It is impossible to make a congregation 100% safe; however, there are steps that you can take to make your congregation safer while still creating a supportive space for learning, growth, and challenge as well as actively working for the inclusion and safety of all people.

Sample language to help a congregation write its own Limited Access Agreement for the highly-boundaried participation of a member who has been accused or convicted of violent and/or sexual offenses.

I keep hearing the word “resilient” and keep wondering what people mean by it. From a trauma-informed lens, resilience doesn’t mean we aren’t impacted. People who go through trauma are changed. Just as all of us have been impacted over the last year.

Guidance for developing strongly-bounded agreements between a congregation and a known offender.

As a religious educator, a minister, or a lay leader, here’s some vital family ministry you can support in simple short ways. Here are some simple ways to support your families.

I often go to bed during this pandemic wondering if my heart can hurt anymore. Then I wake up and see the news and my heartache continues. I wonder what to say to my children. What do I say to my little one, versus what I say to my teens about the state of our country?...

I often go to bed during this pandemic wondering if my heart can hurt anymore. Then I wake up and see the news and my heartache continues. I wonder what to say to my children. What do I say to my little one, versus what I say to my teens about the state of our country?...

One way UU congregations live our values is through our Safe Congregations committees and policies to create a safer and more welcoming community for all. Visit the Safe Congregations pages for complete information. Below are some particular areas to pay attention to during online programming for...

Once you become aware of a life-threatening allergy, ask a parent or guardian to fill out an “Allergy Action Plan” form.

In 2007, it was estimated that more than 3 million children, aged 18 years and under, had some kind of food allergy, and that number has been rising. Allergic reactions can range anywhere from mild – with symptoms like redness and itchiness – to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that can...

Develop a policy with guidelines that all employees and volunteers follow when working with children to create safer spaces for our children with severe and life-threatening food allergies.

The “two person” rule applies when diapering children and during bathroom trips.

Conduct education for staff and volunteers on abuse prevention awareness in the context of positive sexuality education for children, youth, and parents/guardians at least every other year, including such topics as safer internet use and bystander and anti-bullying education. Hold annual training...

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 procedures, including mandated reporting requirements in your state.

This is an outline of practices for screening and hiring congregational staff, including those who work with children directly.

Our Religious Education programs for children and youth entail a high degree of responsibility for the adults working directly and peripherally with the young people....

Efforts to create safer congregations extend beyond the walls of the building and into the realm of online community. Practice online safety and prevent personal information from falling into the wrong hands.

This is often the first place that safety concerns begin to emerge in a congregation. We think of children and youth as our most vulnerable population and there are often laws and requirements imposed on us to ensure a higher level of safety for these groups....