Procedures, Guidelines and Recommendations for Youth Ministry

Transcription

1 Procedures, Guidelines and Recommendations for Youth Ministry Office of Evangelization and Catechesis Youth Ministry 3300 N. 60 th St. Mercy Hall Omaha, NE (FAX) Updated February

2 The following procedures, guidelines and recommendations are not mandated by the Archdiocese;* rather, they are a set of guidelines suggested by Archdiocesan personnel for working with young people between the ages of 7-12 th grades. These guidelines do not constitute specific legal advice. If such legal advice is required, the services of a competent legal professional should be sought. 2

3 Table of Contents Archdiocese of Omaha Youth Ministry 6 Comprehensive Youth Ministry Youth Ministry 101 Personal and Ministerial Recommendations 13 Qualifications of a Youth Minister Self Care Catholic Christian Witness Code of Ethics Professional Duty Professional Formation Certificate in Youth Ministry Empowering Adults New Youth Ministry Training Legal Issues and Responsibilities 24 Staff Supervision Adult Volunteers Youth Leaders Young Adult Leaders Supervision and Chaperones Supervision Ratios Participation Guidelines and Supervision Corporal Punishment Sending a Young Person Home Bullying Inspecting Bags Confidentiality Drivers Drivers and Insurance Passenger Vans Rental Vehicles Technology 31 Guidelines Values that safeguard Pastoral Practices Church and Ministry Websites Social Networking Websites , Texting, Instant Messaging Blogging Online Video and Chat Rooms Securing Private Information Recommendations for Using pictures on the web Personal Electronic Devices Movie Ratings Video Game Ratings 3

4 Laws 38 Child Abuse Reporting Smoking Statutes Copyright Movies Music Printed Material CD/DVD Software Safety 42 Safe Environment Contacts Consent to Treat and Release Liability Reporting Accidents and Injuries First Aid Emergency Planning Creating a Plan Mission Work/Service Projects Types of Mission Work allowed by Age Group Traveling Involving Minors Principles of Safety Common Safety Sins of Youth Ministry Healthy Play and Recreation Archdiocesan Guide for Ministerial Services with Youth 55 Appendix 61 Sample Job Description Computing a Coordinators Salary Sample Youth Ministry Budget Sample Event guidelines for Adult Chaperones Sample Youth Code of Behavior Sending a young person home checklist Dealing with Bullying Sample Bus Guidelines Sample Appropriate Clothing Sample Parental Consent Form and Liability Waiver Sample Medical Matters Sample Field Trip Release of Liability Statement Sample Field Trip Driver Information Sheet Sample Accident Reporting Form Sample Incident Reporting Form Abuse Reporting Form 4

5 Other Resources 82 Using Movies to Teach Learning Process for Adolescent Catechesis Faith Themes Planning a Good Service Experience Service Trip Organizations Leading Effective Discussions and Facilitating Small groups Planning Prayer Planning Mass Guidelines for Youth Retreats Giving Witness Talks Youth Orientation Session Sample Follow-up for Youth Events Sample Letter to Families Stipends Liturgical Minister Policy Abbreviations and Terms Contact Information 111 5

6 Archdiocese of Omaha Youth Ministry 6

7 ARCHDIOCESE OF OMAHA YOUTH MINISTRY Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of Omaha is a department within the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, and is guided by the Spirit, the Mission of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, National Directory for Catechesis, and other documents of the Catholic Church. The Office of Youth Ministry provides formation for youth ministry leadership in accordance with national standards for competency and ethics that are foundational to effective ministry with adolescents. One of the main formation programs utilized by the Archdiocese of Omaha is the Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies Program, presented by the Center for Ministry Development and in affiliation with Creighton University. The formation process, rooted in Catholic tradition, focuses on the specialized training of knowledge and skills for meeting the needs of all youth and for recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers. Empowering Adults is a less intensive formation program utilized by the Archdiocese specifically for volunteers who may not have the time to commit to the extensive training and formation of the Certificate program. The office works in collaborative partnerships with Archdiocesan, parish, and school leaders to promote and foster ministry with adolescents. The office staff participates in networking, planning and advocacy on the regional and national levels. The Archdiocese of Omaha is represented at annual meetings of diocesan youth ministries from Region IX, which includes Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas (MINK). The Archdiocese is also a member of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). The staff participates in the annual meetings of the NFCYM, and contributes to committee work, which continues throughout the year. Youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Omaha embraces the comprehensive scope put forth by the Catholic Bishops of the United States in Renewing the Vision, A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry This is done through: Advocating for the renewed vision with Archdiocesan and parish leadership Education of people about the possibilities and implications Modeling the Comprehensive approach on a Archdiocesan level Consulting with parishes to facilitate planning and implementation Providing resources for implementing Renewing the Vision (training, print, video, etc.) Networking with congregations and community organizations working with young people Building a youth friendly Archdiocese with policies, procedures, programs, activities, and leaders that promote adolescent growth and incorporate young people more fully into the life of the church The Youth Ministry Office provides consultative services and programs for adult and youth leadership development that reflect the three essential goals of Renewing the Vision from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops: To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community. To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. 7

8 VISION The Youth Ministry Office provides an integrated vision of Church expressed through the following aspects of ministry with adolescents: Developmentally Appropriate Family Friendly Intergenerational Multicultural Community-wide Collaboration Leadership Flexible and Adaptable Programming COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH MINISTRY During the adolescent period of transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents benefit from support systems that encourage and challenge them. Youth Ministry seeks to draw young people into the supportive experience of a Catholic Community. Renewing the Vision identifies eight components of youth ministry: Advocacy, Catechesis, Community Life, Evangelization, Justice & Service, Leadership Development, Pastoral Care, and Prayer and Worship. Comprehensive youth ministry provides an approach that integrates the eight components into a framework of support, while encouraging creativity in developing programs, activities, and strategies. Advocacy Advocacy includes interpreting the needs of youth and their families, especially the social problems facing them as well as acting with or on their behalf for a change in the systems which create or contribute to the social problems. Advocacy is about giving young people a voice and empowering them to address the social problems that they face. Catechesis The ministry of catechesis helps adolescents develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community, and increase knowledge of the core content of the Catholic faith. Effective catechesis helps young people enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the sacred tradition and their application to life today, and live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially through a life of prayer, justice, and loving service. Genuine faith is a total response of the whole person mind, heart, and will. The ministry of catechesis fosters growth in Catholic faith in all three dimensions trusting (heart), knowing and believing (mind), and doing (will). Adolescent catechesis is at the heart of comprehensive youth ministry. The goal should be to have all Catholic youth involved in some program of catechesis. Community Life Creating an environment which nurtures meaningful relationships among youth and between youth and adults characterized by Gospel values (e.g. acceptance of all people, trust, respect, cooperation, honesty, taking responsibility, willingness to serve); helping young people feel like a valued part of the church community; providing opportunities for social interaction and meaningful participation in the life of the church and civic community. 8

9 Evangelization Proclaiming through word and witness the Good News of the Gospel to youth who have not yet heard or seen it and inviting them into a relationship with Jesus Christ and the community of believers; ongoing witness of the faith community as it attempts to live out the Gospel with such authenticity that the faith of all the members is sustained and nourished. Evangelization is the energizing core of all the components of youth ministry (The Challenge of Catholic Youth Evangelization). Justice, Peace, and Service Guiding young people in the development of a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service grounded in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the scriptures and in Catholic social teaching; empowering young people (and their families) to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering, to serve those in need, to pursue peace, and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all people; infusing the concepts of justice and peace into all youth ministry efforts. Leadership Development Recruiting, training, and supporting youth and adult leaders in youth ministry; empowering youth for leadership and ministry with their peers, in their schools, and in the church and civic community; developing a leadership team of youth and adults to organize and coordinate a ministry with youth; partnering with parents and families in promoting positive youth development and faith growth. Pastoral Care Promoting positive youth and family development through a variety of preventive strategies (e.g., developing life skills and parenting skills); caring for youth and families in crisis through support, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies; and providing guidance as youth face life decisions and make moral choices. Prayer and Worship Assisting young people in deepening their relationship with Jesus through spiritual development and a personal prayer life; providing a variety of communal prayer and worship experiences with youth to deepen and celebrate their relationship with Jesus in a caring Christian community; involving young people in the sacramental life of the Church. 9

10 YOUTH MINISTRY 101 Written by Bob McCarty, Executive Director, National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry What is needed today is a Church which knows how to respond to the expectations of young people. Jesus wants to enter into dialogue with them and, through his body which is the Church, to propose the possibility of a choice which will require a commitment of their lives. As Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus, so the Church must become the traveling companion of young people..." (Pope John Paul II, World Youth Day 1995, Philippines) The Church must become the traveling companion of young people - and that s what we mean by youth ministry. If, indeed, "it takes an entire village to raise a child," then it certainly takes an entire Church to journey with young people as they grapple with the Good News and respond in discipleship. The National Catholic Conference of Bishops, in their 1997 document, Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, have identified three goals which provide direction for this ministry. Youth Ministry... it s about discipleship The first goal of youth ministry is "to empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today." (RTV 9). Young people are "searching for a noble adventure", a compelling and challenging vision of life, and a cause worth their commitment. They hunger to hear the Good News that finds response in discipleship. As their companions on this spiritual journey, some of the ways the Church fulfills this first goal of youth ministry is by... proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through witness and word to young people. enabling young people to live as disciples through their involvement in service, ministry, and leadership opportunities. providing young people the faith skills for discipleship. Youth Ministry... it s about connection The second goal is "to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community." (RTV 11). Young people have a hunger for connection, to be in relationship, and to really belong. Family, peers, school, youth serving organizations, and Church are primary connections for young people. Some of the ways the Church fulfills this second goal of youth ministry is by... being a youth friendly community that welcomes young people, values their participation, and calls forth their gifts. integrating young people into the liturgical, pastoral, and ministerial life of the parish community. creating opportunities for young people to enter into healthy relationships of trust and respect with their peers and with adults. promoting Catholic identity and religious literacy through programs of adolescent catechesis. Youth Ministry... it s about gifts and growth The third goal of youth ministry is "to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person." (RTV 15). Adolescence is an important time for mental, spiritual, social, and physical growth. Their experiences and relationships greatly impact their healthy and positive development. The Church strives to surround young people with the best possible external scaffolds - networks of caring 10

11 relationships of family, school, peers, and other adults - while young people are developing their internal psychological and spiritual backbone - their values, life skills, commitments, and moral compass. The Church fulfills this third goal of youth ministry by... enabling young people to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. actively supporting positive youth development and fostering healthy values and life skills. supporting families of young people by providing resources, programs, and services. providing opportunities to experience and express caring, service, and compassion for others. Youth Ministry... happens comprehensively Youth ministry is more than programs and events. It is "the response of the Christian community to the needs of young people and the sharing of the unique gifts of youth with the larger community." (RTV 1). To be most effective, this is a ministry to, with, for, and by young people that involves their families, their parish community, and the larger community. At the heart of ministry with young people is the presence of caring, supportive relationships where youth experience the Good News in the flesh. A comprehensive approach to youth ministry utilizes the eight components identified in Renewing The Vision as a framework: advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, pastoral care, and prayer and worship. These components guide our efforts in proclaiming the Good News, connecting young people with the faith community, and calling our young people to the challenge of discipleship. Youth Ministry... it takes an entire Church "This is what is needed: a Church for young people, which will know how to speak to their heart and enkindle, comfort, and inspire enthusiasm in it with the joy of the Gospel and the strength of the Eucharist; a Church which will know how to invite and welcome the person who seeks a purpose for which to commit his whole existence; a Church which is not afraid to require much, after having given much; which does not fear asking from young people the effort of a noble and authentic adventure, such as that of the following of the Gospel." (Pope John Paul II World Day of Prayer for Vocations) VISION AND GOALS OF CATECHESIS The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC), a document for the entire Church, fully situates catechesis within the context of evangelization and notes that catechesis is an essential moment in evangelization. The GDC states that catechesis receives from evangelization a missionary dynamic which deeply enriches it and defines its own identity. The ministry of catechesis appears...as a fundamental ecclesial service for the realization of the missionary mandate of Jesus" (GDC, 59). "Catechesis is nothing other than the process of transmitting the Gospel, as the Christian community has received it, understands it, celebrates it, lives it, and communicates it in many ways" (GDC, 105). The fundamental tasks of catechesis are: Knowledge of the faith Liturgical education Moral formation Teaching to pray Education for Community Life 11

12 Missionary Initiation (GDC, 85-86) Catechesis is a life-long process of initial conversion, formation, education, and on-going conversion. Through word, worship, service, and community, catechesis seeks to lead all God's people to an ever-deepening relationship with God, who reveals himself in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The ministry of catechesis encompasses ministry to adults, youth, and children in a variety of locations and programs: parish life-long faith formation, religious education programs, youth ministry programs, sacramental preparation, RCIA, family programs, Scripture study, whole parish catechesis, and more. adult catechesis must be given priority with the purpose of allowing a person to grasp and live the immense, extraordinary richness and responsibility received at Baptism. (GDC, 258; Pope John Paul II: Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 1988) Goals of Catechesis The conversion of the whole person: mind, heart, soul, and body to Jesus Christ and his Church The late Pope John Paul II reminded us that at the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth (Catechesi Tradendae). An education in the faith of children, young people, and adults, which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life (CCC, Prologue II, 5) The presentation of the Christian message in its entirety in order to continuously nourish the Christian faith and so attain maturity of faith. 12

13 Personal and Ministerial Standards 13

14 QUALIFICATIONS OF THE YOUTH MINISTER The revised Code of Canon Law states that lay persons who devote themselves to special service in the Church are obliged to acquire appropriate formation required to fulfill their function properly and to carry out this function conscientiously, eagerly, and diligently. (Canon 213) In April, 2003 the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM), and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) jointly approved certification standards and core and specialized competencies for the ministerial roles represented by the organizations Youth Ministry Leaders, catechetical leaders, pastoral associates, and parish life coordinators. The National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers defines broad areas of ministerial competence as the norms by which an individual s ministerial competence may be assessed; a vision statement for each standard; core competencies that delineate specific knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, values, and/or traits required to fulfill certification standards; and specialized competencies expressed distinctly within the context of youth ministry. Reference: Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord - A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005 The first thing necessary is a real sense of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Before youth ministers do anything, they must be serious about their relationship with God in Jesus Christ. That means an active prayer life, familiarity with scripture, especially the gospels, a real connection to church life including the sacraments, its moral teaching and the realization of their own need for conversion. Youth ministers must love young people too! They should have a real desire to serve young people by helping them experience God's love for them and the communities desire to invite them into the life and mission of the church. Youth Ministers are evangelizers who live and preach the Gospel with joy and conviction. They serve as a mentor, guide, example, teacher, companion, and friend in the gospel sense of that word. They know how to set and respect boundaries, have a good sense of self, and are not afraid to speak the challenging words young people and, for that matter, adults sometimes need to hear. They are also passionate about justice and peace as well as fostering church teaching on respecting life at all its stages and circumstances. They realize that it is the parish or the school that is the real youth minister. The whole community does youth ministry-not just one person. Some other things that are important. A youth minister should be An active Catholic in good standing with the Church. An active and visible member of a parish community. A person of good character, reputation, and record. A person called to ministry with an understanding of vocation. A person with working knowledge of the.vision. of Comprehensive Youth Ministry. A person with a commitment to continuing professional and ministerial formation. A person who understands and is willing to apply the principles and foundations of youth ministry. A person able to provide formation adapted to meet specific individual needs so that the spiritual growth and community involvement of the young person is both encouraged and enriched according to his/her abilities. (Reference: Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on People with Disabilities (1978) and NCCB Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities (1995). 14

