1. Safeguarding Children, Youth, Volunteers, Church Staff, and the Congregation It just make sense!

2. Questions? Contact the Director of Youth & Family Ministry
in the Southern Ohio Synod Office:
Gary Pecuch
300 South Second Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

3. Don’t Go It Alone!
The Director of Youth & Family Ministry is available through , phone call or an onsite visit.
A Step by Step Guide to “Creating a Congregational Best Practices Safeguarding System Regarding Minors” is available on the Synod website.

4. Whenever noted that resources or forms are available on the synod website, the indicated materials can be found in the Youth & Family section of the site under either “resources”, “forms”, or “safeguarding”

5. Okay….
So Where Do We Start?

6. Know The Law
On March 22, 2001, Amended Ohio Senate Bill 187 became law (Ohio Revised Code sections , , ).  The legislation’s purpose is to help ensure that youth-serving organizations that place volunteers in positions requiring “unsupervised access to children on a regular basis” use appropriate screening methods.

7. Amended Ohio Senate Bill 187.
Please Note….
Churches are required
to adhere to
Amended Ohio Senate Bill 187.

8. The First Steps Contact the Director of Youth & Family Ministry
Obtain the Southern Ohio Synod step by step guide for “Creating a Congregational Best Practice Safeguarding System Regarding Minors”
Create a Safety Team
Obtain the Amended Ohio Senate Bill 187 Revised Codes
Obtain the Ohio Community Service Council “Best Practices” Document
Find out the name of your insurance agent
Obtain safeguarding materials from your congregational insurance company
Find out the name of your congregational attorney

9. Using the step by step guide provided by the Synod Office create a draft of a Congregational Best Practices Safeguarding System Regarding Minors document specifically for your congregation

10. Note that many insurance companies provide some sort of sample Best Practices or Safeguarding System document that you can adopt as your own.
If not, the Synod provides examples you can use
*Also Note: Always give priority to any examples or templates provided to you by your insurance company

11. You Need Legal Advice Turn over to your congregational attorney…
The Amended Ohio Senate Bill 187 Revised Codes.
The Ohio Community Service Council Best Practices Document and
Any pertinent information obtained from your congregational insurance company
A draft of your newly created Congregational Best Practices Safeguarding System Regarding Minors Document

12. Please note that it is important for your congregational attorney to check to see if there have been any revisions to Amended Ohio Senate Bill 187

13. The reason that the Synod Office can not make specific recommendations in this area is that each insurance company has its own set of standards, guidelines, and recommendations pertaining to the screening process of church volunteers

14. Your Director of Youth and Family Ministry is here to help
However, the step by step guide to “Creating a Congregational Best Practices Safeguarding System Regarding Minors” has been created specifically for Southern Ohio Synod congregations
This step by step guide will walk you through the entire process of creating a Safeguarding System for your congregation
Still have questions?
Your Director of Youth and Family
Ministry is here to help

15. Other Things to Consider
Visit the Youth & Family Website for…
A list of good insurance company questions to ask
Example Volunteer Enlistment Process Letters
Example Adult Volunteer Application Forms
Example Background Check Forms

16. Example Medical Forms
Example Driver Application Forms
Example Best Practices Documents
Example Reporting Forms
Help in Thinking Through Trips, Travel, and Emergencies

17. Know Very Specifically What Your Insurance Company Covers and/or Does Not Cover!

18. You should familiarize yourself with any Hazardous Activities list that your insurance company may have.
You may not be able to sponsor certain activities and still be covered under your church insurance policy or you may be only able to participant in certain activities at a commercially licensed business

19. Examples of activities not covered by insurance may include…
Ski Tubing or Whitewater Rafting
Dunking Booths
Hayrides
Haunted Houses
Tackle Football
Trampolines
Rock Climbing and/or
Monkey Bar Equipment

20. Closing Statement
You must be intentional and diligent in obtaining the answers that you need in order to create and maintain a legally safe environment for children and youth in your congregation.
Don’t go it alone,
involve others, and
ask for help.