Children's Ministries: Teacher Information

General Procedures

• All Children’s Ministry volunteers will complete the Children’s Ministry Application Packet and submit a form to perform a background check.
• The Director of Children Ministry will check references for all volunteers.
• All Children’s Ministry workers will have an interview by phone or in person with the Children’s Ministry Director.
• All staff must wear a lanyard with an ID badge or sticker badge.
• Every effort will be made to have at least two responsible workers in each class.
• Parents/guardians are welcome to check on their children at any time.
• If only one teacher and one student are in attendance, they will join another class.

Teen Assistants:

• May teach a class if they have completed the application process and have been approved by the Director of Children’s Ministry and the Youth Pastor
• Will not be made solely responsible for any one child
• Must attend worship and class time with their peers when they are not serving
• May not change diapers

Middle school assistants:

• Must be over the age of twelve to help in a room
• May not carry children around
• May not change diapers
• Will help and assist, not lead or teach classes
• Will not tend to any medical issues or bathroom needs

Restroom Safety

Nursery:

• Teens may not change diapers.
• Diaper changes must be done only at the changing table in the nursery or the bathroom. Do not change children on the floor.
• Use diaper procedure outlined at the changing table; gloves must be used.
• Wash hands after changing diapers or dealing with bodily fluids.

Ages 2 and 3:

• Use the bathroom at the end of the hall if available. Leave the bathroom door ajar when changing diapers. A second adult must be in the classroom.
• Wash hands after changing diapers or dealing with bodily fluids.

Ages 4 through 6:

• Teacher or assistant can take two or more children to the bathroom.
• Make sure the restroom is clear before allowing children to enter.
• Teachers or assistant wait outside the stalls unless a child requests your help.
• When helping a child, always keep the door ajar.
• All hands should be washed.

First through sixth grade:

• Teacher or assistant may take two or more children to the bathroom.
• Make sure the restroom is clear before allowing the children to enter.
• Teacher or assistant waits outside the bathroom door unless a child asks for help, or needs redirection to the task.
• All hands should be washed.

Medical Procedures

Minor injuries can be treated with a little tender-loving care, a cool cloth and a band-aid. Small first aid kits consisting of band-aids, gauze, and gloves are available in each classroom for very minor injuries. There are also well-stocked first aid kits located in the Fellowship Hall and the kitchen. When a parent arrives, please let the parent know what happened. A staff member will follow up with the parent, if necessary, the following week.

It is important to remember that we are not authorized to dispense any over the counter or prescription medications. In the event that a child needs more attention then we can provide, please notify your department head or the Director, and the parent will be notified.

Serious injuries involving broken bones, convulsions, fainting, unconsciousness or other serious bodily injury should be treated as follows:

1. Do not move the injured child. A leader must remain with the child.
2. Remove other children from the scene to avoid upsetting them.
3. Stay calm and speak assuringly to the child while another team member cares for the other children in your class.
4. Have another team member page the parent and the Children’s Ministry Director.
5. In case of an emergency, call 911 on your cell phone or the phone located in the gym hallway. After dialing 911, notify the parents and Carrie Matzdorff (pager #10), and she will retrieve the emergency medical responders from the congregation.
6. Blood and Bodily Fluid Precautions!!! You must use disposable gloves when contact with blood or bodily fluid is anticipated. This is for your protection and that of the child.

Child Abuse Policy

Abuse and neglect issues should be reported directly to the Director of Children's Ministry. They include:

• Any physical or emotional injury that a child freely reports was the result of an infliction to the child by an adult
• A child expressing fear to return to their parent or home
• An ongoing situation of neglect that is harmful to the child

Reporting:

Under CT State Law, children’s workers are mandatory reporters, and the standard for reporting is reason to suspect a child has been abused.

• Teachers report any suspected abuse to the Director of Children’s Ministry immediately
• The Director will talk with the child
• Teacher and the Director will fill out a Child Abuse form together
• The Director will report to the designated elder
• If it is deemed appropriate the Director will make the report to the local children and family service agency or local law enforcement
• The teacher will not discuss the situation with anyone other than the above mentioned church representatives

Fire Evacuation Procedure

• In case of a fire or drill, teachers will take their attendance folders and class to the grass beyond the parking lot.
• Two-, three- and four-year-olds' classes will exit their rooms and walk together.
• Once outside, the class will stand or sit quietly on the grass.
• Each teacher will take attendance.
• If a teacher has all his/her children, he/she will hold up the green card found in the folder.
• If a teacher is missing any students, he/she will hold up the red card from the folder.
• The Director will ask the teachers the names of their missing kids and proceed to report this information to an elder or a member of the Welcome Center who will return to look for the child.
• Each class will continue to stay in their group until parents arrive to pick them up.
• All infants and toddlers will exit the building through the back door and proceed to the grass beyond the parking lot.
• Each nursery staff member will take two babies to the grass; if there are many children, they may be placed in a crib or Pack & Play and wheeled out.

Sunday School Discipline

1. All rules should be:
   - age-appropriate
   - explained to the children at the beginning of class
2. When a child needs correction or guidance:
   - Remind the child of the rules in a clear, calm manner.
   - If no change is made in their behavior, then redirect them to another activity.
   - If the child refuses to be redirected, then calmly ask them to take a moment by themselves in a separate area of the classroom so they can regain control of their bodies.
   - If the child is completely out of control, contact your department head and ask them to be one-on-one with the child; then make sure the parents are notified at the end of class.
3. Never strike or use any form of corporal punishment or restraint with a child.
4. Pray with the child and show them in scripture how God wants them to respect authority and use kind words and actions.
5. Inform the parents that you are working with their child on these things and ask them to pray with their child at home and review the Sunday School rules.

General Rules & Policies

For infants through third grade, the parents must drop off and pick up the children in the classrooms. Fourth- through sixth-graders may be released from their classrooms to find their parents if this is okay with the parent/guardian and the child knows where to find them.

1. No child may be released without the authorization of the parent/guardian.
2. Teachers should check to see that all children have completed registration forms with any allergies or medical conditions noted.
3. No child may be taken from the room unless you are walking them to the bathroom; the children need to be in the same room that the parent dropped them off in at the end of the program.
4. If you are sick or away and unable to teach, please contact your department head to find a substitute.

AWANA, Wednesday Morning Bible Study, MOMS

These programs follow the same guidelines and policies stated above.

The Cubbies program is for children ages 3 & 4. Children in Cubbies need to have an extra set of clothing available at the church, and a parent/guardian must be available by phone if needed.