Volunteers who wish to serve with minors fill out the form below:

This includes working with anyone under the age of 18.

Please Read These Policies and Procedures:

Please review these important guidelines for our children’s safety.
 
NURSERY & CHILDCARE HALL
  • No one is allowed in the Childcare Hall during class or nursery meeting times, on Sun or Wed, unless they are a staff person on duty, or a parent / guardian collecting or helping their child.
  • ALL childcare & workers with minors must complete background checks before working.
  • Only registered parents or assigned staff are allowed to take children out of the nursery or any other children’s class in the Childcare Hall.  This is for both Sundays & Wednesdays.
  • Parents / guardians need to sign-in their children of nursery age (birth-3 yrs), & that same person is required to pick-up the child & sign-out at dismissal or early retrieval.  A color-coded bracelet will be assigned at check-in & must be returned at checkout.
  • All approved childcare staff & deacon security will wear a nametag while on duty.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH
  • All attendees will be recorded on the Children’s Church roll.
  • The 4-5 yr olds will be brought directly from S.S. to C.C. around 9:45am.  Parents, if you are not staying for worship & you have a 4-5 yr old, please come to the Fell. Hall & pick-up your child from C.C.
  • Children will be kept in F. Hall at dismissal until a parent / guardian comes to pick them up.  Parents are asked not to take their child from C.C. without letting the leaders know. 
  • DISCIPLINE:  Misbehaving children will be given a warning with subsequent time-outs if needed.  Parents will be consulted at dismissal if warranted.
TEAM KID
  • All attendees will be recorded on the Team Kid roll.  
  • Children will be kept in F. Hall at dismissal until a parent / guardian comes to pick them up. Parents are asked not to take their child from T. Kid without letting the leaders know.
  • DISCIPLINE:  Misbehaving children will be given a warning with subsequent time-outs if needed.  Parents will be consulted at dismissal if warranted. 
Nursery Caretaker Procedures
 Each caretaker will be required to wear a sticker (bright yellow smiley face) to help identify who is assigned to the nursery wing.  These stickers will be located on the table to the left of the nursery entrance.
Snacks: Only serve water, cheese crackers, puffs, or cheerios (age-appropriate snacks), please refer to child’s form to see what they can and cannot have. We will not offer cookies or juice.
Nursery Wing drop off Procedures:
  • Collect caretaker sticker.
  • Make certain each child is signed in and has an information sheet/form in the binder. (There are binders in each age room with blank forms inside.)
  • Ensure each child is assigned a bracelet and the color is noted for each child on the sign in sheet.
Nursery Wing pick up Procedures:
  • Collect bracelets from parents and verify assigned colors.
  • Make certain that each child is signed out.
  • Before leaving, wash any used cups and tidy up any messes.
Each room has two caretakers assigned each week and it is required that both caretakers remain inside the room until all children have been picked up.
In case of an emergency there is a white rolling crib in the infant room that all nursery wing babies can be placed inside to get them outside safely and quickly.

Child Protection Policy:

1. Purpose of Policy.
This policy is intended to protect children and church workers from incidents of child abuse in the church and/or further abuse outside the church.
2. Definition of Terms.
Child refers to all children from birth to age 18. Child abuse is wrongful treatment of a child that results in physical or emotional injury, It includes ANY type of inappropriate touching by an adult, or adolescent, with a child, including: Fondling, penetration of any kind, intercourse, and open-mouthed kissing. Non-touching types of sexual abuse include: Verbal comments of a sexual nature, any type of exposure to pornography, obscene phone calls, exhibitionism, or allowing children to witness sexual activity.
Evidences of injury may include scars, bruises, wounds, etc. Suspicion of child abuse can be founded on properly phrased questions. Child sexual abuse is any sexual contact or display between any volunteers, workers, and teachers involved in any church activity, and any minor. The terms teacher and worker include both volunteers and paid staff.
3. Policy
a. HANSON BAPTIST CHURCH will conform to local, state, and national laws regarding the protection of children and report to government authorities as required by law.
b. HANSON BAPTIST CHURCH views child abuse as sin and will discipline church members following procedures of Scripture. Such discipline will not be a substitute for reporting to appropriate authorities conduct which constitutes a violation of any criminal laws.
c. HANSON BAPTIST CHURCH will adopt prudent measures to prevent child abuse of children when participating in church programs through screening, training supervision and reporting.
d. Volunteers, workers, and teachers who will be involved in the custody or supervision of minors must have been regular participants in good standing in the life of the church for at least six months. Exceptions may be made for persons who have been involved in the custody or supervision of minors at another church for at least two years and when a satisfactory reference has been obtained from that church or for paid workers for whom a background check has been completed and found acceptable
e. Screening.
All teachers of and workers with children from birth to age 18 will be asked to complete a confidential application which will include questions regarding child abuse. The application will be submitted to the designated staff member for screening and filed in the church appropriately to maintain confidentiality. References will be contacted and notes recorded by the interviewer for the confidential file.
f. Training.
Teachers and workers will be instructed on the nature of child abuse and evidences of child abuse. They will be given a written copy of this policy and the procedure for reporting suspected child abuse. They will be asked to reread these policies and procedures annually.
g. Supervision.
1) All activities with children shall include at least two adult staff workers as staffing allows.
2) All overnight, off-site activities shall require a signed permission statement from parents or guardians of the children participating.
3) Parents are welcome to observe any activity with their children.
4) A child has a right to remain silent and to call his/her parent if questioned about an offense.
5) HANSON BAPTIST CHURCH workers shall not practice corporal punishment.
6) Physical force shall not be used except in self-defense or in defense of a third party. Workers shall work in teams in all discipline problems. A supervisor should be present when possible.
h. Reporting and Response
State law requires that in the event an incident should occur on church property during any church related activity involving minor children OR in the event that a minor child reveals incidents of abuse to a volunteer, teacher or staff person, those facts MUST be reported to the proper authorities.
  1.  All reports must be brought immediately to the attention of a member or the appropriate ministry leader.
  2.  The person to whom the report has been made will then contact an Elder or a Deacon.
  3. Take any allegations seriously, and immediately suspend the suspected worker from working with minors.
  4. NEVER HIDE THE ALLEGATIONS. Word will spread quickly if an incident occurs, and Hanson Baptist Church will respond by:
  • A. Acknowledging the fact that a suspected incident has occurred.
  • B. Inform any interested party that an investigative plan is in effect, and that the accused has been suspended. Be able to report who is involved with the investigation and be able to report church procedures in place which safeguard against this type of occurrence.
  • C. NEVER REVEAL INFORMATION CONCERNING DETAILS ABOUT THE ACCUSATIONS BEING MADE, OR PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE ACCUSED,
  • D. NEVER REVEAL THE IDENTITY OF THE ACCUSED (IF KNOWN), OF THE ONE REPORTING THE INCIDENT, OR OF THE CHILD INVOLVED.
  • E. Reveal as little as possible about an alleged incident yet be honest and clear about the church's pursuit of truth in the investigation.
  • F. Do not confront the accused until the safety of the minor is assured.
  • G. Do not prejudge the situation but treat ALL PARTIES (including the accused) with dignity, respect, and care.
*All information contained in this policy is taken from: CHURCH LAW & TAX REPORT'S Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse in Your Church. Richard R. Hammar, Steven W. Kilipowicz, and James F. Cobble, Jr. Church Law & Tax Report, 1993.


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