Safe Sanctuaries for Youth: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in Youth Ministries

Attorney Joy T. Melton, author of the bestseller, Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Child Abuse in the Church (Discipleship Resources, 1998), brings us another excellent guide for reducing abuse in the church. The daily news illustrates the high potential for occurrences of abuse or allegations of abuse in youth ministry. With that in mind, Melton has taken the initiative to develop a resource designed to help churches assess risk and implement processes to help congregations take steps to reduce the likelihood of abuse in their congregational settings.

Unique features include: suggested process and tools for developing and implementing policy; guidance in recruiting, screening, and hiring workers; basic procedures for safe ministry with youth; how to handle issues related to camping, retreats, mission trips, lock-ins, choir tours, and other settings; how to develop a congregational plan to respond to allegations of abuse; suggested training model for youth ministry workers; service and stories of healing; sample forms.