How safe are the kids in your ministry?

One of the most important aspects we always explore when interviewing grant applicants is what kind of background checks they run on their staff and volunteers. It surprises us when we come across a ministry that does not conduct any kind of background check. An interview and an application is not enough anymore to know that the kids are safe. At FKO, we work with all kinds of organizations and churches, big and small, but regardless of size, we believe that it is so important to protect both the children and the organization by having mandatory background checks on everyone interacting with the kids.

There are many different organizations that provide reasonable prices for comprehensive checks on potential volunteers or staff members. International Network of Children’s Ministry partners with Protect My Ministry to provide discounted background checks. Church Volunteer Central works with LexisNexis in providing affordable background checks for your ministry. Each offer different options allowing a ministry to choose the depth of the background check they wish to perform.

Another aspect to consider is if you partner with other ministries or churches. We often see organizations that bring in other ministries to assist in the program and reach more kids for Christ. If you are collaborating with another ministry for a summer camp or weekly outreach, it is essential to know that they also are conducting background checks on their volunteers. It is imperative to keep the children as safe as possible, and it is important to take the opportunity to protect your ministry in the possibility that something does happen. The book Protecting Your Church Against Sexual Predators by Voyle A. Glover provides great information to help keep your church, ministry, and children safe before anything ever happens. It even gives you a guide on what to do if any kind of incident does happen in your ministry.

For ministries and organizations that currently do not run checks on their volunteers and staff, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. We know that this will not stop every child who is victimized in any way, but it provides a peace of mind that a precautionary step has been taken. If anyone has other leads on affordable background checks, we would love to hear about it!

Special offer!

We are dishing up something special for this new year - FREE SHIPPING for the months of January and February on all orders from our bookstore. No minimums. No restrictions. No code to enter...it's automatic for all our customers!

And we're always updating our bookstore with the newest resources, so check back for the latest!

Social Networking and Kids

If you haven't used Myspace or Facebook, you've probably heard about it. But these social networking sites are not set up for young children who want to use the Internet. The content on these sites are not reviewed and you never know what you kids may be viewing. Through a little research and the help of a K! Magazine blurb (Sept/Oct 08), there are a few sites that kids can use that have content just for them. One example is www.kidzui.com. This particular site lets parents download the KidZui content browser that is designed just for kids. It includes games, videos and photos that are just for kids and allows kids the freedom to surf the site without constant parental supervision. It even provides a report for parents to review what their child is searching for and interested in. They offer both free access and a membership option that provides more features for under $10 a month, or a deeper discount for a year membership (hmmm... maybe a last minute Christmas gift?!?). There are a variety of other sites that provide kids with a social networking alternative, like www.imbee.com. Like with any other web site, it is still necessary to know your child and what they may be involved in. These sites give kids something they can use and have as their own. Check out these for yourself and let us know about any others you like!

And...the FKO staff wants to wish you a Merry Christmas! Thank you for all the work you do, reaching out to kids and spreading the Good News!

Freedom...to play?

It's no surprise that today's kids are living in a different world, and thinking in the context of a new worldview, than kids 15-20 years ago. I found an article in K! Magazine (Sept/Oct 08) that highlighted both Ivy Beckwith's book Postmodern Children's Ministry and Lenore Skenazy's blog freerangekids.wordpress.com. The article briefly discusses how different kids are raised today, and how they don't enjoy the freedom that kids did in the past because parents are so afraid of what "may" happen. Kids often aren't allowed to play in the neighborhood or go to the park without supervision. Skenazy's blog encourages the idea that kids are not in as much danger as parents may think. Her artcles discuss everything from Halloween candy to walking to school. She emphasizes that safety is important, but obsessive worrying is teaching kids that they are not capable of completing tasks that other kids did all the time in the past (like even walking home from the bus stop). Check out the interesting articles and viewpoints on her blog. Will it provide a little extra freedom, or leave room for a dangerous situation?

Special Needs? We can help!

The September/October 2008 issue of K! Magazine briefly highlighted toys and books that helps kids with tough subjects. The featured items were a Down Syndrome doll to help promote understanding and also a Chemotherapy doll that has different hair styles to help kids understand the changes that a person may experience. They also highlighted a book about plastic surgery.

“Special needs” is a growing and very important aspect of children's ministry today. All children need spiritual guidance, and families with special needs children are looking for churches that are ready and willing to work with their child. Some of our favorite resources include Group's Emergency Response Handbook. It's a great resource to have on hand, as it covers a variety of situations that could arise in your ministry including abuse, depression, legal trouble, and tragic loss. When it comes to specific needs, Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Clarissa Willis is one of the best and easiest to understand books on the topic. It provides the basics on the disorder and what the best techniques are to teach the kids who suffer from it.

Head over to our bookstore for more Special Needs resources!