Safeguarding God’s Children

Safeguarding God’s Children is a training program required by the Episcopal Church to provide participants with the information they need to protect the children they know and care for in their personal lives and the ministries in which they serve.  The program is based on the philosophy that if every adult can protect just one child, they will forever change one life.  If we can all change one life, together we will make a difference in this generation of children.  The training is divided into two sections, one for parents and congregations, the other for ministries.

This training program is required for all Vestry members and anyone working with the children and youth of the parish.  Truthfully, if you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc., you would benefit from the training.  Upon completion of the training, many parishioners comment that they wish they had known the information sooner and are very glad to now know how to protect the children they love.

Parents may only choose to attend the first section of the training regarding parenting, which lasts the first hour and a half.  In order to meet Church requirements for working with children & youth, the participant must attend the full three-hour training. 

The children and youth of our parish are the future of our Church, let us all commit to protecting and nurturing them in a safe environment! 

Safeguarding God’s Children for Parents and Congregations (1st section of the training)

Provides a basic understanding of the dynamics of child sexual abuse, how to recognize signs that a child may have been abused, and what to do if you have concerns about a person’s behavior toward a child or youth, or if you suspect that a child or youth has been molested. For all adults concerned about children and youth.

Safeguarding God’s Children for Ministries (2nd section of the training)

Offers steps you can take to prevent child sexual abuse in church and other organizational settings. Required for clergy, employees of churches and church organizations, and volunteers responsible for planning, implementing or supervising ministries, activities or programs for children and youth.

Training/Workshop Dates:

For more information and/or to register for the training, please contact Glenna Depew, 423-612-0646 or glennamdepew@earthlink.net.

Click here to see the Episcopal Church’s Model Policies to Protect Children and Youth from Abuse

Resources used for this page’s summary:

Praesidium. (2004).  Safeguarding God’s Children:  Manual for training.  New York:  Church Pension Group.

http://www.cpg.org/productsservices/safeguardingchildren.cfm