KIDS’ MINISTRIES VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK

WELCOME We are excited that you have chosen to serve in Kids’ Ministries at West Bridge Church! Thank you for deciding to be involved in this vital and strategic ministry. To provide you with the resources and tools necessary to maximize your commitment, this Handbook has been compiled to familiarize you with Kids’ Ministries at West Bridge and to tell you about the program guidelines for newborn through high schoolage children. We believe that beginning and building a relationship with Christ is the most exciting adventure children will ever have. They will experience an energized atmosphere where every child can truly grow in their walk with Jesus. We want kids of all ages to feel welcome and to be encouraged as they learn and mature in Christ. Please take a moment to read this Handbook and become familiar with the guidelines for ministry. If you have any questions about the kids’ or students’ ministries at West Bridge, or if we can help you in any way, please call us at the church office: 317.745.2266. Seth Baker, Director of Kids’ Ministries at West Bridge Church

CONTENTS Kids’ Ministries: Our Mission.............................................................................................................................1 Worker Guidelines................................................................................................................................................1 Teacher/Leader Approval and Identification.............................................................................................................................................1 Volunteer Approval and Identification..................................................................................................2 Student Helper Policy...............................................................................................................................2 Check-in/Pick-up Policy......................................................................................................................................2 Lock-down Policy......................................................................................................................................3 Guidelines for Protection of Children................................................................................................................3 Disciplinary Guidelines............................................................................................................................4 Disciplinary Procedures...........................................................................................................................5 Intimidation/Bullying Preventive Discipline................................................................................................................................5 .. Nursery Guidelines...............................................................................................................................................6 Wellness Policy...........................................................................................................................................6 Room Readiness Guidelines................................................................................................................................7 Special Events........................................................................................................................................................7 Restroom Procedures............................................................................................................................................7 Transportation Guidelines...................................................................................................................................8 Emergency Procedures.........................................................................................................................................8

KIDS’ MINISTRIES Our Mission To help kids become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ

The Process Help kids develop 5 heart attitudes and habits of a Jesus follower (Matthew 22:37-40; 28:18-20; Acts 2)

Worship -Heart: Love for God expressed through a life of gratitude and surrender to Him -Habit: Love the kids you serve and set an example for them to follow through the way you worship with your life.

Reach -Heart: Compassion for people who are far from God -Habit: Being sensitive to the specific needs of the kids and taking the appropriate steps in pointing them to Jesus and helping them reach their friends.

Connect -Heart: Love for one another -Habit: Connect with the kids on their level and help them as they try to connect with others

Grow -Heart: Courage to take the next step of faith -Habit: Actively growing in your own life so you may encourage kids to take steps of growth as they receive truth

Serve -Heart: Humility to serve -Habit: Not focusing on what you get out of serving, but on what the kids are receiving through your service

WORKER GUIDELINES Teacher/Leader Approval and Identification All Teacher/leaders in charge of a room or area must be members of West Bridge Church. All Teacher/leader will submit to a background check. All Teacher/leaders will read the Volunteer Handbook and sign the Kids’ Ministries application.

All Teacher/leaders will meet with the Kids’ Ministries Director or a pastor before taking up responsibilities. All Teacher/leaders responsible for kids through 5th grade will wear a name tag.

Volunteer Approval and Identification All volunteers must be members of West Bridge Church or have been regular attendees for at least three months. All volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Volunteers working in the Nursery must be at least 18 years old. All volunteers will submit to a background check. All volunteers will meet with the Kids’ Ministries Director or a pastor before taking up responsibilities. All volunteers will read the Volunteer Handbook and sign the Kids’ Ministries application. A volunteer will work to assist the Teacher/leader of his/her area. All volunteers working with kids through 5th grade will wear name tags.

Student Helper Policy Student helpers must be in the 6th grade. They will receive on-the-job training from a teacher, adult helper, or ministry leader to ensure that they are properly equipped to care for children. Students age 10-15 may only work in Preschool rooms. Students 16 years and older may help in any Nursery, Preschool or Elementary School room with appropriate supervision. Student helpers in the Nursery may not change diapers or walk children outside the Nursery rooms. Student helpers in all rooms must be actively involved with the kids. Student helpers will be subject to the same expectations as teachers and adult volunteers. *Serving in a ministry does not substitute participation with a students’ own age group.

CHECK-IN/PICK-UP POLICY Check-in Policy Before proceeding to class, all children must check in: at a computer on the Nursery Department counter; in the gym;

A teacher or volunteer must confirm that each child has a name tag, or, if not, create one for them. Family members will receive name tag receipts which they will produce at pick-up time. All first-time visitors will be asked to complete a short registration card before leaving children in any department (or, one per family).

Pick-up Policy To pick up children, family members will produce name tag receipts. If the appropriate name tag receipt is not produced, volunteers must ask a ministry leader for permission to release a child.