15 Self Care Youth ministers and volunteers in ministry with youth should be sensitive to warning signs in their behavior and moods which indicate conditions that can be detrimental to their mental, physical, and spiritual health. Inappropriate use of alcohol or misuse of prescription drugs are examples. Adult leaders should immediately seek help when they identify such warning signs in their personal lives. Youth ministers and volunteers in ministry with youth may find the unquestioning adulation of an infatuated young person can be very alluring, and adult leaders are not immune from sexual attraction for those whom they serve. To complicate matters, American popular culture encourages young people to "grow up" quickly. Material affluence, provocative clothing styles and the trend toward using make-up at an early age can create the illusion of maturity in a young person. But while popular culture often equates physical and emotional maturity, those in ministry must know the difference. Youth ministers and volunteers have the same needs as other human beings, but is crucial that we not look to young people to fulfill those needs. If we are to be free to minister to youth, we must not develop an unhealthy dependence on them. Following are some ways in which the adult leaders can care for themselves so that they can more effectively serve young people: Schedule regular time off and stick to it. If you are to properly serve young people you need to get away from them once in a while. Gently but firmly teach the youth to respect your private time. Of course, there will be unplanned times when you need to be present to a young person, but afterwards make sure you take time away from your ministry. Develop interests outside of youth ministry. Church work can absorb one's whole life, if one lets it. Seek out social and recreational opportunities in the community. Develop relationships outside of youth ministry. While youth ministry is a form of friendship with youth, it is not the kind of balanced friendship an adult can only have with another adult. Seek out healthy adult friendships which nurture and support you both personally and as a minister. Maintain a relationship with a spiritual director. Seek a director with whom you are comfortable, one who is empathetic, experienced, insightful and one who has a healthy appreciation of his or her own spiritual journey. A good spiritual director is an invaluable asset. If a situation arises in which you question your objectivity, or the appropriateness of your actions, you should seek the counsel of a qualified mental health professional. If you feel compelled to act in a way which you know to be unhealthy, inappropriate, or illegal, remove yourself immediately from the ministerial situation and seek professional counseling. Catholic Christian Witness Always keep in mind that Christianity is counter-cultural, and part of youth ministry is bearing witness to this. Young people today are under tremendous pressure to conform to societal values which are directly contrary to the values of the Gospel and Catholic Teachings, and youth ministers are called to name this truth both in word and in lifestyle. The way a minister acts, how he or she dresses, the language he or she uses, the jokes he or she tells, the objects he or she chooses to possess, the way in which he or she uses alcohol and tobacco; all of these things speak volumes to youth, who observe more than we often realize and are very perceptive when it comes to spotting inconsistencies in word and deed. One is certainly entitled to a life of his or her own apart from ministry, but one who chooses youth ministry should appreciate the fact that his or her lifestyle is, in effect, part of the visible Catholic Christian witness he or she provides. 15

16 If you are like most that enter youth ministry, you probably can recall at least one time in your life when you were profoundly touched by a caring Christian presence. This person was Christ enfleshed for you. The nature of the Body of Christ is that those of us who have been touched by this loving Christ are called to pass that healing touch on to others. You are called to be Christ enfleshed for the young people you serve. If you keep that as your focus, to act as Christ would act, your ministry will not only be beyond reproach, it will be a model of service to others. CODE OF ETHICS FOR YOUTH MINISTRY LEADERS The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry has developed the following code of ethics for youth ministry leaders.this code of ethics is intended for youth ministry leaders regardless of employment status within the church. While this code may be used in conjunction with existing diocesan policies, protocols or codes, it is not intended to supersede them. Professional Ethical Obligations 1. Ministerial Role a) Youth ministry leaders work collaboratively with the pastor (and/or other supervisors) and associates in ministry. b) Youth ministry leaders faithfully represent the teachings of the Catholic Church with integrity in word and action. c) Youth ministry leaders are competent and receive education and training commensurate with their role(s) and responsibilities ( 231, Code of Canon Law). d) Youth ministry leaders respect the diversity of spiritualities in the faith community and will not make their personal form of spirituality normative. 2. Inclusion a) Youth ministry leaders recognize the dignity of each person and refrain from behaviors or 27 words that are disrespectful of anyone or any group. b) Youth ministry leaders serve all people without regard to gender, creed, national origin, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, immigration status, or political beliefs. c) Youth ministry leaders ensure that all persons have access to the resources, services, and opportunities they require with particular regard for persons with special needs or disabilities. 3. Accountability a) Youth ministry leaders are accountable to the pastor or other duly appointed representative, under the authority of the (arch)diocesan (arch)bishop. b) Youth ministry leaders are called to serve the faith community, carrying out their ministerial functions conscientiously, zealously, and diligently ( 231, Code of Canon Law). c) Youth ministry leaders exercise responsible stewardship of resources while holding themselves to the highest standards of integrity regarding the fiscal matters placed in their trust. d) Youth ministry leaders, upon suspecting or learning of abuse of a minor, must notify the civil authorities, as well as church leadership responsible for this topic, in accordance with civil and ecclesial law. 4. Confidentiality a) Youth ministry leaders respect confidentiality, yet are not held to confidentiality in the same way as ordained ministers and licensed, certified counselors. b) Youth ministry leaders adhere to civil and ecclesial law concerning the reporting of neglect, 16

17 abuse or when physical harm could come to the person or to a third party. c) Youth ministry leaders support the rights and roles of parents while ministering to the needs and concerns of their children. 5. Conduct a) Youth ministry leaders know that they have considerable personal power because of their ministerial position. Therefore, they will sustain respectful ministerial relationships, avoiding manipulation and other abuses of power. b) Youth ministry leaders maintain appropriate professional boundaries (e.g., physical, sexual, spiritual, relational, and emotional). Romantic, dating, or sexual relationships between a youth ministry leader and any youth is inappropriate and unethical. c) Youth ministry leaders shall exhibit the highest ethical standards and personal integrity reflective of the Gospel and will avoid even the appearance of impropriety. d) Youth ministry leaders may not use alcohol while supervising youth; may never use illicit substances; and, may never provide alcohol or illicit substances to youth. 6. Referrals and Intervention a) Youth ministry leaders know the signs of neglect and physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. b) Youth ministry leaders know their limitations with respect to paraprofessional counseling and make appropriate referrals. 7. Parish/Diocesan Policies a) Youth ministry leaders know of and comply with all applicable parish, organizational and/or diocesan policies with special attention to sexual misconduct, safe Environment, risk management, safety, transportation, parental permission, and medical emergency policies. Professional Duty Adult leaders must realize that when you accept the call to public ministry, your personal life becomes public. Young people should see adult leaders in ministry continue their own faith development and that development should look like something that is desirable to young people, something worth imitating. Adult leaders in youth ministry, whether paid staff or serving as a volunteer, have a professional and moral duties to the ministry to which they are called. Specifically: o Adult leaders have a moral duty to seek and maintain competence in one s specialized area of expertise. o Adult leaders have a moral duty to become theologically competent, especially in the skills of theological reflection. We must always ask, How do we connect our faith to young people? o Adult leaders have a moral duty to represent the church in faithful and loving ways through its various ministries. Put more directly, whether at work or at play, your represent the church because you have chosen to answer the call to serve as an adult leader in ministry. o Adult leaders have a moral duty to internalize professional standards of practice, to abide by them, and to hold one another accountable to them. o Adult leaders have a professional duty to subordinate self-interest in order to give greater degree of preference to serving those who seek pastoral service. 17

18 FORMATION Those who minister to young people in all forms are catechists. Formation seeks to enable catechists (youth ministers) to transmit the Gospel to those who desire to entrust themselves to Jesus Christ. GDC 235 Like all Christians, catechists (youth ministers) are called to continual conversion and growth in their faith and, for this reason, are called to ongoing spiritual formation In addition to spiritual formation, the catechist (youth minister) is also in need of pedagogical formation, especially as society, teaching methods, and culture change. NDC Leadership development nurtures adult leaders of lively faith and maturity with solid theological understandings, relational and ministry skills, and organizational ability appropriate to their particular role in ministry with adolescents. RTV 43 In keeping with the directives of the 1997 General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) and the 2005 National Directory for Catechesis (NDC), and 1997 Renewing the Vision (RTV) the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis is recommends the following path of formation in Youth Ministry. The GDC calls for a comprehensive and systematic catechetical formation encompassing study of the Christian message, understanding of human nature, the socio-cultural situation and pedagogy of the faith or catechetical process (GDC 249) The following is suggested for all those who are youth ministers, teachers of religious education to students, seventh through high school. Certificate in Youth Ministry Ministers who achieve a certificate have demonstrated not only that they are trained, but more importantly, that they are competent, knowledgeable, skilled professional. Their certificate becomes a part of their resume and reputation. It must be made very clear that a certificate in a specific ministerial field (i.e. Certificate in Youth Ministry) does not indicate that certification has been achieved. Certification is only possible within a specific field of ministry, and involves not just course work, but also opportunities for evaluation and practice in the ministry. This formation must match and meet the National Certification Standards provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation. (These are currently being developed for the Archdiocese of Omaha) The Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies is a ministry education program for those in ministry with youth, ages 11 to 18, in both parish and school settings. It equips leaders with the knowledge, skills, practical tools and techniques needed for creative and comprehensive ministry with youth. The program is in affiliation with Creighton University and presented by The Center for Ministry Development. Eight graduate or undergraduate credit towards a degree in theology can be awarded. The Certificate program is designed for Youth Ministry Coordinators, Prospective Youth Ministry Leaders, Directors of Religious Education, High School Campus Ministers, Youth Ministry Teams, Junior High Ministry Leaders and Catechists, and Youth Retreat Coordinators. 18

19 The program includes eight courses spread over two years. (4 weekends per year) The primary aim of the program is to promote personal, spiritual, and ministerial growth. The Certificate program is utilized in a number of ways: as an integrated formation program leading to a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies as an enrichment or continuing education program for veteran leaders as a workshop series which can be taken on a course-by-course basis by professional or volunteer leaders as undergraduate/graduate credit through Creighton University Program Benefits Participating leaders will experience the following benefits: Confidence. Participants feel more confident in their youth ministry role because they have integrated and applied the most recent and innovative theory and approaches into their own setting and responsibilities. Competence. The comprehensive sequence of courses provides a solid foundation of theory, theological and practical approaches, which can be applied in any parish or school youth ministry setting. Credibility. This is a nationally recognized curriculum, offered in over 30 sites and sponsored by over 50 dioceses, whose graduates are in parish, school and diocesan leadership positions all over the country. Cycle One Courses: Principles of Youth Ministry presents the foundational understandings and principles for developing an effective, comprehensive ministry with young and older adolescents. It examines the dynamics of promoting healthy adolescent development and faith growth. It presents the vision and principles for comprehensive youth ministry and a model for developing comprehensive youth ministry which incorporates developmentally appropriate youth programming, strengthens family life, involves young people as integral members of the faith community, and collaborates with civic organizations in a common effort to promote positive youth development. Practices of Youth Ministry explores the development of comprehensive youth ministry through the collaborative sharing of the resources in the community. Rooted in a theological and pastoral vision of community life, this course develops foundational understandings that will assist leaders in setting and implementing a vision for dynamic ministry with youth. This will include skills for advocacy, planning and organizing youth ministry efforts. Methods for collaborative leadership among ministries and within ministry teams will also be developed. Foundations for Ministry Leadership explores the theology, principles, and practices of effective leadership in Christian ministry. Participants will explore current leadership concepts and approaches, as well as Christian perspectives on leadership. Participants will also learn how to empower individuals and teams of leaders for ministry with youth. The course combines theory presentation with experiential learning as participants explore (a) leadership theory and an assessment of styles for effective leadership; (b) theological and pastoral foundations for understanding leadership and empowerment; and (c) processes and tools for inviting, preparing and nurturing adult and youth leaders in ministry. 19

20 Skills for Christian Leadership addresses the theories and skills needed for principle-centered leadership in ministry. Participants will develop a practical, working understanding of leadership process and skills and the experiential ability to use the skills. The course stresses the application of leadership skills to various ministry settings, problems, and issues. Cycle Two Courses: Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Evangelization and Catechesis develops the foundations and practices for nurturing faith growth and Catholic identity in young and older adolescents through evangelization and catechesis. Participants will explore a variety of ways to learn about and from Jesus and how to promote a living relationship with Jesus in the lives of adolescents. They will examine a contemporary approach to developing Catholic identity and Catholic practices in the lives of adolescents today. Participants will experience and analyze the "postmodern" culture and develop strategies for faith formation with adolescents in a postmodern world. They will learn creative approaches for evangelization and catechesis and develop skills and methods for evangelizing and catechizing adolescents. Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Justice and Service explores the foundations for fostering a justice and service consciousness and spirituality in youth drawn from Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching, adolescent development, and contemporary catechetical principles. It develops skills for creating integrated, action-learning models for the justice and service component of a comprehensive youth ministry. Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Pastoral Care explores the principles and methods of caring for young people from various cultures and for their families. The course develops an understanding of the breadth and depth of pastoral care, of family systems and adolescent development, and of the role that cultural identity plays in the development of adolescents. The goal is two-fold: (a) to promote healthy adolescent development from a pastoral care perspective, and (b) to develop preventative interventions for families with adolescents. Fostering the Faith Growth of Youth through Prayer and Worship investigates the foundational role that prayer and worship have in fostering the spiritual growth of youth. Participants develop understandings and practical skills necessary for: (a) preparing liturgy and worship experiences, (b) fostering the prayer life of youth and preparing prayer services, and (c) understanding the role of youth retreat experiences. Participants will apply these understandings by developing a realistic and integrated approach to worship within a comprehensive ministry to youth. Location of the courses is Omaha at the Archdiocesan Sheehan Pastoral Service Center Empowering Adults Empowering Adults is a training program in Catholic youth ministry and catechetical theory and practice specifically designed for volunteers. Sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Youth Ministry Department, the program provides participants with the basic information and skills needed to understand and work in catechetical and youth ministries with today s youth in grades Through both theory and practical application, participants not only develop and/or improve their skills, but also expand their knowledge and awareness of Church teaching and their own faith journey. The program combines lectures, discussions, learning activities, prayer experiences, community-building exercises, and readings. Empowering Adults prepares adults to recognize and respond to the needs of youth and guide them in their understanding of and formation in the Catholic faith. 20

21 What makes up the Empowering Adults program? The program consists of the following six 2-hour workshops. Courses can be taken in any order, however, everyone is highly encouraged to sign up for Navigating the Landscape of Youth Ministry at some point because it is this foundational session that all the rest are built upon. What does Empowering Adults lead to? Successful completion of the program is a great foundation for those who would like to further their formation in youth ministry through the Certificate in Youth Ministry program. Level II standards may also be gained through attendance. Courses Navigating the Landscape of Youth Ministry This workshop introduces participants to the faith life of today s teens and our Church s ministry to adolescents. Includes an overview of (1) the characteristics of millennial youth, (2) key findings from the National Study on Youth and Religion, and (3) Renewing the Vision (the U.S. Catholic Bishops pastoral plan for youth ministry). This workshop concludes with an exploration of the significant roles that youth play in the life and mission of the faith community and the role of the faith community in helping youth uncover and share their gifts. Learning with Youth This course provides essential guidelines and practices for youth programs that will help ensure their success. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the many components (timing, style, content and focus) that make up an effective program/session, learning new ways to structure events/learning sessions and plan for success. It will explore methods and processes for teaching and forming faith with this generation of youth in engaging and energizing ways. Participants will grow in their understanding of catechetical theory and discover new strategies for bringing the Good News to young people in ways that make sense to them. Serving with Youth Here participants are provided with a basic understanding of Catholic Social Teaching from which all service should flow. Participants will learn strategies and techniques for insuring meaningful service experiences for youth and gain insights into how to help youth talk about, learn from, and grow in faith through service. Praying with Youth enables participants to design and lead effective prayer experiences with and for young people. Participants will (1) be introduced to various prayer forms and styles that can help them connect to moments in a young person s life, (2) learn how to infuse prayer into all aspects of youth and catechetical ministry and (3) be credible witnesses of an adult prayer life. Building Community and Relating with Youth This workshop enables participants to understand the importance of building community both among young people and within the whole Christian community, and presents practical, hands-on skills for ensuring that groups are able to work well together. This workshop explores the steps necessary for youth to develop honest, respectful, and faithful relationships with each other and with adults, including guidelines for being present to youth and the value in creating good discipline within programs, activities or classrooms. Participants will gain insights and skills in group development, communication and listening, and effective discipline. 21

