Test | The Grove United Methodist Church, Woodbury, MN

THE WORD OF GOD AND THE GRACE OF CHRIST IN THE PROMISES ARE OUR DAILY SUPPORT, AND THE CONSTANT NOURISHMENT OF OUR SOULS.

The Grove Procedures

and Safety Policy for Those Working with Children

2026-2027

BACKGROUND CHECKS AND TRAINING

All leaders are to be Safe Gatherings certified

or have equivalent certification completed for their job or other volunteer

roles.

All leaders will receive a background check

every three years to ensure they have not been convicted of any crimes that

would limit their safety with minors.

This link also comes from the Records and Registration Manager.

Every year the volunteer needs to read this

policy document and fill out a form indicating they read it.

SUPERVISON OF MINORS

· Adult

ministry workers with children and youth shall observe the “two adult rule” at

all times so that no adult is left alone with children or youth on a routine

basis.

· In

unavoidable circumstances where only one adult is present, the door must be

open, or all present must be in a space where they can be observed, or in Room

109(nursery) where there are cameras. It is never appropriate for an adult to

be alone with an individual child at any age.

· Room 204 is designated

as an exception where a single childcare worker may serve on duty. This

exception is permitted because the room has clear visibility from adjacent

areas, allowing other approved adults to observe activity within the room. In

addition, the room provides immediate access to other adults if assistance is

needed. Should a situation require a parent or guardian, another adult can

promptly retrieve the child's parent while the childcare worker remains with

the child.

If there is only one child under your supervision you must go to

the closest-in-age childcare room to assure the two adult policy.

SIGN-IN & SIGN-OUT

Parents are

required to register children, so we have emergency contact and health

information on the child.

· Ministry workers in

all areas should wear lanyards and nametags identifying them as the designated

ministry worker.

· Families are

responsible for signing children in and out. Adults checking in a child must

provide a phone number. If a phone number is already on file, this will be

noted on the sign-in form.

· To help ensure the

safety of all children, childcare staff reserve the right to request a driver's

license or other form of photo identification from any adult picking up a

child. This verification may be requested to confirm that the individual is an

authorized adult for pickup.

· Nursery, Preschool

and Special Childcare settings: assign a pager and write down their pager

number on the check-in sheet. If needed or appropriate, remind the adult when

you would use the pager to contact them, i.e. a diaper needs changing, the

child is inconsolable, etc.

· Communicate with parents that the person picking up the child must

have the pager. This is our assurance that their child is given to the correct

person.

· Under no

circumstance should you give a child to someone who does not have the pager. If someone wants

the child, call the pager and ask that person to wait out of respect for the

safety of our children. Page the adult immediately. If they become hostile, one

worker should exit the room and ask for help by going to the Worship Center and

retaining adults to come help you. Don’t

worry about interrupting the service! If they take the child, call 911.

Grove Kids:

· Child(ren) should be signed out by parent(s)/caregiver(s) listed on

sign-in sheet. This protects our children and helps staff know that each child

has been accounted for. To help ensure the safety of all children, childcare staff reserve the

right to request a driver's license or other form of photo identification from

any adult picking up a child. This verification may be requested to confirm

that the individual is an authorized adult for pickup.

WELL-CHILD POLICY

For

the health of all, no person (parents, volunteers, workers, staff, or children)

will participate if they show the following signs:

· If they mention

the child has a fever

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

· Undiagnosed or questionable

skin rash

· Runny nose

· Unusual fatigue

or irritability

· Eye infections

(pink eye or any discharge)

· Cough that is

deep or congested

any bodily fluids get on the floor, please put paper towels over the area and

then move a table over the area and alert the Director of Kids Ministry via

text or in person. They will ensure that

the cleaning service attends to the area.

HOSPITALITY

· Please greet each

family, ask each family to sign in, and ask adults checking-in children if

there is anything to be aware of such as new allergies, family changes, or

anything else that might impact how the child might be feeling that day.

· Show them how the

pager works and explain when you may employ it.

· Please wear a

sticker name tag and a kids ministry lanyard, so people know your name.

