What Would You Do?

Friday, October 23rd, 2015

Imagine this scenario: You are a volunteer in the tweens group at your church. Julia is a 12-year-old girl who is in a wheelchair and requires assistance with bathroom activity. Your group is short-staffed, so you are sent alone to help her use the restroom. Is this acceptable?

The answer is NO. Remember the two-person rule? This rule says that no individual should be alone with a child. This policy is in effect regardless of the situation.

There should be a staff person and another adult to provide bathroom assistance for Julia. Volunteers should be trained specifically as to how to discreetly handle this situation, and parents should provide input into how they handle the child’s needs. In addition, the parents should provide written permission as to their wishes, and this paperwork should be in Julia’s file.