Policies & Procedures
WELCOME
Our desire is to have volunteers who have a heart for youth and who are growing in their personal relationship with Christ. We trust that you will be thorough and honest as you work through this process. In return, it is our desire to support you and make sure that you find the right place to serve.
OUR MISSION
Shelby Bible Church exists to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus through intentional relationships and personal sacrifice.
OUR VISION
Our desire is to create a safe and fun environment for children to learn how to connect, grow, and serve through engaging teaching and activities in our Midweek, Jr. Church, and Nursery programs. Our goal is to build relationships that honor and reflect the love of Christ.
CHECK-IN POLICIES
Check-In & Check-Out
It is the policy of Shelby Bible Church that children (Nursery-6th grade) are checked in prior to entering a children’s ministry program. Students are required to visibly wear their name tag throughout the service. Name tags must be removed by their teacher with the matching return label before a child leaves their class. This ensures that children are checked out to only approved people. If a child is in the hallway with a sticker, without a teacher, it is expected that you check that they did not leave unaccompanied. Children may not be released without the matching check-out tag. Volunteers need to be present and intentionally receiving and dismissing students in this process.
Nursery
The main door and front area of the nursery should be occupied by one of our workers at all times before service starts. This allows for parents to give instructions and keep the doorway itself clear of congestion. Parents should check-in their child at the welcome center and place a sticker on their child. Bags and cups are to be labeled. Cubbies for regular attendees will have pictures along with their name. Unmarked slots are available for visitors.
Each family will be given a pager at drop-off to remain with the parent for the duration of care for communication purposes. This pager will be collected upon checking out a child with the proper guardian tag.
HEALTH & WELLNESS POLICIES
Wellness Policy
It is important to limit the likelihood of illness. Volunteers will need to note the condition of children as they arrive. If they show signs of questionable sickness, the children’s director is to be notified.
Dispensing of Medication
Volunteers are not to dispense any medication of any kind.
Illness Response/Clean-Up
Volunteers who notice a development of an illness occurring during their stay in class will then contact the Safety Team. Safety Team will then notify the parents. Isolate any children with fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, or pink eye until their parents pick them up. If that child has used any items, please remove those items from the play area to be disinfected.
PROTECTION POLICIES
On-site Volunteer Rule
If a staff member or volunteer should conduct one-to-one meetings with an individual student, they should do so at a time when others are present and where interactions can be easily observed. If the meeting is going to be off-site and/or alone with a student, parent and pastor consent must be obtained prior. Shelby Bible Church strictly forbids, under any circumstance, meetings alone with minors. Violation of this policy is grounds for immediate termination of position.
Medical Emergencies
Should a child be experiencing a serious medical emergency, classroom workers should immediately call 911 or contact a Safety Team member to help assess the situation and contact appropriate medical help. A classroom worker should notify the Safety Team members in the hallway to find on-site medical personnel. Safety Team will also help in contacting the parents and will provide instructions to ensure help is supplied in a timely and safe manner. Serious medical issues would include a child struggling to breathe, loss of consciousness, broken bones, or severe loss of blood.
Physical Contact
Any adult volunteer who demonstrates or engages in inappropriate displays of affection will immediately be relieved of their position. The following guidelines clearly outline inappropriate and appropriate conduct between adult volunteers and students.
● Inappropriate Displays of Affection: Any form of sexual contact or contact perceived as stimulating, any form of kissing, initiating full frontal hugs or “bear hugs, massages, lying down or sleeping beside youth, touching or hugging from behind, comments that relate to physique or body development, patting on the thigh, knee or leg, inappropriate or lengthy embraces, piggyback rides.
● Appropriate Displays of Affection: Use of appropriate physical contact in a public setting to show support, encouragement, and healthy affection toward youth who are receptive to this form of emotional expression is acceptable. However, adults must exercise good judgment and never force any physical contact on any youth. Examples would be: a brief side-hug, high-five, or pat on the back.
Discipline
It is the policy of Shelby Bible Church that volunteers are prohibited from using physical discipline in any way for behavior management of children or students. No form of physical discipline is acceptable. This prohibition includes spanking, slapping, pinching, hitting, or any other physical force as retaliation for correction of inappropriate behaviors by students.
If a student is unruly or fails to comply with verbal warnings or instructions from a volunteer, that student will be asked to leave (if not endangered by doing so) or the student’s parent will be contacted to pick up the student. In the event of a fight or physical altercation, staff/volunteer will verbally redirect students involved and will try to avoid physical intervention. Uncontrollable or unusual behavior should be reported immediately to parents and the ministry supervisor.