FEEDINGS/SNACKS

Due

to food allergies and the difficulty of feeding infants during Nursery care, we

do not provide snacks or feed checked-in children. Exceptions to this is when the parents are there

(example: Stay and Play) or parents have given us permission (example: Vacation

Bible School).

SUNDAY WORSHIP NURSERY STAFF GUIDELINES

· Doors should always

be open.

· Nursery, Preschool, and

Special Childcare Settings: Sign-in sheets are located on the counter by the sink in Room 100. Staff

and volunteers are responsible for retrieving the sheets before the ministry

session and returning them to the designated location after all children have

departed.

· Toys that were used or

mouthed should be washed with the provided sanitizer. Leave this on the counter

to air-dry.

· Staff and volunteers

may leave after all children have been picked up, and the nursery has been

thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

· Stay in the nursery

during your scheduled shift, even when no children are in the room.

If you have any problems with Clockify, please alert your supervisor.

· Please submit your

hours on time. Because we don't track employee work hours, we can only process

payment for hours that have been reported.

EVENING CHILDCARE WORKERS

· The ratio is 2 staff

to 6 children; parents will not be allowed to leave more than 6 children with

the staff unless there is a second staff person.

· Parents and children

will be responsible for cleaning the room after the event is finished. If this does not

happen, please let your supervisor know.

· Evening childcare

will be in Room 100 (unless otherwise specified or requested). For safety reasons, children are not allowed

behind the half wall.

Please report your hours by using the Clockify app

· You will not get

paid if you do not report the hours you have worked.[CS1] [LH2]

WHEN TO CALL ADULTS WHO HAVE CHECKED IN A CHILD: Applies to all

programs in Kids' Ministry

· Someone you do

not recognize is trying to check out the child and does not have the pager.

· When the child

needs to be changed or needs to use the potty.

· When the child is

crying and inconsolable for more than 5 minutes (or less if the parent has

asked.)

· When the child is experiencing

emotional or behavioral dysregulation and cannot be redirected to the point that they

are a danger to themselves or another child.

RESTROOM POLICY

· For children in

Kids’ ministry programs ): [CS3] Children

and youth/adult helper go to the locked Plaza bathroom, with a youth/adult

helper standing in the hallway while child uses the restroom.

· For nursery aged children

or children who are not potty trained: When the child needs to be changed or

needs to use the potty, the parent is paged.

Only parents or guardians are allowed to change children.

· If a K-5 child needs

special support going to the bathroom, a parent will be paged.

APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT AND DISCIPLINE

Appropriate:

· Gentle touch of

the shoulder, hands, arms, or back.

· Sitting child on

leg or both knees (to avoid sitting all the way back on your lap.)

· High fives or

handshakes.

· When the child needs

consoling you can hold them in your arms being careful not to bounce them too

hard or move them quickly.

· Communicate

through verbal and nonverbal messages that you have faith in the child’s

ability to practice self-control and (after they’ve calmed) encourage him/her

to explore possible solutions to the situation.

· Praising

specific behaviors you want to see in your group (i.e., “good listening”,

“thank you for waiting”).

· Moving child into a

safe area in the room if they show aggression, with a page to the parent to

come back.

· If a child is

unhappy or unwilling to leave their adult, ask for consent to hold the child as

they leave and/or try to distract the child with a toy or activity.

Inappropriate:

· No kissing or asking

for hugs or kisses.

· Touching chest,

genital region, upper leg, buttocks, waist, stomach.

Sometimes when we pick children up, we tend to place our hands on

their buttocks. If holding the child, their buttocks can rest on your arm but

avoid touching this area in any other context.

· Sitting child

between your legs.

· Piggyback rides

· Any physical

touch used to express power or control.

· Corporal

punishment of any kind is never appropriate.

· Any

words or tone that would cause a child to think he/she is a “problem”, rather

than a specific behavior being addressed (i.e., screaming at a child).

