What Would You Do? Spring 2024

Monday, April 22nd, 2024

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 serve. You have known her for quite a few years, and you believe she is trustworthy and would be a good mentor for teens. What would you do?

This can be a tough situation, especially if you know the person. But consistency in your abuse prevention program is important, and the answer is a simple “no.” It’s not about you personally trusting the person. It is about having a policy that does not offer exceptions.

Urge her to finish the training and tell her you’ll follow up on the background check technicality. If all goes well, she will be ready to serve at the next event.

You can also let her know that she can still volunteer for the event, but in a different capacity. There may be donation opportunities or other positions that do not involve direct involvement with the young people.

This is a good reminder for Safe Gatherings administrators to stay on top of their applicants’ statuses through simple reports available on their dashboard. Starting the process early and asking volunteers to follow up on their own status can help avoid problems.