Smack and Snl Youth Ministries Middle School and High School Safety Policy – REVISED 3/2011
Staff Policy (Youth Directors and Youth Leaders)
1. All Youth Leaders must complete Applications before being considered for service.
2. Youth Leaders serving with Middle School or High School must be at least 18 years of age. Youth
Leaders – in – Training serving with Middle School Students must have completed the 10th grade.
3. Youth Leaders will arrive at least fifteen minutes before student meeting are scheduled to begin. At
least one Youth Leader will remain with student groups at all times. (see the “One on One Counseling
Policy” for more information regarding limitations for adult presence).
4. When absent, the Youth Director will notify Youth Leaders of where he or she can be located in case of
emergency.
5. The Youth Director will review HRC policies regarding abuse prevention with all Youth Leaders at
the start of every school year and individually with Youth Leaders who begin serving after the group
presentation has been made.
6. Specific permission is granted within our standard consent form for a Youth Leader to give any
student a ride home. If after reasonable attempt a parent or legal guardian cannot be contacted or
is excessively late in arriving to collect their child(ren), two non-related approved Youth Leaders will
provide transportation. No Youth Leader may provide a lone student with a ride.
7. Gifts, letters, emails, and calls from Youth Leaders to students must be appropriate and limited for the
sake of avoiding any misinterpretation of intent.
8. Facebook/Myspace/Twitter/Other Social Networking Sites/Email/Instant Messaging/Texting are all
great tools for ministry if used properly. Use of such communication means should be limited for the
sake of avoiding any misinterpretation of intent. Conversations should be limited to youth ministry
events and short conversations. Talking with students in person or using the phone is the preferred
method to avoid misinterpretations that can come with written communication.
One – On – One Counseling Policy
1. When a student initiates a meeting with any Youth Leader, this meeting should occur in a public place.
If the student is uncomfortable meeting publically because of the nature of the conversation, another
non-related adult Youth Leader of the same sex of the student should be in attendance.
2. Parents will be notified before the scheduling of a third private meeting, and any successive meetings,
between a student and a Youth Leader. Parents will be informed of the nature of the meetings at the
discretion of the Youth Director.
Suspected Abuse Policy
1. Youth Directors are Mandated Reporters and must report suspected abuse or neglect of any kind to
The Department of Human Services.
2. If any Youth Leader or Youth Ministry Volunteer receives a report of abuse or observes symptoms of
abuse, they are required to follow the Suspected Child Abuse Reporting Procedures that are on file in
the office, even if they are not a Legally Mandated Reporter.
Miscellaneous
1. During any overnight activities or trips, sleeping areas will be off limits to members of the opposite sex.
2. Each year the high school ministry will address principles of dating with students.
3. Should a student need to return home from a Youth Ministry activity for disciplinary reasons, the
parent or guardian will need to pick up the child at their expense.
4. Any student suspected of using drugs or alcohol will be reported to the Youth Director by observer.
Facilities Policy
1. Door windows are not to be covered for any reason.
Expected Student Behavior
No alcohol or drugs are permitted.
No smoking is permitted.
Do not bring anything that can cause harm to yourself or others.
Reporting to and checking in with leaders in mandatory.
Abide by the rules and guidelines of Adult Leaders.
If you are aware of someone NOT following guidelines, you must report that person to a leader.
Sign In/Sign Out Procedure
1. Parental consent/medical release forms will be required for student participation in any event. Forms
will be available on Wednesday nights, from the Youth Directors, Church Administrative Office, or via
www.smackandsnl.com.
2. Each student must sign in using the computers provided at the sign-in stations.
3. All students must remain inside of the designated youth ministry area until their parent/guardian/ride
arrives. YOUTH CANNOT WAIT OUTSIDE!
4. No student can leave early during an event without permission.
5. If a student unexpectedly leaves a youth ministry event, the following actions will be taken:
a. The parent/guardian will be called.
b. The police department will be called.
c. The student will not be allowed to attend the next event.
6. We strongly discourage parents allowing student to ride with another teenage driver home from a
youth ministry event. It is the parent’s responsibility to make their guidelines on this matter clear to
their child(ren).
7. Per Staff Policy 6 stated above, Specific permission is granted within our standard consent form for a
Youth Leader to give any student a ride home. If after reasonable attempt a parent or legal guardian
cannot be contacted or is excessively late in arriving to collect their child(ren), two non-related
approved Youth Leaders will provide transportation. No Youth Leader may provide a lone student with
a ride.
Dubbs