· Any

words that could cause feelings of condemnation or shame about any aspect of

their person including degrading references to anything physical, emotional,

mental, or position (or station) in life, such as saying, “Are you a strong

boy? Strong boys don’t cry.” Or “Shame on you.”

REPORT AND

ALLEGATION

If there is any allegation

of abuse or misconduct or-physical or sexual, the matter will be brought to one

of the pastors of The Grove. By law all clergy and staff that work with kids

and students are considered mandated reporters. The handbook lays out the process

for investigation.

Photo Release Section

The privacy and safety of children are important to us. Families have the

right to opt out of having their child(ren) photographed or recorded. Parents

or legal guardians who do not want their child(ren) to appear in photographs or

videos must notify the church in writing and complete the church's Photo/Video

Opt-Out Form. The church will maintain a list of children whose families have

opted out and will make reasonable efforts to ensure those children are not

intentionally included in photographs or video recordings. This request to opt

out should be completed each year during registration for the new ministry

year.

Photographs and videos of minors may be used in church publications,

presentations, newsletters, the church website, social media, and other

ministry-related communications. No personally identifying information, such as

a child's full name or contact information, will be published in connection

with a photograph or video without the parent or legal guardian's separate

consent.

Nursery Monitoring and Security

To help provide a safe and secure environment for

all children, the nursery is monitored through a closed-circuit video

surveillance system. Parents and guardians should be aware that children in the

nursery may be recorded while participating in nursery activities.

Access to the surveillance system and recorded

footage is strictly limited to the Director of Kids Ministry and pastoral

staff. Video recordings are used solely for safety, security, and incident

review purposes and are not shared outside of authorized personnel except as

required by law.

Recorded footage is securely stored and

automatically deleted after 14 days[CS4]

unless it is needed for the investigation of a specific incident or as

otherwise required by law.

By utilizing our nursery services, parents and

guardians acknowledge and consent to their child's participation in an

environment monitored by this closed-circuit security system.

BULLYING AND TEASING

Our student ministry is

committed to creating community where every student feels safe, welcomed,

known, valued, and respected. Bullying, harassment, intimidation, or

intentionally excluding or humiliating another student will not be tolerated.

We believe every

student is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity

and respect.

What We Consider

Bullying

Bullying may include:

· Repeated teasing,

insults, or name-calling

· Threating or

intimidating another student

· Physical aggression,

including hitting, pushing, or unwanted physical contact

· Spreading rumors or

intentionally embarrassing someone

· Deliberately excluding

someone to hurt or isolate them

· Harassment based on

students appearance, abilities, background, identity, beliefs, or other

personal characteristics

· Cyberbullying through

texts, group chats, social media, photos, videos, or other digital

communication

· Encouraging others to

participate in bullying

Importantly, not every

disagreement is bullying. Students sometime disagree, joke, argue, or hurt

another’s feelings. Leaders will help students work through normal conflict

while taking patterns of intimidation, harassment, or bullying seriously.

Students may report

concerns to any Student Ministry staff member or trusted adult leader.

Retaliation against someone for reporting a concern is prohibited.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES[LH5]

Fire:

Room

100: Grab sign in sheets and lead children out Door 6 and walk them past the

playground and wait at the shed. Check attendance.[CS6]

Wait until there are instructions to go inside, or kids are picked up by their

adults.

Room

101: Grab sign in sheets and lead children out Door 6 and walk them past the

playground and wait at the shed. Check attendance. Wait until there are

instructions to go inside, or kids are picked up by their adults.

Room

102: Grab sign in sheets and lead children out Door 6 and walk them past the

playground and wait at the shed. Check attendance. Wait until there are

instructions to go inside, or kids are picked up by their adults.

Nursery.

Put children in cribs and push out the exit door from the room. Grab blankets,

attendance. Parents will meet you there to retrieve their children. You may

also receive an “all clear”[CS7]

from your supervisor or other church leader.

Threatening Person:

Nursery.

Turn off lights, shut both doors, and

pull shades on all windows. Grad sign in sheets and move all the children into

the back room of the nursery, remove the magnetic strip from the doorframe, and

shut the door. Tell the children to be quiet. Check attendance. Do not open the

door until you hear the code word, CODE SHEPHERD.

