Safety and Security Youth for Christ Juvenile Justice Ministry.

SafetySafetyandand

SecuritySecurityYouth for Christ

Juvenile Justice Ministry

Awareness of Safety and Awareness of Safety and Security issues is all about Security issues is all about

protecting:protecting:*You and Your Family.*You and Your Family.

*Other Ministry Staff and Volunteers.*Other Ministry Staff and Volunteers.*Facility and Program Staff.*Facility and Program Staff.

*The Youth We Serve.*The Youth We Serve.*The Integrity of the Ministry We *The Integrity of the Ministry We

Serve in and the Serve in and the Facility/Program Facility/Program Where We Where We Serve.Serve.

Protecting You & Your Protecting You & Your FamilyFamily

Home phone should be unlistedHome phone should be unlisted Use a cell phone for contact with Use a cell phone for contact with

youth or their family members.youth or their family members. All mail is sent through the ministry All mail is sent through the ministry

address or a post office box.address or a post office box. Use care when contacting youth ‘on Use care when contacting youth ‘on

the outs’.the outs’.

Establishing Firewalls


The need to show Godly love in The need to show Godly love in ministry is not a license to be stupid!ministry is not a license to be stupid!

A smiling face may be a mask to hide A smiling face may be a mask to hide another purpose or intent.another purpose or intent.

Meth, Crack, Weed, and Alcohol can Meth, Crack, Weed, and Alcohol can radically change a kid’s personality.radically change a kid’s personality.


Provoking a sexual or other Provoking a sexual or other unwanted response.unwanted response.

Being used against the wearer in the Being used against the wearer in the event of a violent incident.event of a violent incident.

Being used as a weapon against Being used as a weapon against others or for self harm.others or for self harm.

The wrong clothing or jewelry can cause some very negative consequences like:

Other Ministry Other Ministry Staff/VolunteersStaff/Volunteers

Yes!Yes!

I am myI am my

Brother’s KeeperBrother’s Keeper


Do not give out personal contact Do not give out personal contact information for others. Get the contact information for others. Get the contact info for the youth and have the staff info for the youth and have the staff member contact them.member contact them.

Notify the appropriate supervisor and the Notify the appropriate supervisor and the staff/volunteer if a potential problem is staff/volunteer if a potential problem is noticed.noticed.

Be watchful for careless or inappropriate Be watchful for careless or inappropriate actions by other ministry staff/volunteers.actions by other ministry staff/volunteers.


We are all responsible We are all responsible

for the training and for the training and supervision of new staff supervision of new staff

and volunteersand volunteers

Facility and Program Facility and Program StaffStaff

Access to youth in a facility/program Access to youth in a facility/program is a privilege. is a privilege. We are STEWARDS of We are STEWARDS of that privilegethat privilege

As Stewards we share the As Stewards we share the responsibility for safety and security responsibility for safety and security in the facility/program.in the facility/program.


Something as small as a paper clip or Something as small as a paper clip or a staple can be used as a weapon or a staple can be used as a weapon or for self harm. Know the rules about for self harm. Know the rules about these items and pick up loose items these items and pick up loose items like this.like this.

Don’t give anything to a kid or take Don’t give anything to a kid or take anything from them without clear anything from them without clear permission of the appropriate permission of the appropriate facility/program staff.facility/program staff.


Following the facility/program rules in Following the facility/program rules in a professional manner will help earn a professional manner will help earn the trust and respect of the facility the trust and respect of the facility

staff.staff.

This respect and trust will be crucial to This respect and trust will be crucial to potential future growth of the potential future growth of the

ministry.ministry.

Protecting the KidsProtecting the Kids

Working in Working in

Juvenile Justice Ministries Juvenile Justice Ministries

means working with kids who are means working with kids who are

High RiskHigh Risk

Always remember that what seems to be Always remember that what seems to be a simple request or innocent act may a simple request or innocent act may prove to be much more than it first prove to be much more than it first

appears.appears.