LOCK - DOWN or “Threatening Person” Policy In the case of a threatening person on the premises, teachers will be alerted by the department head or ministry leader. Teachers and volunteers will calmly gather their students in their classrooms, lock the door, turn off the lights, and have them sit against the wall and out of view from any doors or windows. No parent or guardian will be allowed to pick up any child until notified by a West Bridge staff member that the Lock-Down is over.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTION OF CHILDREN The following measures have been taken by the Kids’ Ministries staff of West Bridge Church to protect our children. Supervision Guidelines Teachers and volunteers must serve in teams of two, both of whom are approved by the Kids’ Ministries Director. The teacher must be a member of West Bridge Church. Rooms that are subdivided into sections which are easily visible to the supervisor of the department/program may have only one teacher. Leaders in charge of programs should be readily available to all workers. If leaders are not in the room, all workers should know where to locate them in the building. Any volunteer who has concerns about the safety, welfare or health of children being cared for at West Bridge or any other instance should notify the head of their department/program, or of the pastor overseeing that area of ministry. Leaders and volunteers must avoid situations where they are alone with a child under the age of 18, either in a classroom, a vehicle or a counseling area. They should avoid any situation arousing suspicion of abuse.

Touching Policy Hugging, holding, back rubbing and patting of small children are all acceptable and are important ways of communicating love of and care for a child. Genital areas are never touched except during diaper changing or toileting as appropriate. Children should not be tossed in the air or swung by their arms or legs. Children have the right to refuse touching except for safety or cleansing.

Wellness Policy See Nursery Guidelines Wellness Policy

Communicable Diseases Any child with a contagious disease must be barred from involvement in programs until a doctor’s consent to rejoin programs is given to the parents. Communicable or contagious diseases include, but are not limited to the following: Chicken pox, Pink Eye, Common Cold or Influenza, Strep Throat, Scarlet Fever, Measles, Whooping Cough, Mumps, Head Lice and Ringworm.

Injury Response In case of the sudden onset of severe illness or injury, parents must be notified immediately. Incidents involving injury should be reported in writing* to the Department head and Kids’ Ministries Director as soon after class as possible. *Accident Report Form can be found in the mailboxes by the office.

Staff should report minor injuries to parents as soon as possible after class or services. No medication will be dispensed by a Volunteer or Student Helper. Band-Aids are available in classrooms, the Nursery, or in First Aid kits. First Aid kits are found in the following locations: Mail room Gym Elementary room closet Handicap bathroom Kitchen Leaders and Volunteers will use disposable gloves (available in Nursery and classrooms) to avoid direct contact with blood, vomit or excrement.

DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES At West Bridge Church, we believe that each child is created by God and is unique and special, and may at times, require special attention. We realize that children come from a variety of home situations and disciplinary structures and that parents are a child’s first and most important influence. Our first response in discipline is redirection of the child who is disrupting the class. Often, refocusing the attention of the misbehaving child to more appropriate behavior or activity will resolve the issue.

Use the following guidelines for reference: Be friendly. Respect children and they will respect you. Create a loving, caring environment in which children may learn. Establish and communicate realistic expectations. Provide meaningful, age-appropriate activities. Be fair and consistent in discipline. Focus on and award positive actions. Be aware of children with special needs and give them the assistance they need to learn.

Disciplinary Procedures 1. Verbal warnings will always be the first response to misbehavior. The teacher or volunteer will respond calmly and point out to the child the inappropriate behavior. 2. If the misbehavior continues, the child should be removed from the activity to a chair away from the group, but within the realm of the supervisor for that area. The chair should never be place in a corner facing the wall. The child should be given a clear explanation of why he is separated from the group and for how long. 3. If a child’s behavioral problems persist, the child may be removed from the class according to the following guidelines: a) The first time this occurs, the parents will be contacted immediately in their class or service. They will be asked to deal with their child. It will be their option to keep the child out of class or return him to class following their discussion with him. b) The second time such a situation occurs, the parents will again be contacted immediately. This time, the teacher will request that the parents keep their child with them for the remainder of the class or service they were in. A meeting with the parents, the teacher of the class and the Director of Kids’ Ministries will be held before the child is allowed to return to class. c) The third time misbehavior occurs, the child will not be allowed to return to the program for a period of time to be determined at a joint meeting of the parents, the teacher and the Kids’ Ministries Director. On returning to the program after the disciplinary period, if the misbehavior occurs again, the disciplinary process will begin again. Any time a child is removed from class, the supervisor of that ministry must be informed in writing, not immediately, but in a follow-up report.

4. Children aggravating misbehavior in each other will be separated. 5. A child is never to lose eating, drinking or restroom privileges. 6. No physical intervention is ever permitted, i.e. smacking or spanking. 7. No child is ever to be placed in a corner facing a wall.

Intimidation/Bullying Intimidation/bullying will not be tolerated. Any child caught intimidating or bullying others will be returned to their parents immediately.

