Safe Haven for Children

Hope for Congregations and Communities

Every congregation lives out its faith in a different context, a unique community. Your Safe Haven will be like no other. What a glimpse of God your congregation can be!

When your congregation makes an intentional decision to become a Safe Haven for Children, an island of hope in your community, significantly affects the lives of youth in your neighborhood.

Poverty and Children and Advocacy
Families who live in poverty have few choices about where they live, who their neighbors are and where their children attend school. Children who live in poverty tend to suffer from a wide range of problems. Poverty can bring a quiet sense of shame for children and their families.

Racism, sexism, citizenship status, and classism are all factors that affect the economic health and well-being of American families. When parents or care givers are consumed with survival issues, there is little time or energy left for tending to the emotional and spiritual needs of their children. Your congregation can and should respond to the needs of poverty in many ways.

A Safe Place for Children, Youth and Adults
Every congregation should put guidelines in place to protect their chidlren, youth and adults from abuse. The process includes gathering a small team of people who will create guidelines (a check list to help you is below,) train the adults who work with children and practice these guidelines regularly.

Some congregations have standing "Safe Haven Teams" that continually hold adults accountable to their guidelines, seek out ways to support families and educate new members.

In 75% of reported cases of sexual abuse, the offenders were known to the victims of their families. Your congregation can be a real sanctuary for young people.

Adults should insist their congregation have a Safe Haven policy to protect them as well. High school students, visitors and new members should not be invited to work with children without training.

It is our responsibility to protect our most vulnerable people in our community.

New Safe Haven Guidelines, Including the Cherish Our Children Initiative and expanded appendix (Word Doc) - October 2008

FolksBlack Font which is used for the headings in this document


Safe Haven for Children, a resource for congregations
http://www.elca.org/init/safehaven/



To view and print the Safe Haven Policy of Gulf Coast Synod Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) click here