22 Called to Ministry This retreat-like session focuses on the adult as a person of faith. The session connects volunteer ministry to our baptismal call and our relationship with Jesus. Participants will reflect on God s call of Mary, and how they too are called to bear God into the world. This session offers insights into the ways that the adult Church can invite young people into a great relationship with God and their Catholic faith. What is the fee? $5 per session When are the workshops? Workshops will be scheduled at various times and locations throughout the Archdiocese of Omaha Can these workshops be scheduled nearer to my parish? Yes! Any parish, parish cluster, or deanery interested in hosting these workshops should contact Rita Ramos at the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis OR [email protected] New Youth Minister Training Goal: The goal of this program is to prepare Directors of Religious Education and Directors of Youth Ministry to assume the ministry of leadership in parishes. If the Director of Youth Ministry has or will complete the Certificate in Youth Ministry Program, they need only take the September, October, and January Courses. Objectives: At the conclusion of this series of nine sessions, the DRE and DYM will: Understand their role in the parish Have knowledge of the contemporary parish Have the ability to relate to and empower others Have the ability to plan and organize programs Have an understanding of the need for ongoing formation and growth in their profession. SEPTEMBER MINISTRY OF THE PROFESSIONAL MINISTER Important Church Documents Role of the DRE and DYM Ministry (Job) Description DRE/DYM Handbook and other Office documents Tour the office and meet the staff OCTOBER RELATIONSHIPS, PARISH STRUCTURES, COMMUNICATION Parish Staff Pastoral Councils, Boards of Education, Advisory Boards Relationships pastor, school principal, liturgist, etc. Getting the word out communication NOVEMBER FAMILY AND PARISH MINISTRY --- Pastoral Care Course The face of the contemporary parish Church documents on the family Partnering with parents 22

23 Intergenerational Catechesis or Whole Community Catechesis DECEMBER LITURGICAL YEAR --- Prayer and Worship Course Pattern of the liturgical cycle Catechesis and Liturgy Liturgical-based programs pros and cons Practical helps for planning prayer and worship activities Liturgy of the Word for Children JANUARY CALENDAR, PLANNING, RECORDS, BUDGETS Mission Statement Calendar Planning Budget Handbook for parents and volunteers Record keeping FEBRUARY SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION AND OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS --- Practices in YM Course Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation Service projects, sacrament celebrations Parent meetings Summer experiences Special needs MARCH CURRICULUM DEVELOPMNT, TEXTBOOK SELECTION --- Evangelization and Catechesis Course Elements of curriculum planning Elements of a good lesson plan Use of audio/visual materials Textbook selection Elements of program evaluation APRIL LEADERSHIP --- Skills in Ministry Leadership Course Styles and qualities of good leaders Time management: BALANCE Continuing opportunities for growth MAY RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, SUPERVISING VOLUNTEERS --- Foundations in Christian Ministry Course Recruiting methods Volunteer in-service, renewal experiences, certificate Volunteer supervision Other volunteers that can be useful to programs Identifying volunteers skills and talents Safe Environment training. 23

24 Legal Issues and Responsibilities 24

25 LEGAL ISSUES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Youth Minister has two important legal responsibilities: the formation and communication of policy, including rules, and the supervision of staff. Youth Ministry encourages the personal and spiritual development of young people through an effort of gathered and non-gathered experiences, set in the contexts of youth community, family, church, and the wider civic community. The eight components of youth ministry assist the Coordinator and other leaders in promoting a comprehensive and holistic ministry to, with, by, and for youth. The Youth Minister is responsible for knowing and following diocesan guidelines with regard to legal issues and responsibilities. These policies and guidelines properly provide for the safety of young people participating in youth ministry programming, as well as preventing unnecessary legal problems from arising. STAFF SUPERVISION All youth ministry volunteers (youth and adults) should be trained and supervised for their role(s) in leading the youth ministry. Adult Volunteers (21 and older). The Coordinator of Youth Ministry is responsible for the recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of all adults who volunteer in the youth ministry effort. All adult volunteers should be compliant with the Archdiocese of Omaha Safe Environment requirements. Any adult who refuses to do this should not be a youth ministry volunteer. Adult volunteers are to be selected based on their interest, gifts and talents, and appropriateness in working with young people. Just because an adult presents himself/herself as an interested person, the Coordinator is not obligated to use the person as a youth ministry volunteer. Adults who volunteer should be known to the parish and to the Coordinator/pastor. In the case of a new Coordinator coming to a parish, the advice of parish staff, especially that of the pastor, should be sought. Persons not known to the parish or the Coordinator should be supervised for a probationary period of time, when in the presence of young people. Adult volunteers are to be given an outline of their responsibilities, expectations of the Coordinator, and details of how supervision will be done. It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to define these areas and carry them out. Basic training of all adult volunteers should be conducted and include: group management and appropriate discipline, adolescent development, basic first aid and safety. More specific training may be needed based on the volunteer's role (i.e. catechist, retreat team, etc.). Youth Leaders Youth leaders are defined as young people in grades 7-12, depending on the program. High school seniors who have reached the age of 18 are still considered youth and must abide by the guidelines set forth for youth. Young people selected as part of the youth ministry leadership team or other leadership role should be selected on the basis of their potential (or proven ability) for leadership, their interest and availability, and special skills or talents they possess. 25

26 Youth leaders are to be given an outline of their responsibilities, expectations of the Coordinator, and details of how supervision will be done. It is the responsibility of the Coordinator to define these areas and carry them out. Responsibilities of the youth leaders should be appropriate to their role and to their age (i.e., youth do not have the final say in matters of safety or legality). Coordinators are expected to communicate with the parents of their youth leaders so there are no misunderstandings as to their leadership role and responsibilities (this includes core team or leadership team meetings and training programs). High School Youth Leaders are still minors and should not be left alone to supervise other minors. In other words, adult supervision for those in a youth leader role is required. High School leaders should fill out the necessary liability and parent permissions forms. High School Youth Leaders should not be allowed to drive as part of their role. Youth Leaders should participate in an orientation (sample provided in Other resources ) Young Adult Leaders (19-20) Young adults who are 18 (and out of high school) to 20 years of age, who assist with an aspect of youth ministry, should not serve as chaperons in any situation. Though not chaperons, they should be expected to abide by chaperon guidelines. o be housed as adults (do not room with those under 18) o May not act as or be counted as chaperones. o Young Adults who have reached the age of 19 must follow the Archdiocese of Omaha Safe Environment requirements. They should understand that their presence at the event is as a role model and not as a youth participant. We value their presence as young adult leaders and encourage their participation. Not to surrender responsibility for those entrusted to them when there are visiting presenters or large numbers of people comprising many individual or smaller groups gathered for special events. SUPERVISION AND CHAPERONS All youth ministry programs, activities, events, retreats, etc. are to be adequately supervised and chaperoned. Chaperons must be 21 years of age. Supervision of youth includes the following: Ensuring the safety of the young people while at the program or activity Assisting the Coordinator with the implementation of a program or activity Ensuring that the guidelines for behavior and safety are followed. Many times young people arrive early and stay late after youth ministry programs. Parishes are responsible for providing adult supervision for young people while they are on parish grounds, both before and after programs. An adult should remain until the last participant has left. The duty of supervising young people should not be surrendered to others who are not known to the coordinator. Parishes may have additional requirements in this area. Chaperons should be apprised of their role and responsibilities for each distinct youth ministry program or activity, as it may be different depending on the situation. The selection of appropriate adults to serve as drivers and chaperons is critical, and the importance of following these guidelines cannot be overstated. 26

27 Supervision Ratios Age Overnight Participants Day-only Participants Number Staff 7 th -8 th grade (2 overnight) 9 th -12 th grade (2 overnight) Supervisory staff must be 21 years of age or older and of both genders if there are participants of both genders. Many times young people arrive early and stay late after youth ministry programs. Parishes are Responsible for providing adult supervision for young people while they are on parish grounds, both before and after programs. An adult should remain until the last participant has left. The duty of supervising young people should not be surrendered to others who are not known to the coordinator. Participation Guidelines and Supervision The youth ministry program should have clearly defined guidelines for participation and procedures for dealing with violations of those guidelines. (A sample code of Behavior can be found in the appendix) These guidelines should be based on the mission statement of the parish youth ministry and should be communicated to both parents and young people. Guidelines should be stated in writing. Parishes may consider asking parents and young people to sign statements confirming they have read the guidelines and agree to abide by them. Having a young person and their parents sign this would indicate that they understand the guidelines while participating in ministry events. Adult leaders in ministry are advised to have a clear plan in place regarding the consequences of young people (or other adults) who fail to follow the Code of Behavior. Record of Attendance Accurate records of attendance should be kept if there is ever a question of the presence of a young person at a particular event. Parents/Guardians may believe their children were at a particular event when, in truth, they were not. Parishes should set up procedures to notify parents of youth nonattendance at an event for which the youth is registered or anticipated to attend. Corporal Punishment. Corporal punishment includes hitting, pushing, shoving, and slapping. Christian principles do not support the use of corporal punishment. Parishes should have a policy statement defining corporal punishment and forbidding it. If an adult loses control and uses corporal punishment, the parish should have a policy for reporting such an occurrence (see appendix). The report should be made to the Coordinator, and a written report with all pertinent details should be kept on file. The Coordinator is responsible for keeping the pastor informed of any such incidents. Sending a young person home Occasionally it is necessary to send a young person home from an event because of his or her behavior. If, for instance, the rules clearly state (see Code of Behavior) that boys and girls are not allowed in each other s sleeping rooms, and you find that some boys (or girls) have left their own rooms in the middle of the night and are hanging out in the girls (or boys ) rooms, the event leader should send those involved home. They have clearly violated the Code of Behavior. This checklist available in the appendix will help you handle such a situation effectively and pastorally. 27

28 Bullying Every young person has the right to feel safe at home, at school, at church and in the community. Bullying is not a normal part of growing up. Bullying needs to be dealt with directly. To stop hurtful behavior we all need to respond when it occurs and take steps to prevent it. (refer to appendix for some practical steps to deal with this) Cyberbullying refers to the use of communication technologies to physically threaten, verbally harass or socially exclude an individual. Inspecting Bags of Participants Unless you are a parent of the participant whose bag is to be searched, the random inspection of young people s possessions could constitute a breach of privacy and certainly shows a breach of trust. If an adult leader has probable cause to believe that the young person is in possession of drugs, alcohol, or other illegal or immoral materials, that adult leader, in the presence of another cleared adult, may ask the young person to empty the contents of his/her pockets and/or bags in front of the two chaperons. Adult leaders may, at no time, personally search the young person or his/her bags. Confidentiality At some point in ministry, a young person will come to you and say, I want to talk to you but, promise not to tell anyone. Do everyone a favor: Do not make such a promise. It is important for both you and the young person to understand that confidentiality can never encompass a statement that indicates a young person is a danger to themselves or others. Being a danger to ones self does not always mean suicide, by the way. Being an advocate for young people sometimes requires us to say no to situations that are bad for young people. For instance, a young person who may be involved in drugs, alcohol or other at risk behavior (including premarital sex) may choose to confide in you as a cry for help. Such reckless behavior may require a conversation with the child s parents and a licensed counselor. For example, if you get the sense from speaking with a young person that he or she is considering suicide or violent acts against another, you must seek counsel from others immediately. This might include a conversation with the pastor and perhaps the child s parents. There may also be situations where a child wants to confide in you and what he or she shares may have legal ramifications. For example, Susie wants to talk about how uncomfortable she is around some of the young people at the youth group meetings. They don t get along at school and there is a history of teasing. It would be appropriate to keep Susie s confidence and to work with her towards getting along. You may also be able to use this conversation to pull together a session on bullying. If, however, Susie confides in you that she is uncomfortable because she was physically assaulted by one of the young people, that is NOT information that you can keep in confidence. Professional advice should be sought from our pastor and/or a license counselor. So what do you do when a young person asks, Can you keep a secret? The best response would include, I would love to talk to you and hear what you have to say but, I need you to know that I cannot keep something a secret if I fear for your safety or the safety of others. Chances are, if the young person is looking for help, they will confide in you anyway. Inappropriate Environments and Experiences for Youth Environments and experiences for youth events must be paragons of acceptance, growth, and freedom. It is never appropriate to manipulate either an experience or the environment in order to obtain a specific response. Spiritual and emotional manipulation are also inappropriate, and it is essential to assure young people that whatever emotions they experience at any given time during an event are valid. 28

29 The following actions may be seen as manipulative and inappropriate and must be avoided at all times: Damaging images of Christ, overtly or covertly Public confession of sins Public admittance of sinfulness that implicates another Pressure to display physical action/reaction to prayer/music Singular emotional attachments between youth minister and adolescent Counseling teens without a professional license Sexual contact between adult minister and adolescent Isolating experiences between adult minister and adolescent for private discussion, transporting, dating, etc. Encouraging teens to idolize youth ministry personnel Encouraging dissension or division between youth and parents Practical jokes most always have a victim. Many times this can be embarrassing or humiliating. Housing recommendations Room accommodations for youth events are gender specific. Males are never allowed in female assigned rooms and females are never allowed in male assigned rooms. Adults chaperones should provide systematic check-in Adults should never be in a room alone with a youth Adults should not be housed with young people in an hotel setting unless they are a parent, but no other youth should occupy the room at the same time. A minimum of two adults may be housed with a minimum of two youth in dormitory style housing. When housing is in a gym, classroom or other large room, each gender should have their own space, separated by walls, petitions, etc. to designate separate space. There should always be sufficient number of same gender adults to same gender youth participants Drivers Finding and selecting appropriate adults as drivers is essential to youth ministry's "on the go" scheduling. Competent, responsible, mature adults (generally parents) are in great demand. Drivers for youth ministry activities, events, programs, retreats, etc. must be responsible adults at least 21 years of age. Young adults, 18-20, who may assist with the parish youth ministry, should not serve as drivers at any time. High school teens should not serve as drivers for youth ministry. This includes teens who are seniors in high school and who have reached the age of 18. A teen may drive himself/herself from home to a youth ministry program or event at the parish and then home again. That is at the discretion of the parents. (See appendix) No youth under your supervision should ride with a teenage driver at any time. The Archdiocese strongly recommends that teens not drive their friends to and from youth ministry events at the parish. Under no circumstance should you organize student drivers. 29

30 Drivers and Insurance Drivers must complete and sign a Driver Information Form (See appendix) even if they drive only once for youth ministry. The form includes driver's license and insurance information. Coordinators are responsible for providing the following information to potential drivers: The driver must be 21 years of age or older. The driver must have a valid, non-probationary driver s license and no physical disability that could in any way impair his/her ability to drive the vehicle safely. The vehicle must have a valid and current registration and valid and current license plate. The vehicle must be insured for the following minimum limits: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per occurrence. Always designate at least two drivers so there is a replacement driver should the first become ill, tired, etc. when the trip is to be for any long distance or time. Daily maximum miles driven should not exceed 500 miles per vehicle for non-contracted transportation. Maximum number of consecutive miles driven should not exceed 250 miles per driver without at least a 30 minute break. Passenger Vans The Catholic Umbrella Pool recommends the following guidelines for the purchasing and usage of passenger vans. New or used passenger vans should not be purchased or leased for the transportation of students. A passenger van should not be used to transport students ages preschool to grade 12, to or from any parish/school function. Seats should not be removed from a 15-passenger van to reduce capacity. Also, nine passengers or less cannot be transported in a 15 passenger van. Nine-passenger vans can continue to be used for parish/school functions. A nine passenger van is defined as a van designed to transport nine passengers plus the driver for a total of ten people. These guidelines are not intended to be compromised by a less restrictive state law. A more conservative state law should be followed. Other Rental Vehicles. When renting vehicles for youth ministry activities, the insurance available through the rental company that covers the vehicle in case of an accident should be purchased. It also should be noted that many rental companies do not allow anyone under the age 25 to be a driver. Check with the rental company for their policy.. 30

