Safety First

Safety and security must be a top priority.

We can’t teach boys and girls about Jesus if parents don’t feel safe leaving their children at our VBS. Safety and security must be a top priority.

1. Screen All Volunteers

The first step in ensuring children are safe at your VBS is to screen all your volunteers. This should be the bare minimum. Every volunteer over the age of 18 needs to have a background check on file. Keep in mind that not all background checks are thorough. Do your research to find out what your background check covers—some are only statewide.

Also, background checks can only reveal if a person has been caught doing wrong and it has been added to their criminal record. Volunteer screening is another layer of safety that is highly recommended. Talk to church members and friends about potential volunteers you are not familiar with. Does that person come recommended to work around kids?

2. Limit to Authorized Volunteers Only

Only authorized volunteers (with a completed and clean background and reference check) should have access to children. How are you ensuring this? What will you do if a parent wishes to sit in during class time? What if a new church attendee shows up to VBS to hang out? What if someone wanders in off the street?

Put policies in place so that only authorized volunteers have access to children. Consider the following:

• Locking all outside doors
• Requiring visitors to check in at the office or at a VBS checkpoint
• Requiring volunteers to wear a name tag
• Communicating your authorized volunteer policy
• Having a printed volunteer policy (which includes church membership, a background check, an application, and a reference check)

3. Watch for Potential Red Flags

Do you know what to watch for when it comes to red flags with potential predators? These would include adults trying to isolate a child, repeatedly singling out a specific child, giving gifts to a single child, being aggressive when questioned about their behavior, and more. Know what to watch for when it comes to predators and create an open policy where volunteers can bring concerns to you or the pastor without fear of retribution.

4. Proactively Prevent Possible Safety Situations

Put policies and procedures in place so that all children are safe.

Be proactive when it comes to safety and security. Put policies and procedures in place so that all children are safe.

• Train your volunteers on the safety and security policy.
• Train your volunteers to recognize signs of abuse.
• Have a bad weather plan. (Where do you go in the event of a tornado?)
• Have a policy for what to do if there is an intruder or active shooter.
• Clearly communicate all allergies or medical conditions that volunteers need to be aware of.
• Maintain a two-volunteer rule at all times.
• Enforce name tags being worn at all times.
• Have a clear and enforced bathroom policy.
• Set clear photo/social media guidelines for pictures of the children.
• Lock outside doors.
• Enlist a security team.
• Monitor the parking lot/any street crossings when children are being dropped off/picked up.
• Enforce a check-in/check-out policy.
• Never release a child to an unauthorized adult.

We want boys and girls to hear Jesus’s life-changing message, but in order for that to happen, parents need to feel that their children are safe in your care. No one wants to think something bad could happen to them. I can personally tell you that bad stuff can happen at churches, even small country churches where everyone knows everyone, just as it can happen at large or megachurches. We live in a fallen world, sadly.

Make safety and security your priority. These children are worth it.