Welcome, and thank you for volunteering to be a part of First Universalist's ministries with children and youth!
Our policies are designed to ensure a safe, respectful environment for people of all ages. Please read the following guidelines carefully and e-sign the Code of Ethics Agreement at the bottom of this page.
In your work with children and youth, please remember that we teach more by how we interact and treat the young people in our care than by what we say in words. We strive to put our Unitarian Universalist values into practice by treating ourselves and others with respect and kindness, and we challenge ourselves and others to have open minds, loving hearts and helping hands.
We respond to problematic behavior with clear boundaries, care and an invitation to connect. When a child or youth is behaving in a way that is disruptive or disrespectful of their class covenant, try beginning with the first level of intervention in the list below. If that doesn’t work, move to the next intervention, and so on. Do not allow a problem behavior to continue unaddressed. Safety is our first priority. If a participant’s behavior poses a safety risk, start farther down the list with a more immediate, directive response to ensure no one gets hurt.
1. Ignore the behavior to see if it will cease
2. Make eye contact to let the child know you’re “with” them
3. Make gentle verbal contact
4. Invite the child to engage in the lesson
5. Move closer to the child
6. Remind the child of your class covenant, and ask them to adjust their behavior accordingly
7. Ask the child to move to a different spot or task
8. Move with the child to a quiet spot to regroup; ask what they need and tell them what you and the class need
9. Ask staff for additional help
10. With staff support, reach out to parents for more information and solutions
Please keep in mind that the creation of a safe, supportive, and fun class culture is our primary objective. Together, we provide an experience of religious community in which each person is accurately seen and respected as they are, included as part of the group, offered support and compassion, encouraged to explore and grow, and valued as someone possessing inherent worth. Treating each person in this manner is a gift to all members of our church community.
Health and Safety Rules for Volunteers:
- Do not use alcohol, tobacco or drugs during any church sponsored programming.
- Do not have firearms or weapons present while engaging in church programming.
- If transporting youth, always insist everyone wear seat belts while in the car.
- Have adequate personal liability and automobile insurance coverage. If you plan to transport children or youth, you must have a copy of your current driver’s license on file in the RE office.
- Do not leave children or youth unaccompanied during church programming.
Adult/Minor Ratios:
Every effort will be made to maintain the following ratios during all church sponsored events.
- Infant (0-23 months) – 4 infants to 1 adult
- Young child (24 months-5 years) – 6 children to 1 adult
- School-age child (6-12 years) – 8 children to 1 adult
- Youth (13-17 years) – 10 youth to 1 adult
- We ask that two adults are present in RE classrooms at all times. If you are in a classroom by yourself, ask a parent to stay until another teacher arrives.
Congregational Care:
As an RE Teacher or Youth Advisor you have a very special relationship with our children and youth. Children or youth may share something in joys/concerns or check-in that seem appropriate to direct to RE staff so that the church can provide additional support (e.g. family divorce, death, illness, adoption or birth of a child, marriage of a parent). Always ask the child or youth if you may share these issues with staff.
Confidentiality:
Let the children and youth know that what they say in class, stays there, unless an adult believes a child or youth is being physically, emotionally or sexually harmed by someone else. Self-harm is also a reason to break confidentiality (e.g. teen cutting or self-mutilation). When a youth or child tells you they are being harmed, they are asking for help. Invite them to talk with you and staff about the issue. These types of concerns must be reported to staff immediately.
Mandatory Reporting:
In Minnesota, the Mandatory Reporting Act requires certain adults to report abuse or suspected abuse of minors to authorities. As a volunteer at First Universalist, you are NOT a mandatory reporter (even if you are one in your professional role as a teacher, therapist, social worker, etc.). If there is suspected abuse, RE volunteers agree to report this immediately to First Universalist RE staff. Staff, on behalf of the church, will decide if it is necessary and will report suspected abuse to the State.
Electronic communication with youth:
- One on one communication with youth should be avoided by copying another adult on the email/text/message. If a youth contacts an adult one on one, the adult has the responsibility to redirect the conversation to an appropriate channel.
- Adults should only accept “friend” requests from youth on social media networks where:
- adults stay in an appropriate adult role in posting, content, discussion, and moderation of comments on their posts.
- posts and discussion are visible to others.
- posts are not automatically deleted.
- Communication with youth should be archived rather than deleted.
- If a youth contacts an adult via electronic communication regarding a significant pastoral issue, the adult should include church staff in their response. In a case in which the adult is concerned about a youth's immediate safety, initiating an emergency response is appropriate.
- As always, any communication an adult becomes aware of which involve harm to self or others including, but not limited to, self-harm, suicidal ideation, child abuse, sexual crimes against a minor, and bullying, must be shared as quickly as possible with First Universalist Church staff.
Record Keeping:
First Universalist Church staff members will maintain information pertaining to volunteer selection, such as background check release forms, in a locked file cabinet for three years. We will then shred them. A new background check and ethics agreement must be completed each year. This information will never be made public.
Background Checks:
First Universalist’s volunteer background checks are conducted through Trusted Employees. You will receive an email from First Universalist with a link to enter your information online at Church Mutual Insurance Company’s partner, Trusted Employees. Please follow the prompts and submit your information on the same day you receive the email. You will sign an online electronic background check release and will be able to receive a copy of both the release and your completed background check.
CODE OF ETHICS AGREEMENT FOR ADULTS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to a shared ministry of mutual caring, respect and right relations. The Code of Ethics for Adults Working with Children and Youth at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis seeks to cultivate this shared ministry through professional and volunteer relationships that nurture trust, fairness, compassion and good stewardship.
All volunteers agree to follow this Code of Ethics:
I will respect the diversity of spiritualities in our faith community and will not make my personal form of spiritual expression normative.
I will not speak disparagingly of any other First Universalist congregants, ministers or staff in public. In conversations critical of others, I will speak responsibly and temperately.
I will refrain from the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs at any church-sponsored program when I am working with children and youth.
I will refrain from engaging in sexual, seductive or erotic behavior with children and youth. Neither shall I sexually harass or engage in behavior with children and youth which constitute verbal, emotional, or physical abuse.
I acknowledge that I may have access to confidential information and the power this gives me. I will seek council with church staff when I am concerned about the safety of an individual or a group.
I will actively pursue my own faith development and enrichment.
I shall be informed of the code of ethics and agree to it before assuming my role. In cases of violation of this code, appropriate action will be taken.
I shall submit required information and agree to a criminal background check through Trusted Volunteers (as outlined above).