31 Technology 31

32 TECHNOLOGY GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS AND PARISHES WORKING WITH YOUTH Technology is a valuable vehicle to communicate the gospel message to our children/youth when proper guidelines are followed and safe guards are established. As Pope Benedict XVI noted in his message for the 2010 World Communications Day, This new form of media, if adequately understood and exploited can offer priests and pastoral workers a wealth of information and content that was difficult to access before, and facilitate forms of collaboration and a greater communion in ways that were unthinkable in the past. If wisely used, with the help of experts in technology and communication culture, the new media can become-for priest and all pastoral workers- a valid and effective instrument for authentic and profound evangelization and communion. Pope Benedict XVI The Priest and Pastoral Ministry in the Digital World: New Media at the Service of the Word Values that Safeguard Pastoral Practices when using Media (Recommended Technology Guidelines for Pastoral Work with Young People developed by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, USCCB Social Media Guidelines) As ministry leaders employ new ways to reach out to young people (and others), questions may arise as to the proper use of technology and social networking media. Additionally, communication technologies and the Internet will continue to evolve and school personnel, religious educators, and youth ministry leaders will need to keep pace with the latest tools and potential threats. Interactions in the virtual world need to be transparent with healthy boundaries and safe environment practices must be adhered to as they are in the physical world. Nothing should be communicated through technology that would not be stated face to face. The development of comprehensive guidelines that strike a balance between safety and pastoral effectiveness must be guided by the below essential values. All technological interaction/communications need to be: Prudent- Technology is prudent when it encourages forethought and weighs the merit of the communication in light of the pastoral effectiveness and potential risk. Reasonable- The use of technology needs to be practical, sound and considered a normative practice or standard. Transparent- All technological communications needs to be clear, intelligible and observable and requires us to be open to the scrutiny of others. Accountable- Social media provide tools for building community. Membership in communities also requires accountability and responsibility. Users of social media expect site administrators to allow dialogue, to provide information, and to acknowledge mistakes. The explosion of information available to social media consumers has meant that they often only use information from trusted sites or sites recommended by those whom they trust. 32

33 Church and Ministry Websites Web 2.0: The term Web 2.0 is commonly associated with Web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing. A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with other users, to change website content, to provide reaction to content, to share the site s content with others, or to filter content being provided by the site creator. This is in contrast with non-interactive websites, where users are limited to the passive viewing of information that is provided to them. (USCCB Social Media Guidelines) * Example: Amazon.com s inclusion of users reviews and offering of recommendations based on the consumer s past use of the site make it a Web 2.0 site. Ministry website: 3 An Internet website/tool created by employees, clerics, and volunteers for the sole purpose of conducting diocesan/affiliate business (USCCB Social Media Guidelines) Recommended Best Practices All Catholic parishes, schools and organizations websites need to accurately reflect Catholic teaching and be updated regularly by a minimum of two authorized adults. These websites should not contain personal or contact information about young people or staff/volunteer. Official logo or image should appear on the site to distinguish it as the organization s official site and not that of a specific person. Communication with visitors to the site should be through the official organizational e- mail. Written permission must be obtained prior to posting photographs or other identifying information of minors. In photographs of youth activities, youth should not be tagged or identified by name in the photograph. Include a brief code of conduct on your organizational website. (Example is USSCCB Facebook code of conduct: All post and comments should be marked by Christian charity and prospect for the truth. They should be on topic and presume the good will of other posters. Discussion should take place primarily from a faith perspective. No ads please. Always block anyone who does not abide by the code of conduct.) Social Networking Websites Social network: A social network is a Web 2.0 site that is entirely driven by content of its members. Individuals are allowed flexibility in privacy settings; in posting text, photos, video, links, and other information; and in level of interaction with other members. (USCCB Social Media Guidelines) * Examples: Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr are often included in lists of social networking sites, although sometimes YouTube and Flickr are designated as multimedia sharing sites, while Twitter is currently more often designated as a micro-blogging application. Personal website: A social network page, blog, or any Internet website/tool created by employees, clerics, and volunteers primarily to share personal communication with friends and associates. (USCCB Social Media Guidelines) 33

34 Recommended Best Practices Adult ministers should establish separate sites and pages for personal and professional use. Personal pages and information should neither be advertised nor accessible to minors. Those in ministry roles should not friend minors in their personal social networking account unless there is an established familial relationship. Adult ministers need to be vigilant in representing themselves as ministers of the Catholic Church in all interactions that can be viewed publicly. Anything that would cause scandal to the ministry should be avoided. Be aware of the social networking sites terms of use, age restrictions, and privacy options/controls. Parents should be notified in writing that the parish is planning to use a social networking site for a parish or school program. Site must be monitored frequently to allow for quick response to urgent or crisis concerns. It is recommended that the no tagging option be set on the original social networking site. The site should not contain personal or contact information (including photos) of staff/volunteer. and Texting/Instant Messaging A system for sending and receiving messages electronically over a computer network, as between personal computers. A message or messages sent or received by such a system. Texting: The sending of text messages via cell phones or other mobile devices Sexting Sexting means sex texting sending or receiving a text message that has sexual content. Instant Messaging: often shortened to simply "IM" or "IMing," is the exchange of text messages through a software application in real-time. Recommended Best Practices The same boundaries observed in oral/personal communication should be adhered to when communicating via /texting. , texting and instant messaging can be saved or forwarded to others. Avoid engaging in any posting or communication that would be misconstrued or misinterpreted. All communication sent digitally is NOT CONFIDENTIAL and may be shared with others. , texting and instant messaging should only be used in one s professional role and parents should be informed of using this technology for communication purposes for ministry. Communications should occur in appropriate timeframes for ministry. It is encouraged to , text or instant message the parent/guardian the same communication. Minister should use supervise and use caution when allowing children/youth access to their phones/computers etc. 34

35 Blogging Blog: A blog (a contraction of the term web log ) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. (USCCB Social Media Guidelines) * Examples: There are many types of blogs on sites throughout the Internet. They are common for celebrities, writers, journalists, etc. WordPress is one of the more popular tools used to create blogs. Micro-blog: This form of multimedia blogging allows users to send brief text updates or to publish micromedia such as photos or audio clips, to be viewed either by anyone or by a restricted group, which can be chosen by the user. These messages can be submitted by a variety of means, including text messaging, instant messaging, , digital audio, or through a Web interface. The content of a micro-blog differs from a traditional blog in that it is typically smaller in actual size and aggregate file size. A single entry could consist of a single sentence or fragment, an image, or a ten-second video. (USCCB Social Media Guidelines) * Example: Twitter is a form of micro-blogging in which entries are limited to 140 characters. Recommended Best Practices Professional/ministry based blogs should only be utilized to promote upcoming events/programs for the purpose of providing resources and information within the ministry setting and should reflect the teachings of the Catholic Church. Blogs are an effective way to distribute fliers for events and programs. The blog needs to be monitored by at least 2 adults and no minor name or information should be posted. Extreme caution should be taken that so that information regarding personal blogs is not available to minors. Online Video and Chat Rooms Online Video: Internet video sites are called websites that show content in the form of videos. These internet sites oftentimes permit watchers to look at the wide awry of videos that are hosted with their internet site*. Chat Room: A place online where a group of people can get together and chat about a particular subject or just to chat. Usually you will need to sign in at least so you have a name in the room and then you can see who else is in the room. Some chat rooms allow you to talk to one individual without the others seeing your conversation Recommended Best Practices At no time is one to one video or chat room interaction appropriate between adults and minors. It is recommended that streaming video be used for education, communication and promotional purposes. 35

36 Always remember that, even on the worldwide web, others may recognize us as representing the Catholic Church when we post our personal opinions or engage in discussions. Securing Private Information Recommended Best Practices. Have qualified IT personnel create and manage any secure web forms to safeguard private information. If possible, have all financial transactions in real time that is, on a commerce website that can process the credit card transaction on line, thus assuring that no financial data will be communicated to the parish/organization. Acquire a third party secure certificate (for example, VeriSign, Geo Trust, etc.) for any web server that will handle SSL ( https :// ) transmissions. Recommendations for using pictures on the web Option 1: If photos of students/parishioners on parish web sites are going to be used it is advisable to do so without publishing names. If individuals are uncomfortable with a particular photo, simply delete it from the website. If you would like to use names, we recommend you receive permission. In case of using names with a minor, written permission from the parent is advisable. Option 2: Some parishes may prefer to have written permission on hand. This can be done by simply adding a statement with a line for the parent s signature on the release and liability form for that activity Option 3 Prior to the beginning of the year, if a handbook is distributed making it clear that photos and names will be used on the website, and the parent or guardian has signed a receipt of the handbook acknowledging the receipt of the parish/school handbook, then it would be acceptable to utilize those photos and names. Personal Electronic Devices In this age of instant connection, young persons will often arrive to a parish/school event with a cell phone and perhaps other personal electronic devices. These can become a distraction and allow the young people to be virtually present elsewhere. The Archdiocese of Omaha makes no requirements about banning cell phones or other personal electronic devices, although parishes and schools are free to do so. The alternative to collection is education. Young people should be invited to an understanding regarding the ministry of presence and the importance of putting away modern technology in favor of being physically and emotionally present to the experience for which they have gathered. In some cases, however, it is appropriate to collect cell phones and MP3 players. Retreats, for instance, provide an opportunity for technology-free experiences. When personal electronic devices are collected, the adult leaders become responsible for these items so care must be taken to keep the devices safe. In addition, if adult leaders plan to collect personal electronic devices, the parents of participants should be notified ahead of time and time should be given during the event when the 36

37 devices are returned to the young people for a specified amount of time. When cell phones are collected, and even when they are not, adult leaders should provide an emergency contact number to parents of participants. Parents should be instructed to contact the adults with news of a family emergency rather than calling the young person directly. Any restrictions placed on young people regarding personal electronic devices extend to adult leaders in ministry as well. If adult leaders in ministry encourage the young people to be present to an experience then those adult leaders should be equally present. Cell phone use by adults during ministry activities and events should be limited to that which is necessary for the activity or event. Coordinating with a bus driver, for example, for pick up after an event would be appropriate. Texting personal messages or making phone calls not related to the event models inappropriate behavior. Movie Ratings When showing movies to young people (up to the age of 18), only G, PG, and PG-13 rated movies are appropriate. Movies that are rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America are inappropriate for use in ministry. No movie should be shown unless the group leader or event coordinator has previewed the movie in its entirety prior to showing the movie to young people. Movies that pervert the faith or are blatantly immoral must be avoided. Video Game Ratings The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide concise and impartial information about the content in computer and video games so consumers, especially parents, can make an informed purchase decision. ESRB ratings have two equal parts: rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern. To take full advantage of the ESRB rating system, it's important to check both the rating symbol (on the front of the box) and the content descriptors (on the back). Only games with the ratings of Early Childhood, Everyone, Everyone 10+, and Teen are appropriate for use in ministry. No matter how popular, games with the ESRB rating of Mature, Adults Only, or Rating Pending are not appropriate for use in ministry. 37

38 Laws 38

39 CHILD ABUSE REPORTING Nebraska State and Local Laws Child, incompetent, or disabled person subjected to abuse or neglect; report; contents; toll-free number. When any physician, medical institution, nurse, school employee, social worker, or any other person has reasonable cause to believe that a child or an incompetent or disabled person has been subjected to abuse or neglect, or observes such person being subjected to conditions or circumstances which reasonably would result in abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident or cause a report to be made to the proper law enforcement agency or to the department on the toll-free number established by subsection (2) of this section. (Details to be included in the oral and written reports) Such report may be made orally by telephone, with the caller giving his or her name and address, and shall be followed by a written report, and to the extent available shall contain the address and age of the abused or neglected person, the address of the person or persons having custody of the abused or neglected person, the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect, or the conditions and circumstances which would reasonable result in such abuse or neglect, any evidence of previous abuse or neglect, including the nature and extent, and any other information which in the opinion of the person may be helpful in establishing the cause of such abuse and neglect and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators. Law enforcement agencies receiving any reports of abuse or neglect under this subsection shall notify the state central registry on the next working day by phone or mail. There shall be established a single, state-wide toll-free number within the department to be used by any person any hour of the day or night, any day of the week, to make reports of abuse or neglect to the department. Reports of abuse or neglect not previously made to or by a law enforcement agency shall be made immediately to such agency by the department. The toll-free number for State of Nebraska, Department of Social Services is: The reporting employee shall: Inform his supervisor of the alleged misconduct; and, report to authorities as required by Neb. Rev. Stat. ß Obligation to Report 7.1 Any personnel of the Archdiocese shall comply with the reporting requirements of the Nebraska state and any other requirements found in local laws when they have actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to suspect an incident of sexual abuse or misconduct. 7.2 A report shall also be made to the chancellor of the archdiocese. 7.3 In each instance of reporting, a verbal report of the incident should be followed by a written report in a timely manner. 7.4 The chancellor of the Archdiocese of Omaha shall immediately notify the Archbishop regarding the allegation of sexual abuse or misconduct and subsequently the Archdiocesan Review Board, legal counsel and the liability insurance carrier of the archdiocese. 7.5 The chancellor shall also notify the assistance coordinator and assist in pastoral outreach as the circumstances, the limitations of an investigation by law enforcement and prudent judgment permit. 39

40 NEBRASKA STATE STATUES ON SMOKING Sec Tobacco; use by minors; penalty Whoever, being a minor under the age of eighteen year, shall smoke cigarettes or cigars, or use tobacco in any form whatever, in this state, shall be guilty of class V misdemeanor. Any minor so charged with the violation of this section may be free from prosecution when he shall have furnished evidence for the conviction of the person or persons selling or giving him the cigarettes, cigars or tobacco. Sec Tobacco; sale to minors; penalty. Whoever shall sell, give or furnish, in anyway, any tobacco in any form whatever, or any cigarettes, or cigarette paper, to any minor under eighteen years of age, shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor for each offense. COPYRIGHT LAW Copyright law is probably one of the least understood legal areas of ministry. Violation is not only illegal but also immoral in the sense that offenders are stealing from composers, artists, authors and publishers who depend on the sale of their material for a living. Following are some areas to be aware of concerning possible copyright violation. Movies Showing the entirety of a movie outside of the home (even though you are not charging admission) is a violation of copyright, unless the proper licensing was purchased. The educational use exception officially applies to government sanctioned or otherwise formally accredited educational institutions, and does not specifically indicate exception for a church religious education program. One site that is available to purchase a license is In addition, you can rent movies for a group showing through Likewise, it is illegal to copy any videocassette/dvd without the permission of the author or publisher. It is also illegal to record any television broadcast for public showing without permission. In some instances, it is not required to obtain a Movie Copyright compliance site License when exhibiting copyrighted materials such as videocassettes or DVD s This face-to face teaching exemption applies only to full time non-profit educational institutions and only IF: A teacher is in attendance and (or youth ministers/dre, etc) The showing takes place in a classroom setting (or parish hall, etc.) The movie is used as an essential part of the current curriculum being taught If you are uncertain about your responsibilities under the copyright law, consult your parish/school attorney. Music In using music, permission from the publisher is required to do any of the following: copy lyrics from a song sheet, even on a one-time basis; make transparencies or slides of music and/or lyrics, or project them onto a screen; 40