NURSERY GUIDELINES The Nursery is for children from birth to two years of age.

General Nursery Procedures Parents leaving a child in the Nursery must use the pager system so workers can contact them quickly if the need arises. Nursery workers must be at least 18 years of age and show responsibility caring for newborns. Only adult female workers (i.e. over 18) may change babies’ diapers in the Nursery. Exception: Parents are welcome to change their own baby’s diaper in the Nursery. Please review the special Nursery Handbook for additional procedures.

Nursery Hallway Policy At times, tired or distressed nursery-age children are comforted and calmed by being walked-hand-held, in a worker’s arms, or in a stroller. - The walking must be within view of the Nursery staff. - Parents must give permission for children to be taken out of the Nursery for walking or other activity. Only adult female workers will walk the children, unless a parent walks his own child.

Wellness Policy Staff in Kids’ Ministries will exclude a baby or child from the Nursery or classrooms if any of the following conditions exist: Diarrhea (in the past 24 hours) Vomiting (in the past 24 hours) A temperature that is above normal (i.e. 98.6F or 37C) A sore throat A rash of unknown origin Skin infections, e.g. head lice, ringworm. Infection must be completely clear before children are allowed back into classroom or Nursery. Green-colored nasal discharge Excessively runny nose “Pink eye” or conjunctivitis The evaluation of a sick child will be based on obvious physical symptoms and risk to the health of other children in the Nursery or classrooms.

ROOM READINESS GUIDELINES Rooms should be left as they were found before class— neat and ready for use. While it is acceptable to rearrange chairs, tables or other equipment as needed, furniture should be returned to its original location at the end of class. After class, clean up any messes created during activities. Clean up bathroom accidents or vomit immediately. Do not remove materials or furniture from rooms without the permission of the Department head. Ensure anything removed (with permission) is returned as soon as possible. Teachers and volunteers should keep their personal belongings out of the reach of children for both the safety of the children and the security of the teacher/volunteer belongings.

SPECIAL EVENTS POLICIES Church outings: There are times when certain programs will include activities away from the church facilities. When an off-site outing is scheduled to take place, the parents will be notified at least one week prior to the event. All children attending the outing must have written consent from parents or guardians and a medical release form. These forms are available at the church office.

Overnight Activity: Any West Bridge Church-sponsored overnight activity must meet the following guidelines: - The activity must be pre-approved by the pastoral staff responsible for that area of ministry. - Any overnight activities for children younger than third grade must have special approval from the Kid’s Ministry Director. All overnight activities must be led by at least two adult leaders, or one adult (18 yrs or older) and one parent of a participating child. - The ratio of adult leaders to youth participants must be appropriate to the age group and the activity planned. Generally one adult for every five kids.

RESTROOM PROCEDURES Children who need to use the restroom must be accompanied by a leader or assigned volunteer. When taking children to the restroom, workers should check the area for safety before allowing children into the restroom. Children should have as much privacy as possible. If a child requires assistance, enter the bathroom or stall leaving the door open. Workers should ensure that children wash their hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.

TRANSPORTATION GUIDELINES Drivers of vehicles used for off-site church activities must be approved by Guide One Insurance Company. The driver must be at least 25 years old. The driver must have a valid driver’s license on file in the church office. The driver is responsible for obeying all traffic laws and takes responsibility for any infractions of traffic laws.

EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS In Case of Fire Everyone will exit the designated doors (see Exit Map in your ministry room). Parents should pick up children at the designated outside area. Teachers will count children before leaving class and after reaching designated area outside. Teachers will check bathrooms before exiting the building.

In Case of Power Outage Gather kids into the middle of your classroom and wait for parents to come pick up their kid. The emergency lights will kick on and offer a dim light. Follow standard pick-up procedures.

In Case of Tornado Watch (Conditions indicating a possible tornado) Class will continue as usual. Leaders of programs will monitor weather conditions or be advised by the staff. Parents may take their own children from class as well as children they have brought to church and for whom they are responsible (i.e. those for whom they have name tag receipts).

In Case of Tornado Warning (Tornado has been sighted)

Teachers/Volunteers/Helpers will remain calm and take shelter in the innermost rooms of the building. Teachers will count children before leaving classroom area and after reaching appropriate shelter. Parents may take their own children from class as well as children they have brought to church and for whom they are responsible (i.e. those for whom they have name tag receipts).

KIDS’ AND STUDENTS’ MINISTRIES LEADERSHIP TEAM Tyson Herald......................................................................................................Pastor of Student Ministries Seth Baker.............................................................................................................Director of Kids’ Ministries Lauren Overbey.................................................................................................................Nursery, 0-2 years Lyndsay Steward..............................................................................................................Preschool, 2-5 years Doug and Jonelle Huff..............................................................................................Elementary, grades K- 5 Seth and Amber Flater..........................................................................................Middle School, grades 6-8 Tyson Herald............................................................................................................High School, grades 9-12