Is It Rude, Mean, or Bullying Behavior? There is a real need to draw a distinction between behavior that is rude, behavior that is mean, and behavior that is characteristic of bullying. Rude = Inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else. Incidents of rudeness are usually...

A compilation of checklists found in Guide: Becoming a Safer Congregation Building Security Checklist Building and Grounds Safety Checklist Cold Weather Maintenance Checklist Exit Safety Checklist Financial Controls Checklist Fire Safety Checklist Kitchen Safety Checklist Stairway Safety Checklis...

The following guidelines apply to teenagers working with children: They must be at least 14 years old. They must be screened. They must be under the supervision of a non-parent/guardian adult and must never be left alone with children....

Establish clear check in/check out procedures for children that includes documentation of who is authorized to pick up a child, all appropriate registration/permission forms, emergency contact information, and medical release and media release forms. An official check-in and check-out process is...

Because of the power disparities and the potential for boundary violation in pastoral care conversations between adults and youth, we recommend adults engage in these best practices to create a supportive, appropriately confidential, and safer space for youth. For religious professionals doing...

Staff volunteers and lay leaders need to be informed about mandated reporting requirements in your state. The When Abuse is Suspected chapter of the UUA's Balancing Acts resource offers some guidance on what to do. These laws change frequently and should be researched at least annually....

After you’ve done your due diligence through the hiring and screening process, and you’ve ensured that people are trained, the congregation can still be held liable for injuries or damages on the basis of negligent supervision. This refers to a failure to exercise reasonable care in the...

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...

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....