41 compile song books or make song sheets from original music; make copies of recordings of church services, concerts, or programs that include copyrighted music; make and distribute a CD containing the songs used on a retreat or other program; print lyrics even on a one-time basis; duplicate cassettes or CD s when the purpose is to avoid purchasing more. A parish, school or institution already may have a copyright license for a great deal of liturgical music. Permission to use other copyrighted music or lyrics may be secured for a nominal fee by calling or writing the publisher. Printed Material & Fair Use In general, copyrighted material may not be duplicated without permission (including articles, worksheets, cartoons, artwork, charts, etc.). Many resource books now come with permission to copy worksheets, clip-art, scripts, prayer services, etc. The Copyright Act of 1976 does give recognition to the "fair use" doctrine by providing that the "fair use" of a work is not an infringement of copyright where it is for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship or research. How the "fair use" doctrine would apply to religious education programs or youth groups has not yet been tested in the courts. In determining whether the use of a work in a particular case is "fair use" a court would consider the following factors: The purpose and character of the use. The use must not be commercial in nature. Non-profit educational purposes with certain qualifications constitute "fair use." Teachers may make a single copy of a book chapter, short story, essay, or poem, or a drawing, cartoon or picture for the purpose of scholarly research, use in teaching or preparation for a class. Multiple copies for classroom use, not to exceed one per pupil, are permissible, providing each bears a copyright notice and meets the rest of the "fair use" criteria. The nature of the copyrighted work. Users of copyrighted material have greater license to use works that are more a collection of facts than those works that are of a creative or imaginative nature. The amount of the work used. The use of an entire work or of excessive amounts of a work (in other words, wholesale copying) can never be fair use, even in cases where there was no intent to infringe. Effect of use on potential market. Any use of the work that reduces the demand for that work or that tends to diminish or prejudice the potential sale or profits, is not a fair use. If there is some doubt as to whether the fair use doctrine applies, the ethical course of action is to secure official permission or not use the material in question. CDs Passing out copies of cd s with a compilation of music taken from various other cd s or downloaded music is a violation of copyright. Owning a cd gives the owner the right to make a copy for personal use, but not to give it away to others. Software Read the licensing agreement. Generally, the rule is one copy per one computer/user. 41

42 Safety 42

43 SAFE ENVIRONMENT The Safe Environment program (Circle of Care) is the archdiocesan response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It consists of several parts including: Various policies covering relationships, communications, and obligations of archdiocesan clergy, employees, and qualifying volunteers. The office of Victim Assistance Coordinator. Certification (Circle of Care training and background evaluations) for archdiocesan clergy, employees, and qualifying volunteers. Appropriate education (Circle of Grace) for all children and youth of the archdiocese. A Review Board to assist the Archbishop in his responsibilities for the protection of youth. Safe Environment Contact 3212 N. 60th St, PO Box 4130 Omaha, NE Rev. Tim McNeil Chancellor [email protected] Mary Beth Hanus Victim Outreach and Prevention Manager Circle of Care, Children and Youth Safe Environment Program Circle of Care, Adult Safe Environment Program Safe Environment issues and concerns [email protected] Darrel J. Giesbrecht Certification and Recertification [email protected] Fax: Rita M. Ramos Adult Training Certification Circle of Care Adult Training [email protected] Fax: Cathi M. Snyder Adult Training Certification Circle of Care Adult Training [email protected] Fax: Website 43

44 CONSENT TO TREAT/RELEASE FROM LIABILITY Parishes should use an approved Consent to Treat/Release from Liability Form. A sample is included in the Appendix. Whenever a youth ministry program or activity takes the young people "off site" (off parish grounds), the Coordinator must carry the forms of the young people in attendance. While driving to and from a location, however, the drivers of each vehicle should have in their possession the forms for the people traveling in their vehicle. This is in case the group gets separated and an accident occurs, the adult driver would then have the necessary paperwork to have someone treated. REPORTING ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES Whenever a young person or adult is injured, either on- or off-site, an Accident Reporting Form should be completed immediately. A copy of the form is given to the parent/guardian if the injured person is under the age of 18. A copy should be kept in the youth ministry files. The pastor is informed by the Coordinator whenever an injury takes place. The Accident Reporting Form is in the Appendix. FIRST AID Coordinators are encouraged to have a well-stocked first-aid kit with the youth ministry supplies. It is always helpful to have an adult present at off-site activities who is certified in CPR Designate an adult to be in charge of first aid for your event. Check the kit before each program. Try using an athletic bag for your first aid supplies. Ready-to-go first aid kits are available at drug stores and stores like Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart. Such kits are pretty good and can be used to start building your own first aid kit. A good kit will include the following items: Ace Bandage(s) Alcohol Prep Pads: sterilizing needles, tweezers -DO NOT USE ON WOUNDS Antihistamine/Benadryl: bee stings Band-aids: various sizes Calamine Lotion: bug bites Conforming bandage: wound dressing Cotton balls: to apply calamine lotion (do not use on open wounds) Feminine hygiene products: tampons and pads First Aid Booklet: contact the American Red Cross Gloves: universal precaution -USE WHENEVER BODILY FLUIDS ARE PRESENT Gauze Pads: blood stopper Immodium AD: diarrhea -DO NOT USE PEPTO BISMOL AS IT CONTAINS ASPIRIN Instant Cold Compresses Medical Tape: wound dressing Mole Skin: blisters Needle: splinter removal 44

45 Non-Adhesive Pads: wound dressing Notepad and Pen: Check for medications to give Log any use of the kit: 1. Date 2. Name of Person Being Treated 3. Problem or Complaint 4. What Was Done 5. Signature of Adult (dispensing first-aid supplies) Plastic Bags: discarded supplies with bodily fluids Pocket Mask: rescue breathing and CPR Safety scissors Thermometer: please use the thermometer probe covers! Tissues: small pack or travel box Triangular Bandage: sling, splint, swathe, blood stopper Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin): wound dressing Tylenol (or other acetaminophen): DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN TO TEENS Tweezers: splinter removal Training and Certification in FIRST AID and CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR): Contact your local American Red Cross office for dates and locations. EMERGENCY PLANS It is strongly recommended that the Coordinator develop an Emergency Action Plan for various crises that may arise while away from the parish and at the parish. This should include Emergency phone numbers, check lists, etc. Emergency Action Plans should be developed for the following emergencies: Fire, evacuation, natural disasters, utility failures, gas leaks Lost youth, physical injury, drowning, car breakdown, accident, etc. Disturbances, Violence, bomb threats Before leaving for an off-site event, the Coordinator and adult chaperons/team members should be familiar with the strategies outlined in case of an emergency. All adults accompanying the young people as chaperons, drivers, team members should have in their possession a copy of the itinerary, directions, and necessary phone numbers. Plans should also be in place for parent /guardian death, student death, suicidal death and attempting suicide. You may want to check with the parish school or local schools system to see what is already in place and can be adapted. See Creating a Plan in Appendix. 45

46 Creating a Plan Know your site How is your site secured? Who is present at each gathering? Who is aware of gatherings? Where will you go in case of emergency? How will you get there? Who will assist? Know your teens and families Names and phone contacts Sign in sheets Phone trees Know your community resources Police Fire Ambulance Hospitals Know your established lines of communication Who will be notified at the parish level? Work/home/cell numbers Who will be notified at the diocesan level? Work/home/cell numbers Who will notify parents of situation? Who will be assigned to deal with media? Involve the Pastoral Team Collaborate with parish leadership in the creation of the plan Share the completed plan with pastoral team members Involve emergency response teams from the community Let the experts help with what they know best Involve key volunteers who will assist in implementation You will not be alone on site.who will be there to assist? Communicate the plan to volunteers Communicate the plan to students and families Practice the plan Implementing a Plan in Response to a Crisis Safety: how will you respond to immediate injuries? Security: how will you secure the safety (facility) for others? Communication: With whom will you communicate? At the Parish level At the Diocesan level Who will be assigned to communicate with the media? Counseling: How will you offer resources/support post-crisis? Evaluating a Plan What were the most effective components? Which components fell short of effectiveness? What changes need to be implemented for the next time of implementation? 46

47 MISSION WORK TRIPS/SERVICE PROJECTS Youth ministers are constantly striving to look for ways to involve their youth in fun, yet challenging experiences. One particular activity growing in popularity is the participation in work mission trips or service projects. Participation in work mission or service projects can be rewarding both physically and spiritually. However, keeping the participants safe should be the number one concern to ensure their missionary experience does not result in unpleasant consequences. The following guidelines should be followed for all work missions or service project trips: Preparing for the Trip These trips should not be led by inexperienced leaders. There are many reputable organizations that provide the setup work for work missions. It is recommended to work closely with these organizations and take advantage of their expertise in this area. If possible, the designated leader should make an advance visit to the area to assist in foreseeing any potential risks that may be encountered during the trip. Any foreseen or unforeseen problems should be properly planned for in advance. The safety and security of all participants should be carefully assessed. Some areas to keep in mind are: Will additional security need to be provided onsite? What is the distance to the nearest medical facility? What medical services are available? Will the participants require additional vaccinations depending upon the location of the trip? (An updated tetanus shot should be required). Create a plan of action to respond to any emergency. Even the worst case scenario should be thought through to plan a response. Confirm there are adequate facilities for housing all of the participants of the group in one location, including all adult chaperones. If the trip is to a non-english speaking location, arrange to have someone that speaks the language travel with you to translate or hire a translator that can be onsite with you at the location. Two common reasons parents decide to take legal action if their child is injured are a lack of communication and the element of surprise. If participants are minors, parents need to be informed in writing with all details regarding the mission trip or service project. This would include but not be limited to the following: o type of work or activities they would be expected to perform, o cost (if any) o departure and arrival dates and times, o location and contact information where to be reached in case of emergency, o names of chaperones, o mode of transportation (i.e. airplane, bus, etc.), o accommodations, o parent/legal guardian responsibility A waiver of all claims against the (Arch) Diocese and/or the parish for injury, accident, illness, or death occurring during or by reason of the activity should be obtained from the parents/guardians of each participant under the age of 18. (See Appendix) It is important to ensure this form also includes a medical release and health information on the minor participant. All individuals 18 and older also need to complete a waiver of all claims which includes a medical release portion. All adult chaperones must follow (Arch) Diocesan requirements to comply with the Bishop s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This would include having a 47

48 criminal background check conducted and attending Safety Environment training prior to the trip. Determine if any additional insurance coverage will need to be obtained. If this trip will take place outside of the United States, all participants should check with their healthcare provider to ensure their coverage will follow them. If coverage would not apply, arrangements should be made to acquire adequate health insurance coverage for the trip. Arrange a meeting with all participants and parents/legal guardians (if participant is a minor) to fully explain all details of the trip clearly and specifically as well as answer any questions they may have. Written behavior standards should be distributed to each participant requiring signatures to indicate they have read and understand what is expected of them. It should be mandatory that at least one parent/guardian attend this meeting with the participant. Participants should be reminded to bring along any prescription medications or other health items regularly used such as allergy medications or contact solutions. Training should be provided for the type of work and the equipment being used prior to the trip, especially if the work involves repair or construction activities. During the Trip Proper supervision must be provided at all times. What is considered proper could vary according to the age of participants and the type of activity. The greater ratio of supervision, the better. Participants should be divided into smaller groups with a designated adult leader. A binder with medical release forms and emergency contact names/numbers for each individual should be carried by the designated group leader at all times in case an injury occurs. o It should be noted that the Archdiocese of Omaha in it s Safe Environment Code of Conduct, states that you may not surrender responsibility entrusted to them. Since these trips usually involve some type of repair or construction, the safety of the work-site should be determined. It is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are certain job duties that would be considered unacceptable for particular age groups. See Appendix for a list of acceptable and non-acceptable work activities according to age. Depending upon the type of job or equipment used, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be needed for the task. All PPE should be provided by the group leader. Participants should dress appropriately for the work they are doing and according to the customs and dress standards of the country in which you are working. Shoes must be worn at all times. Long pants should be worn for any construction type activity. A well-stocked First Aid Kit should be present at the work-site. Supplies should be replenished as needed. Rest breaks should be given to participants as needed. Meals should be provided as well as an adequate amount of fluids to ensure proper hydration. Be aware of the conditions of local tap water. Boiled or bottled water as well as bottled or canned beverages are safest. Select foods carefully and avoid raw foods that can t be peeled or boiled. Provided by Catholic Mutual Group 48

49 Types of Mission Work Allowed by Age Group Ages Acceptable Work Non-Acceptable work Simple cleaning operations such as dusting, mopping, and sweeping. Light yard work such as raking, picking up branches/leaves. Serving food at designated food distribution sites As above, plus simple construction jobs such as putting up drywall, laying floors, tiles, carpets As above, including more advanced demolition and construction projects. 21 and older (adult) All work jobs typically expected of a mission worker and appropriate to skill set of volunteer. No use of ladders or scaffolding. No handling of toxic materials. No use of power saws or other power driven woodworking machines. No structural demolition. No operation of chain saws. No operation of motor vehicles or power-driven hoisting apparatus. No excavation operations. No roofing operations or work on or related to roofs. No use of ladders or scaffolding. No handling of toxic materials. No use of power saws or other power-driven woodworking machines. No structural demolition. No operation of chain saws. No operation of motor vehicles or power-driven hoisting apparatus. No excavation operations. No roofing operations or work on or related to roofs. No use of scaffolding. No handling of toxic materials. No use of power saws or other power-driven woodworking machines unless properly trained. No structural demolition. No roofing operations or work on or related to roofs. No roofing operations or work on or related to roofs. Acceptable tools to use Ordinary cleaning and yard work tools such as brooms, shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, mops, rags and buckets. As above, plus hammers, pry bars, crowbars, floor scrapers. As above, plus drills and simple power tools. Any tools as appropriate to nature of jobs. Protection equipment requried Long shirt and pants, shoes or work boots, work gloves (as appropriate to nature of work). Also, any Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) required per safety regulations for proper use of specific tools or materials. As above As above As above Provided by Catholic Mutual Group 49

50 TRAVEL INVOLVING MINORS I. Approval and Review Process A. Has the Pastor/Principal reviewed and approved the travel arrangements? II. III. IV. Contracts or Documents Related to Travel Arrangements A. Has each agreement and/or contract been carefully reviewed and signed by a person with signature authority? B. If transportation is provided by a bus company, etc, has the provider met insurance requirements? Safety and Supervision of Minors A. Has each minor provided a completed: 1. Parent/Legal Guardian Event Permission Slip? 2. Student/Youth Medical Matters Form? 3. Code of Behavior agreement? B. Is each chaperone at least 21 years of age? C. Has each chaperone completed the Archdiocese Safe Environment Training? D. Has the Pastor/Principal determined that the ratio of chaperones to minors is appropriate? E. Is each chaperone known by the Pastor/Principal and considered suitable for travel with minors? F. Has a criminal background check and safe environment training been completed for each chaperone? G. Has each chaperone complete orientation/instruction including: 1. Cultural consideration (if applicable) and safety issues 2. Duties and responsibilities of chaperones 3. Crisis Management and planning 4. Codes of behavior/conduct for chaperones and participants 5. First aid procedures and planning Transportation A. If a chaperone will be driving, has a DMV records check been completed? B. Is each driver at least 21 years of age? C. Has each driver completed a Driver Information Sheet? D. If a chaperone s own vehicle will be used, is it insured? E. Does each vehicle, that will be used, have an adequate number of seat belts? F. Has a detailed itinerary been provided to the parents/legal guardian of each participating minor? V. International Travel A. Have you confirmed that the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs has not issued a travel warning for any country to which you will be traveling? B. Have parents been asked to consult their child s physician for immunization advice for the travel planned? C. Has each chaperone completed orientation/instruction including: 1. Cultural considerations and safety issues 2. Duties and responsibilities of chaperones 3. Crisis management and planning 4. Travel plans and procedures 5. Codes of behavior/conduct for chaperones and participants 6. First aid procedures and planning D. Are funds available, such as credit cards or travelers checks, for medical or emergency use? E. If English is not the language of the country to which you will be traveling, are there an adequate number of chaperones who speak the native language? F. Have you checked on whether any special insurance will be required? 50

