Security of Children

Mrs A and I are childless, so my opinion is not worth as much as a father's; but if the child is not released to anyone other than the parent who signed them in, I think that in a larger church (where not everyone may know everyone else) this may be a good policy.

 

Recently our church implemented higher security measures with regards to children. For example, glass panels were installed in all of the Sunday school room doors. Plus several other measures, especially with the nursery.

Why? To be in compliance with recommendations from our libability insurance carrier. Suspect that many churches already have or will have to implement tigher security in order to maintain insurance coverage.

 

Everyone that teaches must go through a nation-wide security check.

Every-other-year classes in how to recognise child abuse is given.

Each child is checked in by a parent, the child and the parent are tagged with a colored wrist band. Only that parent may pick up the child.

At least two adults per classroom.

Bathroom breaks are done in groups with supervision.

Exit doors are locked from the outside, a supervisor is posted at the front of the childrens class area.

Every door has windows - we've considered security cameras.

If child abuse is suspected in the church we report it - and we've already had to do it.

Have we gone to far? We protect our childen!

Rob

 

Think of the all-to-common divorce where the custody of a child is debated.
Do you want the church to be liable for a "stolen" child?

Rob

 

Can't be to careful. I can't pick up my g grandchildren without prior approval.

 

What Deacon says is how our rather large but not mega church does it too.

The much smaller church my daughter attends doesn't go to that sort of security. But there are windows on the doors. And usually no more than 5 or 6 under 5 years old children at a time. It was when my daughter and her friend took over the nursery that the friend's mother and I suggested there needed to be two, if only in case of a health emergency. They don't use wrist bands, but the children go back to the parents, period.

These things are just wise precautions no matter the size of the church and/or nursery.