Some requests seem very innocent and Some requests seem very innocent and granting them would appear to be a simple granting them would appear to be a simple

kindness.kindness.

““Would you please call my girlfriend and let Would you please call my girlfriend and let her know that I’m OK.”her know that I’m OK.”

This could actually be a call to the victim of This could actually be a call to the victim of a sexual assault or other crime. Such a a sexual assault or other crime. Such a

call would cause a fresh layer of pain, fear call would cause a fresh layer of pain, fear or intimidation.or intimidation.


A request for information can have a A request for information can have a deeper meaning.deeper meaning.

““Have you seen Joey lately? I’ve been Have you seen Joey lately? I’ve been wondering how he is doing.”wondering how he is doing.”

This could easily be a request to learn This could easily be a request to learn about a criminal partner or a victim about a criminal partner or a victim

for the wrong reasons.for the wrong reasons.


Pay attention to details. Watch for and Pay attention to details. Watch for and report small signals that could indicate report small signals that could indicate a potential problem or incident.a potential problem or incident.

Communicate with facility/program Communicate with facility/program staff before you grant a special staff before you grant a special request from a youth or if you see request from a youth or if you see anything unusual or suspicious.anything unusual or suspicious.

Learn to be professional. ALWAYS!Learn to be professional. ALWAYS!

Facility, Program, & Facility, Program, & Ministry IntegrityMinistry Integrity

Access to the kids is a privilege.Access to the kids is a privilege.

We are stewards of the trust that has We are stewards of the trust that has been placed in us by the facility.been placed in us by the facility.

The best way to earn greater access to The best way to earn greater access to the kids is to demonstrate that we the kids is to demonstrate that we

are deserving of more trust.are deserving of more trust.


Be vigilant about issues of Safety and Be vigilant about issues of Safety and Security.Security.

Do not undermine the treatment programs Do not undermine the treatment programs no matter how much you disagree with no matter how much you disagree with them.them.

Do not talk badly of ANY facility/program Do not talk badly of ANY facility/program staff with any kid or in their hearing.staff with any kid or in their hearing.

Do not give media interviews about anything Do not give media interviews about anything in the facility/program without permission in the facility/program without permission from the appropriate supervisor.from the appropriate supervisor.


Confidentiality: Do not ask why a youth is incarcerated. He or she may share this information, but it should be at his or her own discretion. Do not promise confidentiality. We are legally responsible to report any disclosure of abuse, suicide or threats of violence to

others. Be up front with residents when you feel they are going in this direction, letting them know your legal responsibilities. Do not discuss, or allow residents to discuss a case that has not been fully prosecuted.


One-on-ones: Always obtain facility staff permission first. Always be in full view of facility staff when meeting one-on-one with youth. Never go into a youth’s room without facility staff observance. Avoid holding hands or touching a youth, in prayer or otherwise. The youth may not be able to differentiate between spiritual and emotional intimacy. We do not know a youth’s history or their whole story, and it may include different forms of abuse. Consequently, we must maintain healthy boundaries.


WE ARE ONLY STEWARDS OF THE MINISTRY THAT CHRIST HAS ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE!

WE REPRESENT CHRIST AT ALL TIMES TO KIDS, STAFF, & EVERYONE ELSE.

REPRESENT HIM WELL

Safety & SecuritySafety & SecurityThe FutureThe Future

Safety & Security issues are always Safety & Security issues are always evolving.evolving.

&&

We are responsible to stay up to date with We are responsible to stay up to date with this evolution.this evolution.

LEARN TEACH GROWLEARN TEACH GROW

Be the very best because:Be the very best because:

GOD deserves our very best…GOD deserves our very best…ALWAYS!ALWAYS!

JesusJesus: : Our Lord and SaviorOur Lord and Savior

Be the very best…for Him!Be the very best…for Him!

REPRESENT HIM WELL!REPRESENT HIM WELL!

ALWAYSALWAYS

Safety and Security Youth for Christ Juvenile Justice Ministry.

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