Safe Sanctuaries® (or "Safer Sanctuaries® ") in The United Methodist Church is a comprehensive policy and commitment designed to prevent the abuse of children, youth, and vulnerable adults within church ministries. It creates a "safe space" for ministry through screenings, training, and strict supervision protocols for volunteers and staff. Safe Sanctuaries® is a commitment that allows our sanctuaries, classrooms, mission encounters, camps and retreats, and all spaces where we gather to worship and serve God to be places of trust.

Churches in the Northern Illinois Conference are expected to be “Safe Sanctuary” congregations, where all clergy, church staff and volunteers who have a role in ministries with children, youth, and vulnerable adults should receive training.

We encourage every church to review its policies and safe sanctuary protocols every year, and as a conference, we require that every clergy, staff, and volunteer renew their Safe Sanctuary certificate every three years.

TRAININGS

In the Northern Illinois Conference, training is offered in three options:

Conference-wide online Zoom trainings offered with conference trainers (check the calendar for upcoming trainings). The cost is currently $20 per person.
Your church can host an in-person Safe Sanctuaries training with a conference trainer. Trainings are performed in-person in a local church with a qualified trainer using the denominational Safe Sanctuaries curriculum, and followed up with a background check process managed by the local church. Contact Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer for more information.
On-line Trainings are offered in a partnership with Safe Gatherings as an individual training option. The cost is currently $49 per person.

POLICIES

NIC Safe Sanctuaries Template (word, pdf)
NIC Abuse Prevention Policy for Conference/District Events (passed by 2005 Annual Conference)
NIC Basic Policy Statement on Sexual and Gender Harassment and Misconduct of Sexual Nature (Note: Safe Sanctuaries® policies and sexual misconduct policies are NOT the same thing--and local churches need both. Annual Conference 2002 passed this policy.)
Abuse Prevention Policy Development Guide (Note: This sample is provided by Discipleship Ministries and is for general guideline use only; some sections. may or may not apply to your local church setting. Your church policy should be written to address your church and community issues.
Sample policies and documents from the Discipleship Ministries website
Electronic Communication Recommendations: This list of recommendations for communication via such means as social media and text messaging was compiled by members of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference connectional ministries staff team and is based in part on similar recommendations from other United Methodist annual conferences.
Three Simple Rules for Social Media

CONTACTS

Illinois Online Child Abuse Neglect Reporting
DCFS Regional and Field Office Directory
Area Agencies on Aging (look for your county)
Background Checks Through Trusted Employees (A background checks business)

The United Methodist Church's Discipleship Ministries has created a series of resources and videos that can be used to introduce the more difficult aspects of Safe Sanctuaries®, individually to open up conversations in small groups and in training, and as a way to share information with the congregation as a reminder or in the midst of a crisis.

View the Discipleship Ministries Safe Sanctuaries® Playlist on Youtube

View the Discipleship Ministries Safer Sanctuaries® Page

Safe Gatherings Training

Resources from Discipleship Ministries

From Other UMC-Related Organizations

HIPAA Privacy Rule and Local Churches (General Council on Finance and Administration)

Brochures from Government Services

Child Abuse
- Child Abuse Prevention Resource Guide (2021/2022) (US Department of Health and Human Services)
- Child Sexual Abuse: Raising Awareness and Protecting Children (Prevent Child Abuse Illinois)
- Preventing Child Sexual Abuse Within Youth-Serving Organizations: Getting Started with Policies and Procedures (US Department of Health and Human Services and CDC)
- Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: Care Enough to Call (Illinois DCFS)
- Acerca del Abuso y Descuido de Niños: Interesese lo suficiente para llamar (Illinois DCFS)
- Signs and Symptoms of Child Abuse and Neglect (Illinois DCFS)

Elder Abuse
- Handout on Elder Abuse (Illinois Department on Aging)
- Reporting Elder Abuse and Neglect (Illinois Department of Human Services)
Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship (US Department of Homeland Security)
Online Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Training on Recognizing and Reporting Abuse: As of Jan. 1, 2020, ALL workers, paid and volunteer, who are directly responsible for caring for children under the age of 18 in churches, and all other mandated reporters (which includes clergy), are required by Illinois law to be trained by DCFS. This free online training meets that requirement. It does not, however, eliminate the need for training in Safe Sanctuaries® in person or through Safe Gatherings.