What would you do? Summer 2023

Tuesday, July 25th, 2023

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 the dad or something of that nature. On the other hand, you know from your training that secrets between young people and adults can be cause for concern. What do you do?

It takes effort from everyone to keep children and youth safe. As a volunteer or staff member with your organization, it is especially important to be aware of what kids are saying, both to you and to each other. Kudos to you for keeping your eyes and ears open!

In this case, it is important to tell your supervisor what you have heard and let them handle it. Ideally, the church or organization has a policy in place for scenarios such as these. Most people would consider this a tricky situation: you don’t want to get someone in trouble for something harmless, but it is also better to be safe than sorry. The safety of children is more important than a simple misunderstanding, and hopefully the child’s parents will be appreciative. Either way, report your concerns always!