HisKidz Training Module 1

HisKidz Ministry Training

Module 1Why a Ministry to Children with Special Needs?

We are called to make Disciples

Matthew 28:19-20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all people”

Exodus 4:10-15-“Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent… I am slow of speech and of tongue.” …and [God] said, “Is there not Aaron, your brother?… I know that he can speak well… I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do.” 2 Corinthians 13:11“Finally brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace be with you.”

We are called to be in community and to help one another

Why does the church need to respond to families that have children with special needs? First, 20% of the US population is reported to have some kind of disability.

Second, sharing the news that Jesus loves them with children whether typical or with a special need is God’s desire.

We start with the premise that all human beings are created in the image of God and are designed to be in relationship with Him. Because relationship with God is a matter of faith, children with special needs should have an equal ability to know Christ as savior and to express their faith in the church community of their choice.

A child whether typical or with special needs has the same value and worth to God.

Each person is therefore created for a special purpose within the body and is important to the “family” of the God and his community.

When we respond in an inclusive way to a family with a special needs child our response is communicating that “your child matters and your child is accepted” to the family of that child.

The way the church family responds to accommodation requests greatly influences how the family perceives the church’s support.

Ministry leaders and volunteers alike should care about a family’s connection inside our church family and ultimately with Jesus Christ.

Do we have children with special needs at Venture Christian Church?

Yes, we do. We have children with special needs in our pre-school classrooms, elementary classes, in our 678 Junior High Ministry and in our High school ministry. In fact it is estimated that 20% of the US populace has a disability of some kind or another, so the person sitting next to you could have a special need without you noticing any sign of it.

Special needs issues are affecting churches of every size. Congregations with a regular attendance of 80 and 8000 are both impacted as children with neurological and physical disabilities seek inclusion. At Venture we have children with varying needs which include ADHD, Down Syndrome, Fragile bone, and children on the Autism Spectrum.

HisKidz Ministry offers both a buddy system & a self-contained special needs classroom

At Venture we provide the buddy system in the Children’s Ministry classroom setting as well as in the self-contained special needs setting. By offering both options, students are able to participate in the environment best suited for their abilities and needs. For some children the accommodation plan may change from week to week depending upon many factors such as a new medication regimen, home life changes, or even how well the child’s day is going prior to arrival at church.

What is a Buddy?

A buddy is a one-on-one assistant who provides friendship to a child with a disability.

A buddy also provides safety and support to the classroom teacher and other students.

A buddy can assist a child with special needs inside a “regular” children’s ministry setting among typical peers.

A buddy can also provide assistance to a child in a self contained special needs setting.

Safety

Each buddy is aware of the safety needs of the child they serve. • This could be as simple as helping use a pair of scissors

correctly. • This could be as important as removing your friend from the

room during a melt-down.• This certainly includes preventing “elopement,” wandering,

getting lost, etc.

Role of a Buddy

A buddy provides a child with special needs physical assistance and encourages proper social interaction.

Mobility

Game Playing, learning activities, and craft making

Role of a Buddy and Child participation

A Buddy will encourage proper social interaction by:• Helping a child with crafts, learning activities, and games• Help a child stay focused during listening times, know when to

ask questions, etc.

The Role of a Buddy to Help Communicate

A Buddy will:• Voice what a child is trying

to communicate in order to meet his or her needs.:

• Clarify at times a child’s needs by using icons or iPads with special applications.

• Share and adapt Bible lessons for a child to better understand.

• Support a child in and through transitions.

• comfort to the child when needed.

The Role of a Buddy and Behavior Management

When a child exhibits poor behavior, it is not usually because they are choosing to be disobedient, but more often it is a way to try to communicate frustration or and or the ability to share their feelings in a way that we can easily understand.

A Buddy will help with behavior management when:

• There is a need to help calm a child by utilizing specific behavior management techniques

• Parents, teachers, and leaders will help you understand your friend’s needs.

The Buddy responses to “ Behavior Hiccups”

A buddy must be prepared for some behavior “hiccups in large group environments. Settings that are viewed as fun and high energy settings may be the very things that provide sensory overload to the student. A buddy will need to observe the child and recognize when the child is exhibiting anxiety or stress.

For example if a child is sensitive to loud music or high levels of activity, It may be necessary to walk a student to the structured special needs classroom for a calming space until the worship time is completed and then take the child back to the larger group for the teaching time. It may be possible to help the child expand the ability to stay and hear the worship music over time.

Buddy is NOT

A teacher’s assistant

Responsible for other students

The buddy makes sure the child they are working with is discipled, not entertained

Qualities of a Buddy

• Learn friend’s needs, behavior management tools, family dynamics, etc.

• A great observer of the child that he/she serves and becomes familiar with that child’s unique needs, such as a sensitivity to bright lights, loud noises or the inability of the child to self-calm.

Teachable Flexible

•Able to adapt•Able to explain concepts and lessons for their friend•Recognizes when the child needs a break and time to “chill out” and recharge. This can be because the child has certain sensory needs like physical activity, exertion, or the need to change an environment because of over stimulation.

Qualities of a Buddy

• Buddies are aware that the medical and personal information of the child they serve is private information and they do not have the freedom to share with anyone other than ministry leaders or the parents of the child.

Confidential Eyes of Faith

Look at what the student for what he/she can do, not what he/she cannot do. Look at how God is working and teaching and to encourage that child to participate to the best of the child’s ability

Who Should be a Buddy?

Each child needs two buddies so that the child can have familiarity with the buddy and the buddies can rotate weeks they serve or fill in when one of them is sick. If you…• Clear background check• Playful spirit around kids • Patient• Willing to serve • Flexible (ideally serving

twice a month) Then you should be a buddy!

HisKidz Ministry Team Application forBackground Checks

All volunteers working with children must complete a background check This procedure does request you

to give your social security number, but it is totally confidential…no one at the church has access to this

information. Below are directions on how an applicant will can access the Venture website start the background check process. Log on to the Venture Website at www.venturechristian.org Ministries Children Volunteer Application Special Needs Ministry Special Needs Ministry Volunteer (right side of page) Apply For Position

Finally, each applicant will then click on next and it brings them to the signage page where each applicant

must click to agree with all terms and allow us to process a background check. Once the applicant has

completed the process then Deb Omori will receive an email that tells her that someone has completed

the background check process and she will affirm that they are an approved security team candidate and

will finalize the submission. You will be notified by Deb or one of her team if there are any irregularities in

the background check or if you are approved to start work.