Personal Safety and Prevention of Abuse

Our congregation and the Children’s Religious Education committee and the religious education staff are committed to creating and maintaining a church community in which all people can worship, learn, and play together in an atmosphere free of all forms of discrimination, harassment, exploitation, or intimidation. Such behavior will not be tolerated within our programs.

We seek teachers, advisors, caregivers, mentors, and sponsors who promote a spiritual community that affirms the Unitarian Universalist Association principles and demonstrates personal integrity. We seek individuals who nurture, care for, respect, and support children and youth, and are worthy of our trust.

All people engaged in children, youth, and family programs at the Fellowship of Los Gatos (UUFLG) are responsible for knowing the possible impact of their words and actions on the children they work with.

With the above guidelines in mind, we have developed the following policies and procedures relative to personal safety:

  1. All teachers, advisors, caregivers, mentors, and sponsors are interviewed in person or by telephone and approved for service by the Director of Religious Education. Caregivers, mentors and persons who have been attending UUFLG less than six months must provide references.
  2. All youth advisors, caregivers, and mentors are required to complete a Criminal History Background Check form.
  3. If a once-active individual ceases to participate in the church community for a significant period of time and then wishes to re-establish a relationship in the church community with responsibility for children and youth programs, steps 1 and 2 may be required again.
  4. Youth advisors, mentors, and sponsors must be 25 years of age or older and an active member or friend of the church in good standing. Caregivers and lead teachers must be 18 years of age or older. Caregivers and teaching assistants under age 18 must always be in the presence of an adult.
  5. Teachers, advisors, caregivers, mentors, and sponsors must review and sign a Code of Ethics on an annual basis. The Code of Ethics specifically prohibits verbal, emotional, and physical abuse and sexual involvement with children and youth. If there is an alleged violation of the Code of Ethics, the DRE will consult with the Safe Congregation Committee, or take immediate and appropriate actions.
  6. Supervision standards:
    1. Children and youth classes are generally taught by a team of at least two persons.
    2. At least one male and one female adult must be present at church-sponsored overnights.
  7. Training on preventing, recognizing, responding to, and reporting child and sexual abuse and harassment shall be offered each year. All persons working with children and youth, whether staff or volunteers, are considered mandatory reporters, and as such are expected to contact protective services if they suspect abuse has occurred.

Childcare

  1. Church-sponsored childcare is provided by paid and volunteer caregivers as follows:
    1. To infants and/or toddlers and/or pre-schoolers during Sunday morning church services,
    2. To multi-age groups of children during church events such as meetings, membership orientation classes, adult education classes, and adult-oriented social events.
  2. Caregivers shall be at least 18 years of age and shall be screened according to the procedures stated above (see above section on Personal Safety).
  3. Assistant caregivers under 18 must be supervised by an adult and will not be left alone with children. An exception is when a youth is caring for four children or less and the parents are in the very next room. If no other childcare provider is available to assist, the youth may care for the children if the door is kept open and/or a frequent check-in is made by an adult from the group. Two youth may care for 8 children if no more than one child is an infant. Parents must be informed if someone under 18 is caring for their children.
  4. There shall be a minimum of two caregivers in all situations, at least one of which must be 18 years or older. An exception shall be made for small groups of children (numbering four or fewer) when childcare is provided on the premises within hearing range of the parents or guardians. Minimum ratios for children: caregivers shall be as follows:
    • Infant and preschool children: two caregivers.
    • 4-10 children, with no more than two under age 2: two caregivers.
    • 4-10 children, with two or more under age 2: three caregivers.
    • 10 or more children: three or more caregivers, based on ages of children enrolled.
    Caregivers shall have easy access to a telephone and first aid kit.
  5. Caregivers shall receive information about childcare and emergency procedures at the church. A summary information sheet for caregivers shall be readily available.
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Address: 15980 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Phone: (408) 358-1212
Email: admin@uuflg.org