Sample Standards for Interactions with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults

(Taken from virtusonline.org)
Examples of appropriate contact with minors for Church programs include, but are not limited to:

1. Verbal praise
2. Brief side hugs or arm around the shoulder
3. Brief pat on the shoulder or upper back
4. Handshakes, “high-fives”, knuckle bumps or hand slaps
5. Brief touching of hand, face, head, shoulder, or arm of minor
6. Holding hands while walking with small children.
7. Sitting beside small children
8. Kneeling or bending down for a brief hug with small children
9. Holding hands during prayer

Examples of contact with minors that are not to be used include, but are not limited to:

1. Long and/or inappropriate frontal embraces
2. Kisses on the mouth
3. Holding minors over four years old on the lap or in one’s arms; holding younger minors should only be “as needed” (e.g., for comfort) or at the invitation of the parent
4. Touching knees, legs, buttocks, chests or genital areas
5. Being alone in isolated areas such as closets, staff-only areas or other private rooms
6. Playing with hair of a minor
7. Being on a bed with a minor (unless a bed becomes designated “seating space” during daytime hours)
8. Wrestling with minors, tickling minors or piggyback rides
9. Any type of massage, whether given by minor to adult or adult to minor
10. Any form of unwanted affection
11. Oral or written comments that relate to physique, body development, expression of overt physical affection and/or involve other boundary violations
12. Providing alcohol, drugs, tobacco or illegal materials to a minor
13. Giving of gifts or money to a minor without the parent’s knowledge
14. Undressing or being nude
15. Taking a shower with a minor
16. Sleeping in the same bed, sleeping bag or tent with a minor, unless the adult is an immediate family member of the minor

Guidelines for conduct between adults and minors in their virtual contacts include:

1. Adults must have written permission from a minor’s parent or guardian before contacting the minor through any virtual contact or before posting pictures, video, and other information that may identify that minor.
2. All communications between adult leaders and minors should be transparent and for legitimate ministry related purposes.
3. “Friending” requests should be initiated by the minor and not the adult.
4. Minors should never be invited or accepted as a “friend” at a private social media page or account of an adult in a supervisory position of that minor.
5. Employees and volunteers should set personal profile pages to a “private” setting so that youth do not have access to personal information.

Michelle Markgraf, Freedom for the Captives

Steps to Safe Church

• Step One: Form a Child Safety Committee
• Step Two: Create Urgency
• Step Three: Know Your Volunteers
• Sample Site Assessment Checklist
• Step Four: Assess Your Space
• Sample Standards for Interactions with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults
• Step Five: Implement Guidelines for Youth Leaders
• Step Six: Train adults to recognize and respond to abuse
• Step Seven: Support abuse survivors
• Step Eight: Create guidelines for responding to abuse
• Step Nine: Educate children about personal safety
• Step Ten: Review and maintain your child protection program