All

other Rooms. Turn off lights, close curtains, pull shades on all windows, shut

the door that will automatically lock and gather into the corner of the room on

the same side of and opposite of your door. Call 911. Tell the children to be quiet.

Check attendance. Do not open the door until you hear the code word, CODE

SHEPHERD.

Tornado:

Room

100: Bring children into Men’s bathroom across the hall

Room

101: Bring children into Men’s bathroom across the hall

Room

102: Bring children into Women’s bathroom near Plaza

Nursery:

Put children into cribs, grab the Emergency Preparedness Kit, and seek shelter

in the back room of the nursery .

Power Outage:

There

should be enough power in the pagers to call parents if the power outage is

creating stress for the children who have been checked in. Stay where you are

so adults can find you. If you need to, bring children out to the hallways for

more light. Emergency lights will be on.

Personal Emergency:

you are experiencing a personal emergency, please page all parents to come and

get their children. If you have time,

please call the Director of Kids' Ministry at 651-789-1461.

The Grove Procedures and Safety Policy for

Those Working with Children (Parent Copy)

2026-2027

BACKGROUND CHECKS AND TRAINING

All leaders are to be Safe Gatherings

certified or have equivalent certification completed for their job or other

volunteer roles.

All leaders will receive a background

check every three years to ensure they have not been convicted of any crimes

that would limit their safety with minors.

This link also comes from the Records and Registration Manager.

Every year the volunteer needs to read

this policy document and fill out a form indicating they read it.

SUPERVISON OF MINORS

Adult ministry workers with children and

youth shall observe the “two adult rule” at all times so that no adult is left

alone with children or youth on a routine basis.

In unavoidable circumstances where only

one adult is present, the door must be open, or all present be in a space where

they can be observed, or in Room 109 there are cameras. It is never appropriate

for an adult to be alone with an individual child at any age.

Room 204 is designated as an exception

where a single childcare worker may serve on duty. This exception is permitted

because the room has clear visibility from adjacent areas, allowing other

approved adults to observe activity within the room. In addition, the room

provides immediate access to other adults if assistance is needed. Should a

situation require a parent or guardian, another adult can promptly retrieve the

child's parent while the childcare worker remains with the child.

If there is only one child under your

supervision you must go to the closest-in-age childcare room to assure the two

adult policy.

SIGN-IN & SIGN-OUT

Parents are required to register

children, so we have emergency contact and health information on the child.

Ministry workers in all areas should

wear lanyards and nametags identifying them as the designated ministry worker.

· Families are

responsible for signing children in and out. Adults

checking in a child must provide a phone number. If a phone number is already

on file, this will be noted on the sign-in form.

· To help ensure the

safety of all children, childcare staff reserve the right to request a driver's

license or other form of photo identification from any adult picking up a

child. This verification may be requested to confirm that the individual is an

authorized adult for pickup.

Nursery, Preschool,

and Special Childcare Settings:

Childcare staff will assign a pager to

families upon sign-in of their child and write down their pager number on the

check-in sheet. If needed or appropriate, remind the adult when you would use

the pager to contact them, i.e. a diaper needs changing, the child is

inconsolable, etc.

Communicate with parents that the person

picking up the child must have the pager. This is our

assurance that their child is given to the correct person.

Under no circumstances should you give a

child to someone who does not have the pager. If someone

wants the child, call the pager and ask that person to wait out of respect for

the safety of our children. Page the adult immediately. If they become hostile,

one worker should exit the room and ask for help by going to the Worship Center

and retaining adults to come help you. If they take the child, call 911.

Grove Kids:

· Child(ren) should be signed out by parent(s)/caregiver(s) listed on

sign-in sheet. This protects our children and helps staff know that each child

has been accounted for. To help ensure the safety of all children, childcare staff reserve the

right to request a driver's license or other form of photo identification from

any adult picking up a child. This verification may be requested to confirm

that the individual is an authorized adult for pickup.

