Child Safety is one of the largest concerns for a church. Churches have both a spiritual duty to ensure the safety of their children, as well as a legal and ethical duty imposed by law. 

CLICK HERE for a one-page Fact Sheet on Child Safety (filled with great resources for your church)  

The following videos and documents will help you understand the basics of child safety for your church:

• Introduction to our Child Safety Fact Sheet and Resources [VIDEO]
• Child Safety Policy Manual - What needs to be in our Manual?  [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Vetting Potential Workers (both paid and volunteers) - Applications [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Vetting Potential Workers (both paid and volunteers) - Background Checks [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Vetting Potential Workers (both paid and volunteers) - Reference Checks [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Vetting Potential Workers (both paid and volunteers) - Interviews [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Training New Workers [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Supervision of Childcare Workers [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Identification System for Picking Up Children - What do I need to do? [VIDEO #1] [VIDEO #2][WORD]
• Recognizing Child Abuse [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Reporting Child Abuse [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Preventing Child Abuse - Two-Adult Rule [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Preventing Child Abuse - Bathroom Usage Policy [VIDEO] [WORD]
• Preventing Child Abuse - Entry Points to the Childcare Facility & Windows on Doors [VIDEO] [WORD] 

As you develop a Child Safety Policy Manual, you can use the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Sample Child Safety Policy Manual as a guide to help you.

Additionally, here are links to some other resources for churhces from other websites:

Safety & Security Manual (from the Baptist Convention of Maryland and Deleware)

Guidelines for Youth Protection Training (from the Boy Scouts of America)

How to Report Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation of a Child (from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services)