Nursery: In the case of biting, any child who is biting and continues to try to bite must be removed from the nursery by their parents. Any incidents of this nature must be communicated to the nursery directors. The parents of bite victims must be notified verbally if the bite left marks or broke skin.
Bathroom Safety
To avoid being alone inside the restroom with a minor, workers should remain at the doorway to provide supervision. If the child needs assistance, you should prop open the door or stall. Never be behind closed doors alone. As good practice, it is preferred to take more than one child to the restroom at a time, so as not to be alone without another party present.
Nursery: Infants and toddlers can be changed by adult women volunteers unless parents request to be contacted for diaper changes. Potty training toddlers will be assisted as much as they need in the restroom unless otherwise directed by parents. We do not allow teenagers or men to change diapers or take toddlers to the bathroom. If you need assistance, contact the Safety Team.
BUILDING POLICIES
Building Safety
No student or child will ever be left unattended or unsupervised during youth or children’s ministry programming or events. After every programming event, staff members and volunteers must ensure every room and restroom is checked prior to leaving. Any two students together in an unseen or less easily viewed area should be redirected to another (more open) area.
Emergencies
Should a fire alarm occur, volunteers will evacuate children and infants into the nearest possible exit (Safety Team members will provide communication and direction). If the evacuation occurs during inclement weather, please take all necessary steps to cover the children with blankets or jackets. The Director and Team Leader will also come to help with the evacuation process. Parents will be instructed by the Safety Team where they are to meet their children. Volunteers must stay with the remaining children until all parents have arrived.
PERSONAL CONDUCT
Intoxicants
Staff and volunteers are prohibited from the use, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs while on the property of Shelby Bible Church, while traveling with students, or while working with or supervising students. Intoxication at any time is grounds for dismissal.
Tobacco
Under no circumstance is it appropriate for a volunteer to be using tobacco products, vaping, or chewing tobacco of any kind while on the property of Shelby Bible Church or in the presence of students.
Pornography & Sexually Explicit Materials
Staff members and volunteers of Shelby Bible Church are prohibited from possessing any sexually oriented printed or digital materials (magazines, cards, images, videos, films, etc.) on church property or in the presence of students. Engaging with pornography or sexually explicit materials at any time is grounds for dismissal.
Reporting Inappropriate Behaviors
It is important to understand that any person, adult or youth, must be ready to safeguard and protect the well-being of youth/children. Anyone who has a “reason to believe” or evidence that a child/youth is a victim of abuse or neglect has a duty to report.
This duty to report is not limited to events or activities at Shelby Bible Church or under our supervision. A failure to report can be considered a criminal offense and potentially subject to civil liability.
Shelby Bible Church understands that appropriate government agencies must respond and investigate reports of abuse/neglect of a child/youth to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Shelby Bible Church will at all times fully cooperate with such governmental agencies, and in no way attempt to interfere in or obstruct such agencies or their investigations.
If anyone is unsure whether an incident or condition should be reported, they should feel free to discuss the circumstances with the Assistant Pastor or the Senior Pastor. Additionally, Shelby Bible Church asks that if an incident or condition is reported to the DHHS, the Assistant Pastor and the Senior Pastor be notified of the situation.
Steps for Reporting: If a volunteer has witnessed a situation that causes concern, these steps are to be taken to report the incident.
● Contact a Safety Team member and ask to speak with the Assistant Pastor and/or Senior Pastor.
● Complete incident report form.
● Incident report form will be reviewed by the Pastoral Staff in conjunction with Safety Team members.
● Pastoral Team will assess report, and if any crime or suspected crime has occurred, they will contact local authorities. (Any suspected crime against a minor by a volunteer of SBC or by a situation outside of programming will be reported to law enforcement per state law).
● Michigan is a mandatory report state, which means that once leaders have been made aware of a crime having been committed or suspected of being committed, they are by law required to report.
Enforcement of Policies
Shelby Bible Church desires to protect the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of every child and student who attends our programs. Shelby Bible Church staff members and volunteers who supervise other staff or volunteers are charged with the diligent enforcement of all Church policies. Violations of these policies are grounds for immediate dismissal, disciplinary action, or reassignment from SBC Kids Ministry volunteer positions. Final decisions related to policy violations will be the responsibility of the Pastoral Staff.
Dress code
Teachers reflect the core values of Shelby Bible Church. We would like to present a unified front regarding how we present ourselves.
Men’s expectations:
· Appropriate shorts or pants (not torn or overly casual)
· Collared shirt
· SBC Shirt
Ladies’ expectations:
· Pants preferred or a knee-length skirt or dress
· Appropriate shirt
· SBC Shirt