WELL-CHILD POLICY

For the health of all, no person (parents,

volunteers, workers, staff, or children) will participate if they show the

following signs:

If they mention the child has a fever

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Undiagnosed or questionable skin rash

Runny nose

Unusual fatigue or irritability

Eye infections (pink eye or any

discharge)

Cough that is deep or congested

If any bodily fluids get on the floor,

please put paper towels over the area and then move a table over the area and

alert your supervisor . They will ensure

that the cleaning service attends to the area.

FEEDINGS/SNACKS

Due

to food allergies and the difficulty of feeding infants during Nursery care, we

do not provide snacks or feed checked-in children. Exceptions to this is when the parents are

there (example: Stay and Play) or parents have given us permission (example:

Vacation Bible School).

· For children in

Kids’ ministry programs: [CS8] Children

and youth/adult helper go to the locked Plaza bathroom, with a youth/adult

helper standing in the hallway while child uses the restroom.

EVENING CHILDCARE

· The ratio is 2 staff

to 6 children; parents will not be allowed to leave more than 6 children with

the staff unless there is a second staff person.

· Parents and children

will be responsible for cleaning the room after the event is finished. If this does not

happen, please let supervisor know.

· Evening childcare

will be in Room 100 (unless otherwise specified or requested). For safety

reasons, children are not allowed behind the half wall.

WHEN TO CALL ADULTS WHO HAVE CHECKED IN A CHILD: Applies to all

programs in Kids' Ministry

· Someone you do not

recognize is trying to check out the child and does not have the pager.

· When the child needs

to be changed or needs to use the potty.

· When the child is

crying and inconsolable for more than 5 minutes (or less if the parent has

asked.)

· When the child is experiencing

emotional or behavioral dysregulation and cannot be redirected to the point that they

are a danger to themselves or another child.

RESTROOM POLICY

· For nursery aged

children or children who are not potty trained: When the child needs to be

changed or needs to use the potty, the parent is paged. Only parents or guardians are allowed to

change children.

· If a K-5 child needs

special support going to the bathroom, a parent will be paged.

APPROPRIATE AND INAPPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT AND DISCIPLINE

Appropriate:

· Gentle touch of the

shoulder, hands, arms, or back.

· Sitting child on leg

or both knees (to avoid sitting all the way back on your lap.)

· High fives or

handshakes.

· When the child needs

consoling, you can hold them in your arms being careful not to bounce them too

hard or move them quickly.

· Communicate

through verbal and nonverbal messages that you have faith in the child’s

ability to practice self-control and (after they’ve calmed) encourage him/her

to explore possible solutions to the situation.

· Praising

specific behaviors you want to see in your group (i.e., “good listening”,

“thank you for waiting”).

· Moving child into a

safe area in the room if they show aggression, with a page to the parent to

come back.

· If a child is

unhappy or unwilling to leave their adult, ask for consent to hold the child as

they leave and/or try to distract the child with a toy or activity.

Inappropriate:

· No kissing or asking

for hugs or kisses.

· Touching chest,

genital region, upper leg, buttocks, waist, stomach.

Sometimes when we pick children up, we tend to place our hands on

their buttocks. If holding the child, their buttocks can rest on your arm but

avoid touching this area in any other context.

· Sitting child

between your legs.

· Piggyback rides

· Any physical touch

used to express power or control.

· Corporal

punishment of any kind is never appropriate.

· Any

words or tone that would cause a child to think he/she is a “problem”, rather

than a specific behavior being addressed (i.e., screaming at a child).

· Any

words that could cause feelings of condemnation or shame about any aspect of

their person including degrading references to anything physical, emotional,

mental, or position (or station) in life, such as saying, “Are you a strong

boy? Strong boys don’t cry.” Or “Shame on you.”

REPORT AND

ALLEGATION

If there is any allegation

of abuse or misconduct or-physical or sexual, the matter will be brought to one

of the pastors of The Grove. By law all clergy and staff that work with kids

and students are considered mandated reporters. The handbook lays out the

process for investigation.