Questions To Ask Before Sending Your Child on a Church Trip
By GRACE Staff
Summer camps, mission trips, Vacation Bible Schools, and other youth trips can be very positive and formative experiences for children and teens. These settings for ministry are valued and encouraged because they can provide a great mix of challenge, fun, and spiritual focus. It is also true that we must, as best as we are able, discern if these environments are safe for our children.
It can be challenging to know what questions to ask when trying to determine if your church or camp ministry has set up proper safeguards or if there is real accountability for those who violate the safeguarding policy. This resource will equip you with some basic informed questions that will help you discern if the environment you are sending your child or teen into is safe.
These questions are not exhaustive or all that could be important in weighing your decision. No list of questions can ensure anyone’s safety, but these questions will give you insight into how your church or camp ministry is thinking about abuse prevention and response and what work they have done in this area. In addition, these questions will help you advocate for better policies and practices with the church or ministry you are involved with.
“Tell me about your basic approach to safety and prevention?”
Encouraging Answers Will Include...
A clear and articulate understanding of abuse prevention and safety. Leaders can explain their plan, policies, and practices easily.
They express that safeguarding is a high priority and essential to doing ministry well.
They are working on this area. They are always trying to improve in this area.
They have sought out good resources, and/or outside help.
Concerning Answers...
Listen for
Denial (e.g. “that sort of thing wouldn’t happen here,” or “we’ve never had a problem with that stuff,”), or any minimization of abuse realities.
Any hesitancy, or lack of conviction or clarity.
Lack of forthrightness, defensiveness, or deception.
The safety policies are a “burden” and “hindrance to doing ministry”.
If their concern is focused on reducing liability for the church or ministry, not primarily focused on the safety of the children and vulnerable.
“How do you train your staff and volunteers?”
Encouraging Answers Will Include...
There is a clear plan to train and equip everyone who works/volunteers at the camp or any chaperones from the church.
Leaders can tell you about a recent training that happened.
Attendance was required in order to work at the camp or chaperone on the trip.
Resources and training materials are up-to-date with best prevention and reporting practices.
Outside professionals were used to evaluate policy and/or train.
Concerning Answers...
Only a few staff are trained.
Staff who do not work with kids directly are not required to attend (all should attend regardless of their role)
The training is liability-focused, rather than victim/survivor-focused.
Follow Up Question
“How often do you review the safety policy with staff?”
If there is no regular planned review of policy with staff and volunteers, this is a concern.
“Do you have an abuse prevention policy? May I see a copy?”
Encouraging Answers Will Include...
A policy that has clear statements against abuse, a commitment to safety, and a connection to the Christian faith (if it is a faith-based camp).
It has clear definitions of abuse, indicators of abuse, and a training plan explained.
It addresses common forms of abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, spiritual, neglect, etc.).
The policy addresses:
Supervision
Isolation (such as no one-adult-one-child situations)
Touch - There is a clear list of appropriate and inappropriate touch. For appropriate touch, the child wants the touch, the touch avoids sensitive areas, the touch is of a reasonable length, and the touch is accountable to other adults.
Sexual language
Texting/social media
Use of technology
Changing/bathrooms/sleeping/showering
Managing camper behavior in a healthy (non-abusive, non-coercive) age-appropriate way
Protocols around unstructured/unscheduled times, etc.
There is a clear policy on screening staff and volunteers including informed practices that go beyond background checks (e.g. reference checks, good questions in interviews and applications, social media, and internet searches).
Concerning Answers...
No policy exists or the policy is not shared.
An old or out-of-date policy, or a policy that is rarely reviewed, updated, or used to remind staff and leaders about boundaries, etc.
It mentions protecting staff from false allegations. (This shows they have been impacted by myths or outdated information.)
“Who is responsible for upholding the safety policy and healthy boundaries?”
Encouraging Answers Will Include...
All staff, volunteer leaders, and adults are expected to speak up about policy violations or concerns.
There are safety talks for campers so they know the boundaries of the policy.
Boundaries apply to all.
Leaders, staff, volunteers, chaperones, support staff (kitchen, maintenance, medical personnel), speakers, visitors, counselors, AND campers.
Concerning Answers...
There is no clear direction or encouragement that all adults uphold the safety policy.
No safety talk for campers about boundaries.
Boundaries apply to only certain adults, not all adults, and do not address other campers, staff, or volunteers.
Follow Up Questions
Do you have a policy requiring strict confidentiality by staff? Are there especially extreme measures like requiring NDAs by all staff?
It is concerning if strict confidentiality is prioritized to protect the flow of information (“no gossip” etc.).
Do you require the use of Matthew 18?
Be concerned if Matthew 18 must be followed since this passage does not apply to child abuse situations and should not be required. See https://www.netgrace.org/resources/if-your-brother-sins-against-you)
What medical staff will be on-site?
What is their training?
Do the prevention policies apply to them as well?
Are all accidents and medical situations documented?
“How are policy violations or concerns handled?”
Encouraging Answers Will Include...
All staff expected to speak up about policy violations or concerns.
There is clarity on who this information goes to.
Everything is documented.
There is accountability and consequences.
When they need expert consultation, there is a child advocacy center or outside advocacy group listed to call.
Campers are told whom to talk to if someone is violating the policy or causing concern.
Concerning Answers...
There are warnings about gossip.
There are warnings about false allegations.
No outside experts or authorities listed to call for consultations, such as a child advocacy center or advocacy group when staff, volunteers, or other adults have concerns or questions.
Follow Up Question
“Have you ever discovered that a staff or volunteer has violated the child safety policy?” If yes, “How did the church or camp respond?” or “Have you ever removed a staff member or volunteer for policy violations or concerns?”
It is a good sign if a church/camp shows that they are serious about policy violations. You want to see an affirmation that the church has or would be willing to enforce the policy and hold leaders accountable for crossing boundaries.
“What is your reporting policy?”
Encouraging Answers Will Include...
An external report is made first.
All adults are required to report abuse to the proper authorities, not only mandated reporters.
Any staff suspected of abuse are suspended from any access to kids in the wake of a report.
Clear protocols are provided that prioritize the safety and care of any victims and full transparency in communicating with parents in the wake of a report.
Follow Up Question
“When was the last time the camp/church made a report of child abuse to law enforcement or CPS?”
A camp that has never reported abuse is not necessarily a good sign. It could mean that they do not have the education, policies, and structures in place that encourage appropriate response. An organization that is comfortable and willing to make a report to law enforcement or CPS is often a good sign. Although it may be possible that a camp/church has not needed to report, you want to see a willingness to report if the need arises.
Churches and ministries should be committed, educated, and trained to safeguard the youth entrusted to their care. Safeguarding children and teens is a direct reflection of the love and heart of God and this ought to empower you to be direct about bringing these questions and advocating for change.
If concerns arise, use your voice. Your involvement and advocacy are needed as we all work together to make faith communities safer for children, teens, and the vulnerable.
Additional Resources
Summer Camp and Sexual Assault: How You Can Protect Your Kids
Written by GRACE Board Member, Justin Holcomb and his wife Lindsay Holcomb.
Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane) by Gavin De Becker
This book includes…
Safety skills for children outside the home
Warning signs of sexual abuse
How to screen babysitters and choose schools
Strategies for keeping teenagers safe from violence
The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries by Basyle Tchividjian and Shira Berkovits
This handbook, authored and edited by a multidisciplinary team of child abuse experts, is designed to help Christian churches and faith communities formulate policies and procedures to protect children and deal with possible child abuse in their ministries, schools, and churches.