51 PRINCIPLES OF SAFETY 1. The higher the risk, the greater the supervision required. Meetings each week in the church youth room recommend a 1:10 adult leader-to-student ratio. But a weekend hike in the wilderness probably requires a greater ration. 2. What is dangerous? Get a clue! The exclusions of coverage by your insurance company give a general guideline for what the underwriters consider dangerous. Most liability policies presently exclude snowmobiling, mud bowls, water balloon launchers, and whitewater rafting. Those exclusions are made on the basis of previous accidents. Obviously activities which involve motorized vehicles, slippery surfaces, heavy physical contact, turbulent water, and hitting people with any type of projectile deserve special attention before you decide to proceed with your plans. 3. Perceived danger versus actual danger. There is a big difference. You can keep the atmosphere of fun and excitement in your youth program if you sponsor activities which look and feel dangerous, but in fact are quite safe. A ropes course (i.e., walking a single wire 20 feet off the ground) is both terrifying and thrilling to most students. In reality, a well-maintained and well-run ropes course is one of the safest experiences a young person can have because of the ever-present safety lines and high quality supervision. On the other hand, most adults and students feel relaxed and complacent about safety around water when in fact the danger is much higher than they suspect (85 percent of all fatal accidents in the wilderness involve water.) 4. Plan for the worst-case scenario. The best training (prior to an actual experience) is discussing potential problem situations. Example: As you train counselors and drivers for the winter retreat, ask them what they would do if their van (with 10 students) was separated from the rest of the caravan and developed engine problems. Help them think through all their options and prepare them to make decisions when the real life events occur. 5. Learn to recognize the initial signs of danger. Great athletes have the ability to anticipate what their opponent is going to do next. Responding more quickly than their foes can act, they gain the victory. The safety-smart youth leader anticipates danger. If students are chicken fighting (riding on each other s shoulders) in the small swimming pool, can you see the probable landing spot for the head of the student riding on top when he or she falls? Recognizing the initial signs of danger gives the youth leader the advantage to intervene before the accident happens. 6. Keep in mind the special needs of your group. Learn to make safety decisions according to the particular needs of the kids in your group. If you take your group on a follow-the-leader exercise through the park, you may jump over a wrought iron fence without realizing that down the line is a student who is overweight and could be injured trying to get over the fence. 7. Test it first. Bring your great idea to life with a simulated run, using your staff as crash test dummies. As you play, you will be able to identify the danger points and make changes before you present it to the youth group. 51

52 8. Resist the shortcuts. Recognize the forces that pressure you to shortcut your safety plans. When you are running late, you will tend to skip checking the fluids in the van or the connections on the ropes course. People will forget permission slips, first aid kits, etc. Don t let their problem pressure you to break the important rules of safety. 9. Make the most of your mistakes. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Minor accidents or near misses are sometimes funny. But don t just laugh about them. Learn your lesson and believe that next time you might not be so fortunate. 10. Take the my kid test. Treat each young person like your own child. Don t put any student in a situation in which you would not readily place your own child. 11. Lead by example. The leader sets the pace for the volunteers in the issues of safety and every other matter in youth ministry. Don t bend the rules for your personal comfort or convenience. 12. Balance your theology. Pray for God s protection, but exercise the thoughtful responsibility God has given to you. Don t count on Him to suspend the forces of nature and the laws of physics to protect you from the results of careless planning. Excerpted from: Play it Safe: Keeping Your Kids and Youth Ministry Alive. Jack Crabtree by Victor Books/SP Publications, 1825 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL THE COMMON SAFETY SINS OF YOUTH MINISTRY Not enough staff Too many youth in the vehicle No time to plan for safety No plan of action to respond to any emergency Students driving No use of seat belts No first aid training or supplies Inadequate paperwork (proper permission/medical) Letting a dangerous activity continue (afraid to stop it) Lack of careful supervision (letting youth wander or play around with equipment) 52

53 HEALTHY PLAY AND RECREATION The following reflection and worksheet was prepared by Fr. Joe Hannappel of the Diocese of Grand Island. We appreciate him sharing these with us. The way we play should compliment and reflect the goals, objectives, and values of the rest of our programming. In other words, if our programming is attempting to unify the group, our play needs to be unifying. So, if our play creates winners and losers, or embarrasses people who aren t very bright or very athletic, or is funny only at the expense of a small group, then the result will not be a unified group, but a divided group. Sometimes, at retreats and programs, we re asked to do something that seems simple and harmless, but once we do it, we are laughed at because of the real punch line or meaning of what we ve just said or done. Sometimes on trust walks, people forget to tell us about a tree branch or a puddle or people tell us about one that isn t really there! These experiences do not create a unified, trusting community. They divide the group and cause suspicion and anxiety even if the team is preaching trust and unity. In fact, a team that preaches trust and unity, yet practices deceit and division creates an emotional conflict in participants who feel pressured to trust an untrustworthy group. It is exactly this situation we wish to avoid. I do not believe we have programs that seek to embarrass or harm our youth and young adults. However, I do think it helps us to stay true to the Gospel if we have some concrete guidelines to help us evaluate our activities. Questions to Consider When Evaluating an Activity Does it belittle or embarrass any person or persons? Does it give an undue advantage to the very bright, the very athletic, or very highly skilled, so that the group might be divided? Is it, or can it be, sexually suggestive? Is there sexually stimulating body contact? Are many people left out for too long of a time? Is it degrading to some person or a group of people? Can someone easily or possibly get hurt? Does it seem to create an inner circle of elite folks who are in the know or who win? Does it ask the group to trust in a situation that is untrustworthy? Does it waste food or show a lack of respect for the environment? The Questions Have my volunteer leaders gone through an application and acceptance process (including written applications, reference forms, background checks, and interviews)? Have my volunteer leaders been screened for any criminal, sexual, or physical abuse accusations or violations in their past? Have my volunteer leaders been trained for the job I have asked them to do? Have I trained them in general safety procedures, and do I discuss specific safety procedures with them prior to an activity or event? Are my volunteers aware of and do they practice our prescribed standard of safe conduct with students to avoid any suspicion of sexual misconduct? Do my volunteers know their job at the events they attend? Do I have an appropriate adult-student ratio at the events? Student Information Do I have a permission/release form and medical form signed by parent(s) and notarized for each participating student? 53

54 Do I have current phone numbers to contact parents in case of an emergency? Are parents fully informed (in writing) about the activities in which their children will be involved? If I have to take any of these students to the hospital, am I prepared to answer the questions I will be asked about their personal information, medical information, and insurance? Drivers and Vehicles Do we have a written policy on driving standards and who is allowed to drive for all the activities and trips? Do we only use drivers who are qualified and responsible? Do we allow students to drive other students to activities? Do we require the use of seat belts? Do we regularly check the vehicles we use for safety (fluids, brakes, tires, etc.)? Planning and Preparedness Do we have a clear written set of basic safety rules for the activities of the youth ministry? Do we have sufficient insurance coverage for both the leaders and students in the youth ministry? In preparing for an event, do I inspect the physical facilities or location and look for any safety hazards? In preparing for an event, do I walk through the proposed activities to anticipate what risks are involved? Do I think through a worst-case scenario to identify potential problems and plan responses to the problems? Do I take the time necessary to insure the safety of students who participate in youth activities? When an activity appears to be dangerous, do I have the wisdom and courage to stop it regardless of the reaction of the students involved? First Aid and Emergency Response Are the members of my youth ministry team trained in a certified first aid course? Is a person trained in first aid present at all of our youth activities and trips? Is our first aid kit adequately stocked and available at all of our youth activities and trips? Do I carry with me phone numbers of important people who should be contacted in case of an emergency (ambulance, police, pastor, parents, etc.)? 54

55 Archdiocesan Guide for Ministerial Services with Youth 55

56 Does our activity fit into this category? Here are some questions that might help you determine whether or not your event fits into this category. What is the intent of your program? o Is the event s primary design/purpose for your parish/school but it is open to others? o If you could only advertize the event in your parish/school/deanery would you still have the event? o Is its primary design/purpose for all youth in the Archdiocese? If you answered yes to questions 1 and 2, then you do not need to fill this out. However, the process may help you in your planning. If you answered yes to question 3, then we do invite you to help us out by filling out the information and returning to: Youth Ministry, Box 4130, Omaha, NE

57 Archdiocesan Guide for Ministerial Services with Youth INTRODUCTION In recent years there has been a tremendous increase in efforts toward youth ministry in our nation. Many parishes and schools are providing new and creative activities to meet the growing demand for spiritually enriching experiences for young people. In addition, many are utilizing outside resources for these services. The number of opportunities for youth in the Catholic Church and the number of youth participating in these opportunities is indeed encouraging. With this great movement however, it is becoming increasingly necessary to establish a means by which we can all support and collaborate with each other, effectively communicating and coordinating with each other regarding youth ministry efforts. The following guidelines approved by Archbishop George J. Lucas are designed to facilitate the awareness of and communication among the various youth ministry efforts in our archdiocese. Further, these guidelines will help ensure that all youth ministries utilize a healthy structure and implementation, and meet safe environment criteria. These guidelines are not meant to discourage people from planning programs, activities and events. They are meant to ensure that youth ministry efforts fall within the goals and vision outlined in Renewing the Vision, A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1997) and the Challenge of Adolescent Catechesis (National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, 1986). Please see the enclosed Components of Youth Ministry for guidance. When planning any function where youth between the ages of 7 th -12 th grade are invited to gather for a ministry event, either a onetime event or ongoing, and you actively recruit youth from outside of your parish, school, or organization, you are asked to review these guidelines, complete the attached form and return it to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis-Youth Ministry. This will help the Coordinator of Youth Ministry in the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis respond to questions about particular programs, activities and/or events and, if necessary, guide you in any further actions you might need to take. The Coordinator of Youth Ministry will gladly help with promotion once the completed forms have been received and reviewed. YOUTH MINISTRY and CATECHETICAL Guidelines 1. Youth ministry is to enflesh and implement the three goals of youth ministry as articulated by the bishops in Renewing the Vision. A. Calling young people to be disciples of Jesus, challenging them to lives of service, calling them to roles of leadership. B. Leading young people to responsible participation in the life of the faith community, seeing parish life as the curriculum for fostering authentic Catholic identity. C. Fostering the total personal and spiritual growth of young people, enhancing their internal and external assets, deepening their spiritual life and knowledge of church teachings. 2. Youth ministry is to foster unity in the church by supporting and enhancing a unity of participation in the life of the parish and in the Archdiocese. 3. Youth ministry efforts are to be in collaboration with the archdiocesan leadership charged with developing a comprehensive ministry to, with, for, and by young people. This collaboration involves good communication with archdiocesan offices, consultations concerning calendars and planning, and sharing of program schedules, content, and resources. 4. Catechetical efforts: Respond to the developmental, social, and cultural needs of adolescence. Respect the variability in maturation and learning needs of adolescence. Use a variety of learning formats, environments, schedules, and educational techniques. 5. Please contact us at any time with your questions. Rita Ramos, Coordinator of Youth Ministry, Approved by Archbishop George J. Lucas, February,

58 EVENT INFORMATION FORM For help with any part of this form please call the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Date: Name of Program: Contact Person: Phone: Address: City/State/Zip Date/Place/Length of ministry event Meeting schedule: One-time only Monthly Weekly Daily Other: Please specify Target audience (check all that apply): Male Female Jr. high age High school age Anticipated number of youth Name of sponsoring organization/individual: Affiliated with National/Local Organizations? If so, please list: Organization Website (if applicable); Attached is a full schedule or outline of program format. Yes No YOUTH MINISTRY CRITERIA In Renewing the Vision, a Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, the United States Conference of Bishops clearly emphasizes the goals of ministry with adolescents as ones of empowerment, participation and growth. The primary purpose/goal of this program is (check all that apply): Community life Advocacy Pastoral care Catechetical Evangelization Prayer and worship Leadership Development Justice and service Empowerment How does your program evangelize, call young people to discipleship, provide opportunities for youth to discover their gifts and talents, provide opportunities to do service? Participation within Parish Life What opportunities are provided for integration of youth into the life and mission of their parish? Growth How does your program support the development of healthy competent, caring and faith-filled youth? In what ways does it promote Catholic identity? 58

59 UNITY: How does this program build up parish life and enhance youth participation in parish life? How will you communicate with the parish communities from which the young people come? (i.e. preparation, follow-up) COLLABORATION: With which parish, school or diocesan organization(s) are you collaborating? Have you checked with appropriate offices to avoid conflicts in scheduling? (i.e. Catholic School Office, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, etc.) Yes No Which offices? SAFE ENVIRONMENT CRITERIA Please review the Guidelines, Procedures and Recommendations before answering the following questions at (check all that apply) All leaders are 21 years of age or older and are in compliance with the archdiocesan safe environment policy. All leaders have undergone background checks There is an appropriate adult-student ratio (adult must be 21 yrs of age) All youth participants have submitted signed permission and medical/release forms. All parents have been fully informed (in writing) about the activities in which their children will be involved. There are current phone numbers to contact parents in case of an emergency. All applicable travel arrangements are in compliance with the archdiocesan guidelines All applicable sleeping arrangements are in compliance with the archdiocesan guidelines First aid provisions are available and accessible An emergency evacuation plan has been established For non-parish, non-archdiocesan groups: List insurance/liability coverage Primary carrier: RETURN A COPY OF THIS TO: Office of Evangelization and Catechesis Youth Ministry Box 4130 Omaha, NE

60 COMPONENTS OF YOUTH MINISTRY (The following are taken from Renewing the Vision, which may be accessed at: archomaha.org/education/cffo/pdf/2005/renewingthevisiondocument.pdf) ADVOCACY The ministry of advocacy engages the church to examine its priorities and practices to determine how well young people are integrated into the life, mission and work of the Catholic community. It places adolescents and families first by analyzing every policy and program diocesan, parish, domestic and international for its impact on adolescents and families. Poor, vulnerable and at-risk adolescents have first claim on our common efforts. (Page 27) CATECHESIS The ministry of catechesis, helps adolescents develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and the Christian community, and increase their knowledge of the core content of the Catholic faith. The ministry of catechesis also helps young people enrich and expand their understanding of the Scriptures and the Sacred Tradition and the application to life today, and live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ in their daily lives, especially through a life of prayer, justice and loving service. (Page 29) COMMUNITY LIFE The ministry of community life builds an environment of love, support, appreciation for diversity, and acceptance which models Catholic principles, develops meaningful relationships, and nurtures Catholic faith. To teach compassion, generosity, peace, forgiveness, acceptance, and love as gospel values and to identify ourselves as Christians requires us to live these values in our interactions with young people and in our community life. (Page 34) EVANGELIZATION The ministry of evangelization shares the good news of the reign of God and invites young people to hear about the Word Made Flesh. The starting point for the ministry of evangelization is our recognition of the presence of God already in young people, their experiences, their families, and their culture Evangelization, therefore, enables young people to uncover and name the experience of God already active and present in their lives. This provides openness to the gift of the Good News of Jesus Christ. (Page 36) JUSTICE AND SERVICE The ministry of justice and service nurtures in young people a social consciousness and a commitment to a life of justice and service rooted in their faith in Jesus Christ, in the Scriptures, and in Catholic social teaching; empowers young people to work for justice by concrete efforts to address the causes of human suffering, to serve those in need, to pursue peace, and to defend the life, dignity, and rights of all people; infuses the concepts of justice, peace, and human dignity into all ministry efforts. (Page 38) LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT The ministry of leadership development calls forth, affirms, and empowers the diverse gifts, talents, and abilities of adults and young people in our faith communities for comprehensive ministry with adolescents. Leadership roles in adolescent ministry are key. Leaders must be trained and encouraged. This approach involves a wide diversity of adult and youth leaders in a variety of roles. (Page 40) PASTORAL CARE The ministry of pastoral care is a compassionate presence in imitation of Jesus care of people, especially those who are struggling or suffering and in need. The ministry of pastoral care involves promoting positive adolescent and family development through a variety of positive (preventive) strategies; caring for adolescents and families in crisis through support, counseling, and referral to appropriate community agencies; providing guidance as young people face life decisions and make moral choices; challenging systems that are obstacles to positive development. (Page 42) PRAYER AND WORSHIP The ministry of prayer and worship celebrates and deepens young people s relationship with Jesus Christ through communal prayer and liturgical experiences; it awakens their awareness of the spirit at work in their lives; it incorporates young people more fully into the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Eucharist; it nurtures the personal prayer life of young people; and it fosters family rituals and prayer. (Page 44) 60

