Fourteen Recommended Practices for Safety in Youth Ministry

Part of Becoming a Safer Congregation

Learning from the best practices of many Unitarian Universalist congregations, the UUA Safety Team and Youth Roundtable have developed recommendations for congregations to keep teenage youth safer from harm.

Members of the Youth Ministry Roundtable, Ministries and Faith Development, and Lifespan Faith Engagement (formerly the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries) spent the majority of 2018-2019 developing Association-wide Youth Safety Guidelines for UUA sponsored events. Questions about these guidelines should be directed to youth@uua.org.

A graphic of a circle of human icons around a chalice, surrounded by yellow & black caution tape.

UUA Youth Safety Guidelines

From Youth Safety Guidelines

Youth safety policies are key to providing the containers that allow youth to have these transformative and even life-saving experiences

UUA Youth Safety Guidelines

In This Section

Hiring for Safety in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Along with being at least 25 years old, adult youth advisors should meet all of the background qualifications on this checklist.
Background Checks in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

A background check should include a search of state and national criminal databases as well as sex offender registries.
Training for Safety in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

All volunteers & staff who work with youth should receive training on signs of sex abuse, sex abuse prevention, and reporting procedures.
Boundaries and Supervision in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Regular support and guidance for adults working with youth helps those adults hold appropriate boundaries and holds them accountable following the congregation’s policies.
Communications and Safety in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Just as we advise adults not to be alone with youth in physical spaces, the same applies online.
Code of Ethics for Adults in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Adults working with youth bear a special responsibility in fostering youth spiritual development and modeling healthy behavior.
Participant Covenant for Youth Events
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Each group or event is encouraged to develop its own covenant to respect appropriate safety boundaries.
Recommended Practice for Age Range in Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

The UUA defines “youth” as any young person currently in high school (or the equivalent for home-schooled youth or other uncommon schooling situations). “
Sex, Minors & the Law
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Adults who work with youth need to enforce rules about sexualized behavior and know their reporting responsibilities (e.g. what counts as child abuse).
Two Unrelated Adults Present for Youth Safety
From Safe Congregations Handbook

It is advisable to have two (or more) unrelated adults with youth during all programs and events.
Safe Spaces for Youth Pastoral Care
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Choose a space for pastoral care and conversation that is easily observable by others.
Policies for Overnight Youth Events
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Create safe spaces where youth feel comfortable but with reduced the risk of non-consensual behavior or violations of state laws around age and sexual contact.
Safe Transportation for Youth Ministry
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Recommended Practices for transporting youth during Youth Group events.
Permission Forms and Communication with Parents
From Safe Congregations Handbook

Permission forms should include: how and when incidents are reported, any specific activities needing consent, and rules and supervision.