In addition to the training required to successfully fulfill their duties as staff or volunteers, all staff and volunteers who work with children, youth, disabled persons, elders, and other vulnerable adults should receive training on signs of sex abuse, sex abuse prevention, and reporting...

The UUA's resources for Responsible Staffing outline practices for screening and hiring congregational staff, including those who work with children directly. Guidance for Background Checks Employees and volunteers serving in positions involving children and youth, the elderly, vulnerable...

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Your team should include: Staff: Minister and Religious Educator A member of the board A member of the Safe Congregations team or a congregant with background in emergency management or first response Someone who brings awareness and sensitivity to the particular needs of the elderly and persons...

The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Board of Trustees will meet on June 11, 2018 at 8:00 PM Eastern, via Zoom Videoconference. Zoom Meeting Info. Meeting URL: http://zoom.us/j/642568887 Meeting ID: 642 568 887 Join by Phone: +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll) ​The following documents are in PDF...

Once approved, the congregation’s Emergency Operations Plan should be shared with first responders and/or local emergency management officials....

Incidents of vandalism appear to be on the rise, especially in an increasingly polarized world. While often "only" nuisance crimes, these can also undermine a congregation's feeling of safety and security in the buildings. These are some resources we find useful in thinking about preventing...

The UUA has a planning guide for active shooter incidents, developed by our Safe Congregations team and incorporating wisdom from a variety of resources. See other sample active shooter emergency resources developed by our congregations....

Once the plan is approved, the team should plan to teach the community about the plan and encourage practice, review and make periodic adjustment. It is important to practice the plan regularly since people may forget the steps, circumstances may change, new people may join and the leadership of...

Announce to the congregation a week or two before the drill of your intent to conduct an emergency drill. Tell them when the drill will take place, and what is expected of them. This is especially important if this will be the first drill. Unannounced drills should only be performed once the...

The most well written and carefully crafted policies and procedure are useless if they remain unknown and/or if the congregation does not know how to enact them. Sheltering in, lockdown and evacuation drills are now standard practice for most public and private schools in the United States....

Everyone involved in the plan needs to know their roles and responsibilities before, during, and after an incident. Key training components include: At least once a year, hold a meeting to educate all parties on the plan. Go through the plan in order to familiarize these stakeholders with it....

After finalizing the first draft of the plan, the planning team should present the draft to the appropriate leadership and request feedback and/or obtain official approval. Consider other stakeholders in the congregation, such as your worship and religious education committees. They may raise...

In this step congregations determine: Who is responsible for initiating emergency shelter in, evacuation, or lockdown procedures?...

The planning team should consider a number of issues, primarily depending on which kind of planning you’re doing—for natural disasters, or human made ones. Here are some sample questions to get you started.How to evacuate or initiate a shelter in place, paying attention to disability-related...

Think about who in your town, city, or neighborhood could partner with you in case of natural disasters or emergencies. Local police and fire departments can do an appraisal of your building and give you some guidance....

There are many resources to help congregations become safer. While congregations work through becoming safer and more secure, please also be aware that FEMA is now a part of the Department of Homeland Security....