61 Appendix 61

62 SAMPLE JOB DESCRIPTION This is a sample job description for a professional full-time Coordinator of Youth Ministry working in a large parish. A job description should be written to meet the specific needs of the parish. I. Position Title: Coordinator of Youth Ministry II. Primary Function of This Position: The Coordinator of Youth Ministry (CYM) is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Parish in providing Comprehensive Youth Ministry for junior high and senior high youth. III. Working Relationships: 1. Accountable to the Pastor and functions as part of the Parish Pastoral Staff. 2. Assesses and continues developing Comprehensive Youth Ministry embracing advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, prayer and worship, and pastoral care. 3. Maintains contact with the Archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry, gains familiarity with Diocesan policies and guidelines. 4. Works in concert with heads of ministry, clergy, staff, parish council, and area schools. 5. Facilitates the harmonious working together of the various personnel and programs that embody the parish youth ministry efforts. IV. Pastoral Staff Responsibilities: 1. Maintains communication with the Pastor and other staff members. 2. Attends staff meetings and events. 3. Acts as staff resource person on issues relating to youth ministry and adolescent faith formation. V. Administrative Responsibilities: 1. Maintains communication with youth through bulletin announcements, event flyers, and newsletters. 2. Prepares and monitors a youth ministry budget. 3. Recruits, trains, and supervises all youth ministry personnel, including catechists. 4. Arranges for every minister to youth to be knowledgeable about the Diocesan Ethics and Personal Conduct Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, and to assure that the signed documents are maintained. 5. Maintains a working inventory of all youth ministry resources, including textbooks, teacher s manuals, resource books, youth room furniture and supplies, athletic equipment, retreat kits, and general supplies. 6. Provides Medical and Liability Release forms for youth to participate in youth ministry sponsored events. 7. Offers sufficient training and referral resources to handle teens with special needs. 8. Maintains accurate records, student attendance, volunteer training, etc. Youth Oriented Areas of Responsibility: 1. Designs and maintains a comprehensive youth ministry process to meet the needs of early and older adolescents (7th - 12th grades), and adapts to changes in the youth culture. 2. Presents programs designed for special needs (i.e., sexuality catechesis, drugs and alcohol awareness, depression and suicide prevention, etc.) 62

63 Advocacy Stands with and speaks on behalf of young people and their families on public issues that affect their lives (education, health care, safe neighborhoods, etc. Encourages the parish to examine its practice of fully integrating early and older adolescents into the life of the Church. networks with other Coordinators of Youth Ministry Coordinates the production and distribution of a youth ministry newsletter/update for teens and their parents. Develops partnerships and initiatives with leaders to develop a shared vision and strategies for building a healthy community (schools, Boys and Girl Scouts, etc.) Empowers young people by giving them a voice and calling them to responsibility and accountability (education, leadership training, skills building, etc.) Encourages youth participation in Archdiocesan youth events Catechesis Provides developmentally appropriate content and processes. Integrates knowledge of the Catholic faith with the development of practical skills for living the faith in today s world. Engages adolescents in the learning process by incorporating a variety of learning methods and activities through which they can explore and learn about Scripture and the Catholic faith. Provides for real-life application of learning by helping youth apply the learning to living more faithfully. Promotes family faith development through parish-school programs by providing parent education programs and resources, by incorporating a family perspective in catechetical programming, and by providing parent-adolescent and intergenerational catechetical programming. Incorporates a variety of program approaches (parish at large, small group, home-based, self-directed, independent, etc.) Explicitly invites young people to explore the possibility of a personal call to ministry and the beauty of the total gift of self for the sake of the Reign of God. Community Life Develops the friendship-making and friendship-maintaining skills of young people grounded in Christian values. Engages adolescents in the life, activities, and ministries of the parish in meaningful and age-appropriate ways. Creates an environment characterized by Gospel values that nurtures meaningful relationships among young people and between adolescents and adults. Provides opportunities for multicultural community building that promotes respect for young people's racial and ethnic cultures and develops the skills for communication and understanding. Provides avenues for adolescents to participate as members of the faith community and opportunities for the faith community to acknowledge, celebrate, and value its adolescent members. 63

64 Evangelization Calls young people to follow Jesus in a life of discipleship. Invites young people personally into the life and mission of the Catholic community. Calls young people to be evangelizers of other young people, their families, and the community. Justice and Service Engages young people in discovering the call to justice and service in the Scriptures, in the life of Jesus, and in Catholic social teachings. Involves adolescents and their families in actions of direct service to those in need and in efforts to address the causes of injustice and inequity. Develops the assets, skills, and faith of young people by promoting Gospel values in their lifestyle choices. Nurtures lifelong commitment to service and justice involvement. Leadership Development Develops a leadership system that invites, trains, supports, and nourishes adult and adolescent leaders and provides for the coordination throughout a comprehensive model. Develops and nurtures adult leaders with solid theological understandings, relational and ministry skills, and organizational ability appropriate to their particular role in ministry with adolescents. Empowers and enables all young people for leadership and ministry with their peers and with the larger church. Pastoral Care Develops the life skills of adolescents, such as relationship building, assertiveness, nonviolent conflict resolution, decision-making, and planning. Creates networks of care and support for young people and their families. Provides programs and resources for parent education and skills for effective parenting that incorporate understanding of adolescent development and family life cycle tasks. Guides young people in making important life decisions. Referral skills: knowing the support services and referral resources to promote healing. Provides support and enrichment for adolescents and parents experiencing divorce, separation, or family problems. Prayer and Worship Plans and implements specific liturgical celebrations for youth. Provides opportunities with parish worship committee for youth participation in parish liturgical celebrations and events. Encourages and assists in the formation of youth as worship leaders. 64

65 Base Salary COMPUTING A YOUTH MINISTERS COORDINATOR S SALARY Determine the base salary by using the teacher s starting salary scale for your parish or local public schools. Make sure you make the adjustment for a 12 month contract. (i.e. most school contracts are for 10 months). $ Other Salary Considerations Education and Experience Education A bachelor s degree with twelve hours (undergraduate or graduate) in youth Ministry, theology, or religious studies (add 2.5 % of base). A single master s degree with an additional twelve graduate hours in pastoral theology, religious studies, or youth ministry (add 7.5% of base salary). A second master s degree in theology, youth ministry, pastoral ministry, religious studies, or education with a focus in theology or religious studies (add 15 % of base salary). $ $ $ Experience Number of years of experience in parish administration of youth ministry (add 1.25%) of base salary for each year. $ Management Responsibilities Size of parish Over 3,000 parishioners (add 5 % of base salary) From 2,000 to 3,000 parishioners (add 4% of base salary) From 1,000 to 1,999 parishioners (add 3% of base salary) From 500 to 999 parishioners (add 2% of base salary) Under 500 parishioners (add 1% of base salary). $ $ $ $ $ 65

66 Scope of Responsibility Beyond Older Adolescents (15-18 year olds) early adolescents (10-14 year olds) (add 0.5% of base salary) young adults (19-30 year olds) (add 0.5% of base salary) other, for example, family centered programming or marriage preparation (add 0.5% of base salary for each) $ $ $ Number of Personnel Supervised Personnel who are directly accountable to the coordinator, including Catechists, custodians, secretaries, aids (both volunteer and paid) Up to 10 persons (add 10% of base salary) Up to 25 persons (add 15% of base salary) More than 25 persons (add 20% of base salary) $ $ $ Work hours The normal work week should be 40 hours. Additional hours per week should be compensated. Average hours (add 2.5% of base salary) Average 51 or more hours a week (add 5% of base salary) $ $ Total Salary $ Employer s Portion of FICA Fringe Benefits (not subject to withholding) $ $ Health and life insurance for coordinator and dependents Retirement program Professional in-service allowance Paid vacation time Sick leave Total Salary and Benefits $ 66

67 SAMPLE YOUTH MINISTRY BUDGET Title Description Budget $ Supplies Travel/Mileage Staff Development Office and computer supplies, poster board, markers, paper, etc. Travel and gas reimbursements for staff and volunteers Continuing education, workshops, seminars for professional development Library/Resources Books, magazines, audio tapes, videos Recreation Equipment Balls, bats, frisbees, ping pong balls Social Activities Retreats Rentals and fees, program supplies, prizes, decorations Bus, supplies, site fees, food, Scholarships Presenters/Speakers Fees and mileage Youth Leadership Development Adult Leadership Development Trainings and seminars Trainings, seminars, conferences Service Programs Service Trips, project expenses Publicity/Outreach Newsletter, birthday/thank you cards Youth Conferences Scholarships, expenses Hospitality Refreshments for meetings/events, appreciation dinners Salary and Benefits For Coordinator of Youth Ministry Miscellaneous Oops, where does this go? Capital Equipment Stereo, overhead projector Administration Stationery, postage, copies, bank charges, file folders, paper clips These are guidelines based on information from Catholic parishes engaged in youth ministry. They are not meant to define or to limit. 67

68 SAMPLE GUIDELINES FOR ADULT CHAPERONES As an adult chaperone, you set an example for the young people who are participating in a particular event. The following is what is required of you as a chaperone. All adult chaperones are responsible for helping to enforce the Code of Behavior and should use the Code as a guide for their own behavior. Adult chaperones must be at least 21 years old. However, young adult leaders not yet 21 should follow the same guidelines. Adult chaperones are expected to abide by the policies and procedures of the parish/school/archdiocese. Adult participants are expected to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages for the duration of the event, as well as during their travels to and from the event. The possession or use of illegal drugs by any individual will not be tolerated. No weapon of any kind may be possessed by a participant, youth or adult. The following are suggestions only about what you might typically do as chaperone during the event. If you have any questions about what to do as a chaperone, check with your group leader. Adults, as well as youth, are expected to attend all activities. During all activities, and especially a dance or other social activities, adult chaperones should be available in the building where the activity takes place to supervise all youth. Young people may be assigned a specific adult chaperone who will be responsible for their behavior throughout the event. Bullying and troublesome youth should be dealt with immediately. It is suggested that adult chaperones make arrangements each day to check in with their young people, and that this be done in the morning, sometime during the afternoon, and in the evening. This gives adults the opportunity to share with the youth what they have learned, answer questions, and have "downtime" at the end of each busy day with the young people. Adult chaperones should review the Code and related guidelines with the youth assigned to them. It is suggested that adult chaperones go over and help youth become familiar with the layout of the facilities where activities will take place, as well as to help assure that the young people understand important safety information. Adult chaperones may designate an area where youth can locate their chaperone. Adult chaperones are responsible for enforcing the group's curfew and for keeping noise to a minimum in at night. The group leader sets the group's curfew. Adult chaperones do not have the authority to extend it. It is suggested that adult chaperones check rooms periodically after curfew to make sure the young people remain in their rooms. If an adult chaperone must go into a sleeping room with youth, especially of the opposite sex, it is recommended that a second adult chaperone be present with them. Adults are asked not to go anywhere during the event where the youth may not go with them. (i.e. cocktail lounges, bars, etc.). Adults should address immediately any situation in which youth are engaging inappropriate behavior. Smoking is discouraged, however, adults who do smoke, must use a designated smoking area that is away from the activity. Be discrete I, as an adult attending the event, agree to abide by these guidelines. Group leaders must assure that each adult in their group agrees to follow these guidelines. 68

69 SAMPLE YOUTH CODE OF BEHAVIOR We are happy and excited that you are joining us as part of (Name of Program). The Code of Behavior has been developed as a way of helping participants understand what is expected of them during the event, and of making the learning experience a healthy and growthful one for all involved. Please read through the Code carefully, as you will be expected to honor and uphold it throughout your time with us. As necessary as rules are to maintain order, they can t and won t guarantee a successful event experience. Success depends on people s willingness to work together for the common good. Participants take part in (Name of Program) as part of a parish or school team. The recommending adult leader of each team maintains primary responsibility for the actions of his/her team members. The families of participants assume responsibility for any damage done to the housing facilities. While participating in the (Name of Program) we ask that you do not invite friends who are not part of the program to come and visit you. We also ask that you refrain from all texting during the program, especially while sessions are going on. This may result in the removal of your phone for the time of the session. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and community activities. Name badges should be worn during all program activities. Dress throughout the (Name of Program) experience is casual but appropriate for a Christian environment, however shirts and shoes are required in all areas except the dormitories. T- shirts/sweatshirts with alcohol, tobacco or sexual overtones are not acceptable, nor is clothing exposing any part of under garments. Sleepwear is only permitted in the sleep areas. Socializing should take place only in the designated public area of the housing facility. No visiting is allowed in sleeping areas occupied by the opposite sex without the permission and presence of an adult leader. Christian behavior is expected at all times. Respect for individuals, the community and the facilities is required. Teasing, harassment (this includes bullying), sexual jokes, inappropriate displays of affection, and other demeaning behavior are considered inappropriate for this Christian environment. Each day will be a busy one-making adequate sleep a necessity. Participants must be in their respective rooms by curfew time. The noise level in the sleeping areas should be kept to a minimum. Scheduled quiet and silent times must be honored. (Name of Parish/School) adheres to the State Statutes in regards to tobacco products, therefore tobacco products are not allowed by anyone under the age of 18. The purchase, possession or consumption of alcohol or drugs by participants will result in immediate dismissal from the program. Major infractions of the Code of Behavior and other inappropriate behavior will meet with the same consequences. Parent or Guardian: I agree that my child shall abide by the rules and regulations outlined in the (Name of Program) Code of Behavior, I have reviewed it and discussed the Code with my child prior to signing this form. I agree that if my child fails to consistently abide by the Code or engages in a serious infraction of the Code, he or she may be immediately dismissed from the (Name of Program) and sent home at my expense. This also may mean unaccompanied in certain circumstances. Signature Date Youth Participant: I understand and agree to the (Name of Program) Code of Behavior, I also understand that my parent(s) or guardian will be notified at the time of any infractions requiring my dismissal from the program and that I will be sent home at my own or their expense. (Your signature must appear below in order to participate in the (Name of Program). Signature: Date: 69

70 SENDING A YOUNG PERSON HOME Occasionally it is necessary to send a young person home from an event because of his or her behavior. If, for instance, the rules clearly state (see Code of Behavior) that boys and girls are not allowed in each other s sleeping rooms, and you find that some boys (or girls) have left their own rooms in the middle of the night and are hanging out in the girls (or boys ) rooms, the event leader should send those involved home. They have clearly violated the Code of Behavior. This checklist will help you handle such a situation effectively and pastorally. If the action in question is illegal in nature, the event leader must notify the authorities and separate the young people from the rest of the group before contacting the parents. NOTE: A pastoral response is paramount. If the behavior occurs in the middle of the night, for instance, it would be appropriate to wait until morning to deal with the consequences, so long as the event leader has addressed the action and informed the young people of the consequences. Adult leaders should treat the young people as the gifts from God they are and make every effort to ensure that nothing is said or done by the adults or other participants to cause embarrassment or humiliation for the young people who face expulsion from the event. In addition, adults must refrain from joking about the behavior in question with other adults or with young people. The event leader and the young person (people) should discuss the Code of Behavior violation. It is appropriate to seek an explanation for the behavior and to discuss the implications of that behavior on the rest of the group, the event, the reputation of the parish/school, etc. The event leader and other adults should discuss the infraction to ensure that the facts of the situation are accurate. Only the facts, and not opinions, frustration, or anger, are to be part of the discussion. The event leader should call the young person s parents and inform the parents to pick up their child/ren as soon as possible. As a general rule, refunds are not offered to young people who are sent home. When the parents arrive, the young person should be with the event leader when the event leader meets the parents. The young person should be a part of the conversation that ensues unless the parent asks the young person to remove him/herself. The event leader should encourage parents to discuss the situation with their children. The parents and/or event leader should encourage the child to consider apologizing to the rest of the group and to adult leaders at a later date. The young person should be encouraged to return to future events. 70

