AWANA Worker Guidelines

The following guidelines are intended to provide a framework of safety for both our children and ourselves as we seek to minister to them in Christ’s name. Scripture directs us to be above reproach and avoid even the appearance of evil (Eph 5:3-11).

Today’s parents are extremely aware of the vulnerability of children, especially in religious settings. To serve them well—while yet safeguarding their precious lives, your reputation, and the future ministry of Stonebriar Community Church (SCC) we expect that all paid and volunteer workers follow these guidelines:

1. Security System: All Awana Workers and Participants are required to check-in and wear their printed name badge.
   • During check-in parents with children preschool to fourth grade will receive two badges/labels; one for the parents to keep and the other label is to be placed on their child.
   • To pick up your child, parents need to present their security badge/label to the Ministry Partner/Teacher at the door. No child will be released without the corresponding badge. Siblings can not pick up siblings that require a security badge.
   • Children in fifth and sixth grade are allowed to be dismissed on their own.
2. Emergency Action Plan: In the case of Severe Weather, Ministry Partners in the C Building should take all children to C102/C106, those in the A or B Building should take all clubbers to the MPR until Leadership notifies it is safe to release. In the event of fire, find the nearest fire exit and take all children across the parking lot into the fields as far away from the building as possible until leaders/authorities tell you the building is safe. In the event of a Hostile Intruder, all children in the C Building classrooms turn off lights and take children in the bathroom. If in halls or large group time, leaders should take children to adjacent classroom, close door (which will lock from outside), and keep children in the classroom bathroom until authorities say all clear. A and C Building leaders must discern whether to flee building or hide.
3. Ratios: To provide adequate supervision, the following ratios are normally expected when rooms are staffed: Preschool 4.5:1, K-2nd 8:1, 3rd-4th 15:1.
4. Two Adults: Two adults should be present with a child. Avoid ever being alone with a child behind closed doors or in a secluded place. Children should always be under the scheduled supervision of adults. They are not permitted to play or be alone in a room.
5. Physical Contact: Touch is a powerful form of communication. It can comfort a child, communicate acceptance, or show approval. When used inappropriately, touch also can leave scars in the life of a child. In our setting it is great to shake hands, give a brief sideways hug, or pat a back, if the child is comfortable with it. It is not appropriate to ask for a hug or kiss, to carry or hold a child older than a toddler, to touch a child where a bathing suit covers, to touch a child in discipline or anger, or to encourage activities/games with unnecessary physical contact.
6. Name Badges: All staff or volunteers are required to wear a name badge when serving with children.
7. Speech: A patient, kind, loving attitude is necessary when working with children and their parents. It is inappropriate, while serving, to raise your voice or yell, to use a condescending tone, or to use words that demean or dishearten.
8. Restrooms: When taking children to the restroom, give them as much privacy as possible. Stand in the doorway with the door ajar, if they need supervision. Enter the restroom stall only when absolutely necessary to assist a preschool child, leaving the stall door open. Only an adult female should provide assistance to a preschool child. Youth workers (under the age of 18) are not allowed to take children to the bath-room or assist them there. Diaper changing should always be done by an adult female.
9. Discipline:  If children under your care are acting inappropriately, follow these steps in an age-appropriate way:
   1. Give a verbal warning.
   2. Separate or relocate the child within the same room, remove distraction.
   3. Notify your supervisor who will inform the parents of the poor behavior.
   4. In severe cases we will ask the parent to attend class with the child until the behavior improves.
10. Visitors in Classrooms: Parents and/or visitors are not permitted in the class-room unless arrangements have been made in advance with supervisor and back-ground screening successfully completed.
11. Handling Injuries/Emergencies: Contact your supervisor immediately for assistance in most cases. For minor cases of a bump/scrape/ache, observe the child in a public place. If needed, use basic first aid supplies from the kit, or contact your supervisor for assistance, and complete an Incident Report.
12. Medications: We are not permitted to give or apply any medications (oral or topi-cal, prescription or over the counter, including sunscreen). If a child needs medication, the parent must administer it.
13. Transportation: SCC staff or volunteers can only provide transportation for children other than their own with written permission from the children’s parent(s). The Two Adult Rule applies here as well and they must have current background checks.
14. Activity Approval: All activities or events at SCC or sponsored as a “SCC activity” must be approved in advance by the Family Ministries Pastor or his department heads.