FOR ALL ACTIVITIES WHERE CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE PRESENT
All members of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church carry a responsibility to provide a safe and caring community in which our children and youth and adults are respected, in which their self-worth is affirmed, and in which spiritual, social, and intellectual growth is encouraged.
We will achieve these goals through the implementation of "Toward a Safe Church and Safe Congregation" policies and procedures. A complete copy of this document is available from the church office.
Some important highlights are:
- Staff and volunteers working with children and youth will have attended the UUCC regularly for at least 12 months and will have been through the appropriate screening and training process.
- Two appropriately screened supervisors will be present at all times in the Nursery, Children and Youth Religious Exploration Classes and during any church-sponsored activity involving children and youth.
- No children will be dismissed from class without appropriate supervisory parent or guardian.
- Church functions providing childcare require at least two youth and one supervising adult.
- All furniture and equipment in the classrooms will be cleaned regularly and inspected for safety.
If it comes to the attention that any of the Safe Church and Congregation policies are not being complied with, please inform our Minister, DRE or a member of the Board of Trustees.
CHILD CARE POLICY FOR EVENTS AT UUCC
In accordance with our Safe Church Policy, all events/classes that have childcare or classroom situations with children/youth must have present at all times two adults or two youth (with a supervising adult checking in on them).
The RE Committee and Director of Religious Exploration will keep a list of potential child-care providers available to all UUCC groups wishing to employ providers. This list will consist of recommended youth and adults who have had criminal background checks and have had orientation for work as a childcare provider or classroom facilitator.
The group sponsoring the event will be responsible for contacting providers and for paying providers or confirming volunteerism for any event. If youth are employed/volunteer, the group is responsible for checking in with the youth over the course of the event.
All groups wishing to employ childcare options will be required to read the Safe Congregation Policy Summary and sign a statement that they understand the responsibilities they take on as a group when providing childcare for our congregation.
For UUCC congregational meetings, the DRE will be responsible for childcare options. For all other events, the sponsoring group is responsible for childcare options.
We encourage the use of childcare to provide greater options for all members of our congregation to participate in the important and valuable opportunities our church offers.
Please note, “youth” are defined as people ages 13 to 18. For childcare, we recommend youth16 or older.