and volunteers and is posted on your church doors. You have a volunteer that refuses to wear a mask, saying […]
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