Volunteering with our kids:
safety steps

Thank you. Saying yes to spending time with our Ormewood Church kids is not a small thing. The children of Ormewood are known and loved because people like you keep showing up.

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Whether you have already said yes or you are still thinking about it, here is what serving with our children and youth involves. Everyone goes through the same few steps, whether you are brand new or have been with us for years. We want to be able to say clearly and honestly that every adult with our kids has been screened, trained, and knows our policies.

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Please complete these steps before the next time you volunteer.
 

1. Read and sign the Children and Youth Protection Policy

This is a short form with our Ormewood Church policy attached. It covers our safety guidelines, a brief volunteer application, a few questions to answer and your acknowledgment that you have read the policy. 

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2. Background check

​Once you finish step one we can start your background check, because that form collects your date of birth. You do not need to send it to us separately.

Background checks are good for three years, and ours now run through MinistrySafe. If you are new, or your check is not current, you will get an email from MinistrySafe on our behalf. Your personal information goes directly to the screening service, not to us.

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No news is good news. If anything comes up, we will reach out to you directly.

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3. Training videos from MinistrySafe

Every volunteer completes MinistrySafe's Sexual Abuse Awareness Training plus Camp. It is a series of 10 videos with a 25-question quiz at the end, so we have a record that everyone has finished it. Plan on 30 to 45 minutes total, and you do not have to do it all in one sitting.

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You will get an email directly from MinistrySafe with your login and video links. We wanted you to hear about it from us first, so it does not land in your inbox as a surprise or get lost in your spam folder. Watch for it soon, and please complete it before you serve again.

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For parents: an optional bonus

MinistrySafe also has a Parent and Guardian training series that is not required for volunteering. It is about protecting your own kids: how grooming actually works, how to talk with your children about their bodies and boundaries in age-appropriate ways, and what to pay attention to. One of our volunteers watched the whole series and found it genuinely useful, not fear-based. If you would like access, email Jenelle at  Jenelle@ormewoodchurch.org and she will send it your way. This is open to any parent in our church, whether or not you volunteer.

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Ready to serve?

Once your steps are done, you can pick a Sunday School date on our volunteer signup.

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Questions?

Please ask. We would much rather answer a question than have anyone guess.

Sarah Lamb Roberts (she/her), Children's Ministry Director, children@ormewoodchurch.org

Rev. Jenelle Holmes (she/her), Pastor and Head of Staff, Jenelle@ormewoodchurch.org