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The
three main areas
of "safety" concerns are:
Physical - Personal - Children |
Physical Safety:
The Physical concerns relate primarily to walking
to and from cars. We have never had an incident and our policies
and the policies of the church are designed to keep everyone
safe and secure. Our parking lots are well lit and we have
security officers on duty until 10:00 pm. It is our policy
to have participants walk to their cars in groups. If anyone
asks, an "Escort" will be provided. The workshop leadership
staff never leaves until all participants are safely to their
cars.
Personal Safety:
The personal concerns relate primarily to small
group interaction and to confidentiality. The Small Group
Covenant" and the "Group Rules" keep the small group "safe"
for all participants. Continue reading to learn more about
the Group Rules and the Small Group Covenant.
Keeping the Group Safe:
The primary tools for keeping the small group safe
are Group Rules. Knowing that the leader will enforce the
group rules give the participants the confidence and trust
necessary to feel safe in the group. The "Serendipity Training
Manual" states, "The rules of a group are designed to protect
individual members, the group, and the leaders. Good rules
create a safe atmosphere in which individual healing can occur.
They do this in several ways:
- Rules that offer protection
- Rules that provide structure
- Rules that set standards for group behavior
- Rules that teach new ways of relating to others
It is important to define rules thoroughly right from the
start. Beginning this way sets the stage for learning new
behaviors while at the same time preventing potential problems.
Rules are not intended to be used as "clubs" to keep people
in line. But, it is important to refer members to the rules
when difficulties arise."
I Will Rules and I Will Not Rules:
The group rules are divided into two sections, the "I
will" section and the "I will not" section.
"I will" rules concern those behaviors that contribute
to group process and help individuals process their pain and
find healing. "I will not" rules concern behaviors
that detract from the small group experience and interfere
with or prevent "group process". "I will,"
rules point to behaviors that the facilitator will encourage
and model. "I will not" rules address behaviors
that the facilitator must manage and control in order to create
trust among the members that the group is safe.
Group Rules
I WILL ……
- Focus on MY feelings
- Focus on MY issues
- Share from MY personal experience
- Use "I" messages
- Follow the rule of CONFIDENTIALITY
- Listen empathetically
- Be honest with myself and thers
- Use Supportive feedback
I WILL NOT ……
- Give advice or preach
- Criticize or judge
- Monopolize or dominate
- Interrupt
- Use generalizations
- Pursue a romantic relationship with members of the group
Children The safety of our
children is a very serious matter at First Baptist Church.
When you sign up your children to attend with you, their names
and other information such as allergies, special needs, who
is authorized to pick them up etc. will be entered into our
child safety program. When you come to the workshop, you will
enter their names in the computer at any of the convienient
kiosks located throughtout the church. A sticker will be printed
off-one for the child, one for you, and one for the child
care worker or teacher. NO ONE will be allowed to pick up
your child without the parent part of the sticker.
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