1. Enter the building quickly without stopping to set doors to the unlocked position.

2. Go directly to the alarm and deactivate the alarm using the current password.

3. Depending upon the purpose for opening the building (Sunday morning, evening meeting, etc.) it may be appropriate to keep the doors locked or to set them to unlocked. If appropriate, set them to the unlocked position.

4. Turn on lights and change the thermostat settings as needed.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.

1. Walk through each room of the building. As you do so:

a. Make sure no one is present.

b. Use Appendix A of this document, “Checklist Before Leaving the Church Building,” to make sure the room is ready for closing. Pay special attention to the Kitchen, Pre-school and Nursery doors. They must be checked from the outside that they are locked.

2. Lock the front doors, but remain in the building.

3. Activate the alarm.

a. Make sure the alarm light is solid green, which means that all doors and windows are closed.

b. Key in the code. The light will turn to solid red and the alarm panel will make a sound.

4. Leave the building quickly, making sure the doors are locked behind you.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.
~ Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, March 24, 2014.

Providing a safe and nurturing environment for children during events sponsored or hosted by HUUC is an important component of practicing radical hospitality, sharing our faith and nurturing our community.

Parents/guardians feel supported and able to attend church events and, in turn, add diversity to our gatherings, and their children are cared for in a safe manner. See the sections YOUTH GROUP Policies and Procedures for details applicable to activities involving our youth group, both on and off HUUC property. The following policies pertain to all events in or around the building and grounds of HUUC that INVOLVE INDIVIDUALS FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 17 (herein referred to as children). Adults will be considered anyone on or after their 18th birthday.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.
~ Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, May 15, 2015.

HUUC will conduct a criminal background check on all paid staff and volunteers who are entrusted with the care and supervision of minors, or a person who directly oversees and/or exerts control or oversight over minors. All criminal background checks will be updated periodically. Information discovered or obtained through the above referenced means will be kept in a secure location and access to it will be restricted. These materials will be archived.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.

The safety and behavior of each child is the responsibility of his/her parent or guardian unless the child is participating in an organized function such as a religious education (RE) class or childcare arrangement during a particular church event. Supervision for an organized function involving children will be arranged by a HUUC staff member in accordance with our Safe Congregation Policies which require the following.

1. At least two caregivers are present in each room.

2. A minimum of one of these caregivers in each room must be an adult 21 years or older that is either a teacher screened by the RE program or on HUUC’s Approved Childcare Provider List.

3. Members of our youth group over the age of 14 may serve as the second caregiver but must work under the direct supervision of an approved adult caregiver.

4. FOR CHILDREN WALKING TO AGE 3: Two approved childcare providers may be responsible for up to 10 children The ratios will be 4 children per adult or 8 children per two adults. Both childcare providers must be present in the same group. An additional caregiver should be present in the group or room for each addition four children between walking to age 3.

5. FOR CHILDREN FROM BITH TO WALKING: Two approved childcare providers may be responsible to up to 8 children between birth to walking. The ratio will be 4 children per adult or 8 children per2 adults. An additional caregiver should be present for each additional infants requiring care.

6. It is recommended that infants and toddlers be cared for in separate groups or rooms if it is an option.

7. Children over the age of four should be provided with suitable activities in their own space if at all possible.

8. Parents/guardians are to remain on the premises while their child/children are in childcare.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.

Childcare is automatically provided for the following all-church events by our Nursery Coordinator, who is assisted as needed to provide adequate supervision as defined above:

• Sunday mornings beginning at 9:00 am and ending at 12:00 noon

• Monthly potlucks

• Quarterly “Get Acquainted” or other new member events

• Congregational Meetings

• Major all-church special events such as the HUUC Auction

• Choir practice

If a caregiver must cancel at the last minute on a Sunday morning, they should contact the staff member in charge of religious education.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.
~ Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, March 9, 2015.

Church groups are encouraged to consider the need for childcare when planning events at the church, such as committee meeting, church-sponsored group functions, fundraisers, etc. If participation by adults with children is desired, then childcare should be offered.

Guidelines:

1. The event coordinator requesting childcare providers should submit their request to the church administrator by email or by phone (513-231-8634) no less than one week in advance of the event. You can email the Church Administrator at:

The following information should be included:

• The name of the group requesting childcare.
• The date and time when care is needed. Please estimate the actual time when the caregivers will be able to leave. Allow sufficient time for all children to be picked up following the end of the event and for the room to be straightened up.
• Name and contact information of the event coordinator (email/phone number).
• Name and cell phone number of person who will be in charge on-site during the event/meeting, if different from above.
• The number and age of children expected.

2. The church administrator will be responsible for arranging all child care, procuring both a primary and assistant care giver and communicating pertinent information to both the event coordinator and to each of the care givers.

3. When a regular care giver is unavailable for an event, the church administrator will refer to the list of approved caregivers, calling until one is secured. This information should then be passed on to the event coordinator.

4. If child care cannot be arranged, the event coordinator should be notified at least 48 hours in advance of the event, who will then notify the participants. This should allow the participants a reasonable chance of making other child care arrangements on their own.

5. If a care giver (either primary or assistant) must cancel within 48 hours of an event, they must contact the event coordinator directly. Likewise, if it is discovered that care givers are not needed (when already prearranged for an event), the event coordinator must contact the care givers directly. This notice should be given to the care givers no later than 3:00 on the day of the event or by the evening prior for a morning event.

6. In the event that care givers are present, yet no children come, they should each be paid for one hour and allowed to leave after 30 minutes.

7. All childcare provided will be on HUUC grounds.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.
~ Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, March 9, 2015.

1. The HUUC Church Administrator shall maintain a list of approved childcare providers and will periodically update the list, as needed.

2. Any individual who wishes to be on the Approved Childcare Provider List will complete an application, provide two references and undergo a criminal background check paid for by HUUC.

3. The nursery coordinator will be paid at her current rate. If a substitute primary care giver is needed, they will be paid $15/hr. Assistant care givers (regardless of age) will be paid the prevailing rate in this area of $10/hr.

4. Background checks and related documents should be filed with all other personnel documentation.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.
~ Revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, March 9, 2015.

The safety of children and prompt and clear communication with parents/guardians shall be the top priority in the event of facilities problems, natural disasters, accidents, injuries, illnesses, missing persons, or the threat or incidence of terrorist activity.

In the event of any emergency, children are to follow the directions of staff members or other adult leaders present. In the event a child is injured or becomes ill during an event and requires medical attention, parents/guardians will be notified immediately. Minor injury or illness will be reported to the parents/guardians at the conclusion of the event.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.

1. Parents/guardians must notify the adult caregiver if their child has an extreme allergy or medical condition prior to leaving them in the care of that person.

2. Children will not be allowed to administer their own medication during a church-sponsored event. If a child must take medication while engaged in a HUUC event, the adult caregiver can administer the medication only with the written permission of the parent/guardian.

3. Fully stocked first aid kits are available in multiple locations around the church and can be utilized by the adult caregiver or other trained individual to provide initial care for injuries.

4. Any incident requiring first aid will be reported immediately to the event sponsor OR re representative during RE programming.

~ Approved by the Board of Trustees, December 8, 2014.