New Child Safety resources for congregations

The LCANZ’s Child Protection Project Team this month has released two new congregational resources supporting the church’s Child Safety Standards (CSS).

The new resources back up Child Safety Standard 2 – ‘We value, respect and listen to children’. CSS Implementation Support Officer Nicole Hall says children are safer when they are valued, respected, and listened to.

‘When children feel comfortable and informed, they are more likely to speak up about their safety concerns or make a complaint’, Nicole says.

She says the new Speak Up poster is designed to encourage children to speak up and to provide them with information about safe people and safe places they can approach for support or assistance. This child-friendly resource can be customised to your congregation and is available for download now.

‘Our second new resource is called ‘Who keeps me safe at church?’, Nicole says. ‘This activity-based resource helps children to identify their “safe people” – adults they would feel comfortable approaching if they felt scared or unsafe. Its purpose is to empower children to better understand their own safety networks.’

Nicole says this activity that could be introduced into a Sunday school program or any other congregational activities that are specific to children. Congregations may also wish to encourage parents to use it as a mechanism for engaging in safety conversations with their children at home.

You will find the Speak Up poster and ‘Who keeps me safe at church?’ resource on the LCA Child Safety page. Just look for the ‘Resources’ section on the right-hand side of your screen and scroll down.

Any questions? Please contact:

• Your District Professional Standards Officer (details here)

or

• Nicole Hall from the Churchwide Child Safety Standards team, by emailing css@lca.org.au or phoning 08 267 7372 or 0491 011 643.