Church Safety and Security Month: Resources
October is National Church Safety and Security Month, making it a good time to ask a hard but important question: if something went wrong on a busy Sunday, would we be prepared? The goal is to improve preparation, so everyone involved has the confidence to know exactly what to do, and families have peace of mind when dropping off their children.
It’s a good time to assess risk, implement safety protocols, and train staff and volunteers. Here are four ways to make the most of the month, with KidCheck resources to support you.
1.Assess Risk and Review Your Policies
Start by looking at what is working and what isn’t. Walk the children’s area as a first-time visiting family would, noting entrances and unsupervised areas with limited visibility. Then review your written policies.
Our Back-to-School Policy Review Checklist covers the child protection policy, classroom and facility safety, the emergency response plan, and volunteer management. For a broader view, KidCheck’s Optimizing Child Safety in Your Organization eBook and Improving Child Safety and Security free video series provide actionable, specific best practices and ideas for strengthening child protection and minimizing safety issues.
2.Review Emergency and Evacuation Plans
A plan no one has seen isn’t a working plan. Gather your safety team and confirm the following:
- Evacuation routes and shelter-in-place locations
- Who accounts for the children in each room
- What is the reunification process for parents and children
- How and when to contact emergency services
Change is constant. Areas are often repurposed, and volunteers, staff, and leaders vary, so confirm the information is still applicable. We also offer a free Emergency Instructions Flip Book for you to download. It’s a quick reference guide that you can place in every classroom, so volunteers don’t have to search for a binder in the middle of a crisis.
3.Conduct On-Site Safety Drills
Schedule at least one drill in October. It can be a fire evacuation, a lockdown, or a severe weather response. Include your children’s and youth areas, security team, local first responders, and all volunteers and staff. Afterward, hold a quick debrief and confirm:
- How long did it take?
- Did everyone know their role?
- Where did communication break down?
- What did we learn?
Capture what you learned and update the plan. If your ministry also takes kids off campus for field trips, camps, or overnights, the Offsite Events Safety Checklist gives you a ten-point framework for extending your safety planning beyond your walls.
4.Train and Equip Your Frontline
Volunteers and staff are your front line, and they can only follow policies and safety protocols they understand. Use this month as a refresher for your whole team, not just new recruits. Review screening and background check procedures, reporting requirements, the two-adult rule, and bathroom procedures.
The KidCheck Predator Proofing Your Organization eBook shares strategies for preventing abuse, and our child safety webinars are a convenient way to train as a group, allowing your team to watch and then discuss together.
Let’s not forget families. Make sure they understand that your check-in system offers security labels, digital records, allergy alerts, and authorized pickup verification. Use What Families Need to Know About Check-In to help explain these protections clearly, which builds trust and encourages them to follow procedures.
Take the First Step
You don’t have to do everything this month. Pick one action, such as updating your evacuation map, scheduling a drill, or reviewing training with your volunteer coordinator. Small, consistent steps build a strong foundation for a safety culture.
For more tips, tools, and best practices, explore the KidCheck blog or join us on X, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.
Photo by Nelly Antoniadou on Unsplash
