This workshop was given by Evin Carvill Ziemer on September 19, 2020 focusing on safety guidelines and protocols as congregations prepare to launch religious education programming in an online environment.

Topics covered in this presentation include building covenants, securing parental permissions, hosting safe spaces and special information focusing youth and social media.

This workshop is designed for RE volunteers, staff, mentors, and anyone involved in children's and youth programming. 
Special note: The overall guidance on creating safety, especially a culture of safety, will continue to be helpful to congregations. However, the technical guidance specific platform guidance will continue to evolve.

Up to Date Guidance

• Keeping Children and Youth Safe in Online Programs
• Guidance on Youth Safety Online is a policy page for the UUA's youth programs which may be helpful in congregational discernment.
• Guidance on Platforms is for UUA staff planning youth programs but may provide helpful information for congregations selecting platforms.
• Checklist for Evaluating Platforms

UUA Resources

• Pdf of the slides
• Sample online permission form. This is the form the UUA is currently using for online drop-in youth programming.
• Parents as Sexuality Educators is a great option for small group ministry with parents/caregivers on line. The session about children and youth being online is particularly helpful now.
• UUA recommendations for sexuality education during shutdown "These recommendations are not an endorsement; rather, they are offered to help you created programing that is as safe and responsible as possible during this pandemic period."

Tech Tips

• SignNow is an inexpensive program for online legal signatures by uploading a template and then sending an invite for a signature.
• Zapier allows linkage between online programs. Can be used to link a registration form to a SignNow permission form.
• textfree.us is a program you can use for a text only number that you can give multiple people a log in to and also have texts to it emailed to you. This could be used as a joint tech help line on Sunday morning, for youth to request pastoral care, etc.

Other Resources Mentioned by Participants

• Screenagers movie for more info for parents and screen issues
• Rabbit Hole podcast podcast on what spaces including alt-right recruiting youth may encounter online
• Common Sense Media for reviews of games and online apps

Activity Suggestions from Participants

Recommend adults review the specific activities before doing them with your group.

• Online board games at boardgamearena.com
• Jackbox for interactive games (select "Family friendly")
• Kahoot is a fun quiz platform
• Interactive options: skribbl, jamboards, mural, zoom's white board feature (account must be set up to allow it)
• Create a word cloud with mentimeter when brainstorming
• Collaborative jigsaw puzzles
• NY Outward Bound zoom team building suggestions
• Netgames.io has free versions of codewords and werewolf