Safeguarding God’s Children Training
All are welcome at our first Safeguarding God’s Children training on Sunday, May 7 at 10:15-11:15 am in the sanctuary.
The council recently approved a Safeguarding God’s Children policy that aims to prevent child sexual abuse on the Esperanza campus and during Esperanza ministries, including at Children of Hope. The policy includes specific guidelines for how adults and children interact in order to create a safe space for children. For instance, the policy stipulates that one adult and one child may not be alone in a room unless the door is open and they are clearly visible to other people.
Those who regularly volunteer with children are required to go through a Safeguarding God’s Children training, and those who volunteer only ocasionally, say, at Vacation Bible School once a year, are encouraged to receive the training. However, the training is beneficial for everyone regardless of volunteering with kids. At the one hour training, we will discuss the finer points of the policy, practice healthy ways of interacting with kids, and learn how we can create a truly safe space for our youngest members!