{"id":32191,"date":"2018-01-10T15:44:08","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T22:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wwv.group.com\/childrens-ministry\/?p=32191"},"modified":"2018-01-10T15:44:08","modified_gmt":"2018-01-10T22:44:08","slug":"5-safety-practices-2018-every-church-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwv.group.com\/childrens-ministry\/blog\/shepherds-watch\/5-safety-practices-2018-every-church-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Safety Practices for 2018 That Every Church Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A quick review of this past year makes us realize how much the world has changed, and not always for the better. Gone are the days the church was the one safe place in town to bring your kids. With mass shooters invading schools, movie theaters, malls, and yes, even churches\u2014this is the year to resolve to keep your church and ministry safe. Here are the top five safety practices every church needs to have in place for 2018.<\/p>\n

Child<\/strong> Check-in Procedure<\/strong><\/p>\n

Having a secure system in place to check kids in and out is now a standard operating procedure in children\u2019s ministry. Be sure to utilize a system for every event and program offered for children and not just for Sunday school.<\/p>\n

Emergency Action Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Does your church have a response plan in place for if a disaster hits? First Presbyterian Church in Waunakee, Wisconsin, has a written plan to cover key concerns such as severe storms, fire, an active shooter, robbery, and threats. All ministry leaders at this church are required to read and sign off on the action plan and attend training annually. An emergency action plan spells out exactly what needs to be done\u2014and who needs to do it.<\/p>\n

Triage Team<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recruit paramedics, doctors, and nurses to assist in the event of medical emergencies. Teams can be on call as needed, but make sure someone with medical training is available at every service and program your church conducts. Equip triage teams with access to medical and first-aid supplies.<\/p>\n

Churchwide Security System<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jeff Kowell, director of life safety at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, says security teams at his church are trained to look for \u201cDLRs,\u201d meaning \u201cDon\u2019t Look Right.\u201d Trained team members are strategically located throughout the interior and exterior of the church to make sure everyone is safe. To maximize the effectiveness of your security team members, equip them with a communication system\u2014two-way radios, for example.<\/p>\n

Background Checks<\/strong><\/p>\n

A comprehensive background check<\/a>\u00a0is still the best defense in screening out potential predators. Trends show that annual<\/em> rechecking is now the norm. Consult your insurance provider, local schools, and area churches to determine how often you\u2019ll rescreen those who work with children and youth.<\/p>\n

Churches of every size have the resources to fully protect their people. Activate these standards and create a safe, inviting church environment for years to come.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

– – Taken from a recent Shepherd’s Watch<\/a> newsletter. Sign up today for Shepherd’s Watch Background Checks<\/a> and receive your free monthly newsletter filled with advice and tips on keeping your church safe.<\/p>\n

[We love to provide tips to keep your ministry safe. However, you may also want to consult your local legal advisors to get their perspective on this topic.][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A quick review of this past year makes us realize how much the world has changed, and not always for the better. Gone are the days the church was the one safe place in town to bring your kids. With mass shooters invading schools, movie theaters, malls, and yes, even churches\u2014this is the year to resolve to keep your church […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":32196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[722],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32191","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shepherds-watch"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Safety Practices for 2018 That Every Church Needs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A quick review of the past year makes us realize how much the world has changed, and not always for the better. 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