KidCheck Secure Children's Check-In Shares How To Effectively Communicate Your Safety Efforts

Be prepared to respond to hard questions.

Child safety can be a sensitive topic, and while you may not have all the answers as a leader, that shouldn’t stop you from preparing to respond to the hard questions. To effectively share what you are doing, you must be ready to answer questions from volunteers, staff, families, and leadership. Regardless of the audience, the goal is to respond confidently, share supporting data, and back up the benefits of investing resources to increase safety.

Leadership Discussions

Be proactive in discussing safety with leadership. Anticipate their questions and center conversations on the benefits your organization realizes from investing in safety. Highlight the moral and legal responsibility of protecting children. Direct the conversation toward strategic initiatives such as addressing false safety assumptions, insurance requirements, and liability, or leveraging family feedback and their perception of safety to make recommended enhancements.

Here are some questions to consider when preparing for a leadership discussion.

  • Can abuse happen in our church? Everybody knows everybody.
  • Why would a child predator target our church?
  • How will you measure safety success for the children’s area? What metrics should we use?
  • How old is our child protection policy? Does it need to be updated?
  • What is your training and education calendar for this year? How do we onboard new volunteers? Do people know what is expected of them?
  • Are you familiar with the insurance requirements for your area?
  • What is your screening process? Does it include background checks? What percentage of volunteers have completed a background check?
  • Are you the only one who screens new volunteers? Should we consider a safeguarding committee?
  • What can we, as leadership, do to help you?
  • How do you communicate with new and returning families?

Staff and Volunteer Questions

For staff and volunteer questions, you can direct them to volunteer onboarding information, training documentation, the child protection policy, and classroom guidelines. Use the questions from this group to fine-tune your worker training information and ensure everyone is well-informed.

Here are questions to be prepared to answer for staff and volunteers.

  • Is there new volunteer training?
  • Where can I find the schedule? How do I sign up for specific days?
  • What does my role entail? Will I be working with other adults?
  • Can my spouse volunteer with me?
  • What policies are most important when working with kids?
  • Is a background check required to volunteer?
  • As part of the staff, will there be ongoing background checks? If so, when?
  • How do I access the training documentation, child protection policy, and bathroom guidelines?

Addressing Family Inquires

When conversing with families and guardians, remember they are more knowledgeable about organizational safety than ever. They want peace of mind and a promise that those who lead are committed to protecting their kids.  Families want a program that prioritizes child protection, encourages communication, values transparency, and builds trust.

Here are some questions you should be prepared to answer for new and returning families.

  • Do you have a child protection policy? Where can I access it?
  • Is there a check-in and check-out process? Do we need to set up an account?
  • How do I ensure my child is only released to me?
  • Are volunteers background checked? If so, how often?
  • What is your social media policy?
  • Is there a form to sign if I don’t want my child’s picture used?
  • How do you contact families during an emergency?
  • Where should we go to pick up our child if there is an evacuation?
  • Do you have an anti-bullying program?
  • How do you respond when a child is being bullied?
  • As a parent, can I volunteer?

While these questions aren’t everything you can be asked, they are a start in helping you prepare to share your safety efforts effectively. To be further equipped, consider keeping a file of all the questions you receive and revisit them occasionally. This will ensure you are never caught off guard.

Click here to learn more about the benefits of using secure children’s, youth check-in, and volunteer scheduling to help manage your events.

For more safety tips and information, subscribe to the KidCheck blog or connect with us on X, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

Photo by Buddha Elemental 3D on Unsplash