71 DEALING WITH BULLYING Bullying is not a problem that youth can solve themselves. It is a power struggle that is difficult to change with out the help of an adult. In most cases, it will require only a few minutes to stop the behavior, especially if you act immediately and in a consistent manner. When you see it Talk with the youth who are being aggressive. Explain the hurt they are causing Have them make amends to those who were harmed When you hear about it.. Take it seriously since young people usually go to adults with these problems as a last resort Listen and respond to all complaints. Even the seemingly trivial ones such as name-calling. What you can do.. Be aware of the social interactions among the youth in the group Arrange groupings to separate youth who tend to have negative interactions with others Place youth who tend to be left out of groups into one where they will be accepted Try to avoid situations that will victimize youth like activities that involve the picking teams or group partners Cyberbullying is different from other forms of bullying in a number of ways. While bullying is something that is often under the radar screen of adults, cyberbullying is even more so as today s youth. This generation is increasingly communicating in ways that are often unknown by adults and away from their supervision. Victims of cyberbullying are often also afraid to report to adults about being cyberbullied, as they also fear that adults will over-react and take away their mobile phone, computer and/or Internet access. Taunting and teasing is not often criminal, but can escalate to that level. The harassment should be brought to the attention of the police if it involves any of the following: Repeated or excessive harassment with or without threats of harm. Encouraging or suggesting that a person kill themselves. Threatening to harm to a person, a person s property, a person s pet or anybody else. Threatening to kill a person, a person s pet or anybody else. Threatening to commit a crime. Fraudulently posting private information in a public forum. Posting private information such as names, addresses, phone numbers or addresses in a public forum, chat room or on a web site when a reasonable person would know that doing so will put the target at risk or open them up to new harassment. If the acts are clearly criminal, you should save the evidence to the best of your ability. Do not erase text messages or s. **There is a state law (LB 205) that requires schools to develop and adopt a policy concerning bullying prevention and education for all students. The Catholic schools are exempt however the Archdiocesan Catholic School Office does have a policy that has been passed on to the Catholic schools. Check with your local school office for a copy of this policy. 71

72 SAMPLE BUS GUIDELINES 1. Adults should be spread out throughout the bus. This is necessary, not just for supervision, but because many times the bus ride to and from places is where community is built. This means that the entire community needs to get to know each other. 2. If it is an overnight trip or extended bus ride where young people will be sleeping, young people should sit BOY-BOY, GIRL-GIRL during the sleeping hours. 3. Set quiet time hours, especially for overnight travel. 4. Possible quiet time can be 11:00 pm -7:00 am. If school is being missed you might want to set a 2 nd quite time to allow for young people to do homework. 5. Movies must be PG or PG Guidelines and consequences set out in the code of behavior are to be followed. 7. Before dismissing the young people from the bus, make a walk through and make sure trash is all picked up and no damage has been done to the bus. 72

73 SAMPLE INAPPROPRIATE DRESS Low riding pants that expose underwear Tops that expose undergarments Tops or shorts that expose mid-drift area either while standing or while seated Low cut tops 73

74 Clothing advertising: alcohol, tobacco or messages that can be construed as a SAMPLE sexual innuendo CONSENT or other AND non-christian LIABILITY message WAIVER PARENTAL/GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM AND LIABILITY WAIVER Participant s name Birth date: Sex Parent/Guardian s name: Home address Street City Zip Home phone: Business phone: I,, grant permission for my youth,, Parent or guardian s name Youth s name to participate in this Archdiocesan youth ministry event that is located away from the parish/school site. This activity will take place under the guidance and direction of Archdiocesan parish/campus youth ministers and/or volunteers from parishes/schools. A brief description of the event follows: Name of Event: Purpose of Event: Location: Date and Time of event: Transportation: As parent and/or guardian, I remain legally responsible for any personal actions taken by the above named minor ( participant ). I agree on behalf of myself, my child named herein, or heirs, successors, and assigns, to hold harmless and defend, its officers, directors and agents, and the Name of sponsoring Parish/School Archdiocese of Omaha, chaperons, or representatives associated with the event arising from or in connection with my child attending the event or in connection with any illness or injury or cost of medical treatment in connection therewith and I agree to compensate the parish/school, its officers, directors and agents, an the Archdiocese of Omaha, chaperons, or representatives associated with the event for reasonable attorney s fees and expenses which may incur in any action brought against them as a result of such injury or damage, unless such claim arises from the negligence of the parish/diocese. Signature: Date: 74

75 Photo Release: Pictures of my child taken during the event may be used in print or electronic media for the purposes of publicity for future events, unless I indicate to the Archdiocesan Coordinator of Youth Ministry in writing to the contrary. Participant Name SAMPLE MEDICAL MATTERS I hereby warrant that to the best of my knowledge, my child is in good health, and I assume all responsibility for the health of my child. (Of the following statements pertaining to medical matters, sign only those that are applicable.) Emergency Medical Treatment: In the event of an emergency, I hereby give permission to transport my child to a hospital for emergency medical or surgical treatment. I wish to be advised prior to any further treatment by the hospital or doctor. In the event of an emergency, if you are unable to reach me at the above numbers, contact: Name & relationship: Phone: Family doctor: Phone: Family Health Plan Carrier: Policy #: Signature: Date: Other Medical Treatment: (In the event it comes to the attention of the parish/school, its officers, directors and agents, and the Archdiocese of Omaha, chaperones, or representatives associated with the activity that my child becomes ill with symptoms such as headache, vomiting, sore throat, fever, diarrhea, I want to be called collect (with phone charges reverse to myself), Signature: Date: Medications: My child is taking medication at present. MY child will bring all such medications necessary, and such medications will be well-labeled. Names of medications and concise directions for taking such medications, including dosage and frequency of dosage, are as follows: (My child will take responsibility for taking these as described). Signature: Date: Sign a or b, not both a) No medication of any type, whether prescription or non-prescription, may be administered to my child unless the situation is life-threatening and emergency treatment is required. Signature: Date: b) I hereby grant permission for non-prescription medication (such as aspirin, throat lozenges, cough syrup) to be given to my child, if deemed appropriate. Signature: Date: Specific Medical Information: The parish/school/archdiocese will take reasonable care to see that the following information will be held in confidence. Allergic reactions (medications, foods, plants, insects, etc.): Immunizations: Date of last tetanus/diphtheria immunization: Does the child have a medically prescribed diet? Any physical limitations? Is the child subject to chronic homesickness, emotional reactions to new situations, sleepwalking, fainting? Has the child recently been exposed to contagious disease or conditions, such as mumps, measles, chickenpox, etc? If so, date and disease or condition: 75

76 You should be aware of these special medical conditions of my child: SAMPLE FIELD TRIP Release of Liability Statement If a private passenger vehicle must be used, the following information must be supplied and certified by the driver in question. The driver must be 21 years of age or older. The driver must have a valid, non-probationary driver s license and no physical disability that could in any way impair his/her ability to drive the vehicle safely. The vehicle must have a valid and current registration and valid and current license plate. The vehicle must be insured for the following minimum limits: $100,000 per person/$300,000 per occurrence. We the parent or legal guardian of do hereby release from any liability, Church, any and all adult sponsors or church staff in the event of any accident en route, during, and returning from. Date: Signature (parent or guardian): If you choose to use this form, then the 4 points stated above must be checked. 76

77 FIELD TRIP DRIVER Driver Information SheetHEET Name Address Driver s License # Vehicle That Will Be Used Name of Owner Address of Owner License Plate # Registration Expiration Date Driver Date of Birth Social Security # Phone # Date of Expiration Model of Vehicle Make of Vehicle Year of Vehicle Date of Expiration If more than one vehicle is to be used, the aforementioned information must be provided for each vehicle. Insurance Information When using a privately-owned vehicle, the insurance coverage is the limit of the insurance policy covering that specific vehicle. Insurance Company Policy # Date of Policy Expiration Liability Limits of Policy* (*Please note: The minimal, acceptable liability limit for privately-owned vehicles is $100,000/$300,000) In order to provide for the safety of our students or other members of the parish and those we serve, we must ask each volunteer driver to list all accidents or moving violations they have had in the past five years: Please be aware that as a volunteer driver, your insurance is primary. There is a policy that would offer additional liability protection should a claim exceed the limits of your policy. Certification I certify that the information given on this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that as a volunteer driver, I must be 21 years of age or older, possess a valid driver s license, have the proper and current license and vehicle registration, and have the required insurance coverage in effect on any vehicle used to transport students. Signature Date 77

78 SAMPLE ACCIDENT REPORTING FORM Name of Parish Person(s) Injured Date of Accident Place of Accident Person Filing Report Time/Date of Report Description of Accident (Include time, location, and names of all the people who were involved or who witnessed the accident. Please be specific.) (please continue of back of page if necessary) ActionTaken Comments or Pertinent Information Signature of Person Filing Report Date Date 78

79 SAMPLE INCIDENT REPORTING FORM Name of Parish Person(s) Involved in Incident Date of Incident Place of Incident Person Filing Report Date of Report Incident Description (Include time, location, and names of all people involved or who witnessed the incident. Please be specific) (Please continue on back of page if necessary) Action taken Other Comments or Pertinent Information Signature of Person Filing Report Date 79

80 Archdiocese of Omaha Abuse Reporting Form PARISH/SCHOOL Address: Types of suspected abuse (check all that apply): Sexual Abuse Physical Abuse Physical Neglect Failure to Thrive Emotional Abuse Emotional Neglect Abandonment High Risk Notification of authorities (indicate date of call to each that applies): Law Enforcement Agency/Dept: Officer/Detective s name: Badge# Criminal Report Informational Report Child/Youth Placed Child Protective Services worker: Identifying Information: Identified Child/Youth Race Sex DOB Involved or at Risk Siblings: Parent/Guardian Address City State Zip Phone Significant Other/Family Member Alleged Perpetrator (if Known): Address City/State Phone Person making Report: Phone Parish/School Information ( fill out ONLY what is pertinent to this report): Date of Concern: Parish program/school this report originated from (such as Religious Education, Youth group, classroom, before/after school care, parent/staff interaction) is: Pastor: Phone Principal: Phone Homeroom Teacher : Phone Other Teacher/Staff Phone Other Parish Staff Phone Significant Others Phone Any Physical findings: Relevant Past History: Present Agencies Involved: Name of Child/Youth 80

81 OBSERVATIONS: Physical/ Emotional State of Child: Physical/Emotional State of Parent: Parent/Child Interactions: Narrative: (Nature, Extent & conditions which would reasonably result in suspected abuse/neglect, describe any evidence of previous abuse/neglect concerns& any other information that would be helpful in understanding the cause of the suspected abuse/neglect) Reporter signature & position: Phone Date Pastor/Principal: Phone Date Date of Report: 81

82 Other Resources 82

83 USING MOVIES TO TEACH Preview. Always preview the movie that you will be using with young people. Prepare. Put the movie/clip into context for the young people. Help them to see how it fits into the learning. Let the students know what it is you would like them to watch for that might be part of the processing afterwards. Pick and choose. While watching a movie in its entirety may hold some value, you may also be able to achieve the same goals by choosing certain clips. After previewing the movie, decide what it is you really want youth to learn or reflect upon and how best will the movie help to do that. Permissions. If the movie is rated R, get written permission from their parents, even if you are just showing clips. It may be advantageous to let the parents know how the movie or the clip will be used in the learning process. As you decide how to promote or use R rated movies, you would be wise to do so cautiously and prayerfully and in ways that are consistent with the ministry context God has put you in. Process. Make sure you have a process ready to use to help the young people unpack the film after the viewing. Step One. Awareness This is an exploration step to be used before the TV show, song, video, or movie is consumed. How would you prepare an individual or a group to listen to or watch this media presentation? What themes, ideas, or questions should they be aware of and thinking about as it begins? Step Two. Listen To or Watch the Media Presentation. Step Three. Analysis This is the step in which people look deeply at various issues related to the song, TV show, commercials, videos, etc. that have been heard or seen. How would you get people thinking and maybe discussing the way your media presentation either responsibly or irresponsibly talked about human relationships, images of males, images of females, how to be happy or fulfilled, the purpose of life, and other important life issues, social issues, and social problems? Try to be creative. Step Four. Christian Reflection This step basically addresses the question, "So what's the big deal?" The goal here is to help individuals or groups to name how the media presentation was either in line with or out of whack with one's personal values, with the gospel and Christian values, and/or the way that one(s) hearing/seeing the media presentation imagines "the way things ought to be." How would you help people think about and discuss their personal beliefs and values, true Christian beliefs and values, and their personal visions and dreams in relationship to the media presentation you have been working with? Try to be creative with this. Step Five. Action This is something done as a result of what has been discovered through the first four steps. What activity could you design to help an individual or a group of people to decide what they will do as a response to the media presentation and their thoughts and feelings about it? 83

84 ADOLESCENT CATECHESIS LEARNING PROCESS How do we share with young people the Good News of Jesus Christ and the wisdom of the Catholic Tradition in ways appropriate to their development, culture, language and symbols and, at the same time, in ways that will lead to understanding, reflection, and transformation? The Challenge of Adolescent Catechesis offers a process for adolescent catechesis that seeks to connect the life world of youth with the Catholic Christian tradition. This process can be translated into all of our catechetical efforts. We can design learning experiences, retreat experiences, programs which embody the central dynamic of engaging the life of the adolescent with the Christian tradition and fostering the kind of interaction that helps young people reflect on the wisdom of the tradition. How do we share with young people the Good News of Jesus Christ and the wisdom of the Catholic Tradition in ways appropriate to their development, culture, language and symbols and, at the same time, in ways that will lead to understanding, reflection, and transformation? The Challenge of Adolescent Catechesis offers a process for adolescent catechesis that seeks to connect the life world of youth with the Catholic Christian tradition. This process can be translated into all of our catechetical efforts. We can design learning experiences, retreat experiences, programs which embody the central dynamic of engaging the life of the adolescent with the Christian tradition and fostering the kind of interaction that helps young people reflect on the wisdom of the tradition. Step 1: Focusing Activity (Grab the attention) What methods will you select to engage the young people experientially in the issue, topic or concept of the session? Suggested Learning Methods: group activity, story, poem, rock music and videos, a project, scripture reading, role playing, field trip, movie/video, simulation game, case study, creative art/creative expression (art, sculpture, painting, etc.), demonstration, reflection questionnaire, dramatic presentation. Step 2: Naming Life Experience What method(s) will you select to engage the young people in expressing their own life experiences (knowing, action, feeling) in regard to the issue, topic or concept of the session? Suggested Learning Methods: reflection questionnaires, storytelling, drama/role playing, making and describing something, symbolizing or miming, creative art, case study, creative expression (art, sculpture, painting, etc.), dramatic presentation. Step 3: Sharing the Faith Message How will you creatively and imaginatively present the Faith Story? What methods will you select to present the Faith Story? How will you use scripture, tradition, and contemporary Church experience? What other resources will you use? Does your presentation reflect the most informed understanding of the Faith community on this topic? 84

85 Suggested Learning Methods: presentation, guest speaker, guided study (of the Scriptures), media (video, music), directed reading, group discussion, colloquy, paired reading review, research project, field trip, group project, demonstration, panel presentation/discussion, interview, debate, dramatic presentation; creating a role play, dramatization, a case study, audio-visual (video, slide show) symbol, poster, or advertisement that recasts the Faith Story in contemporary terms. Step 4: Integrating the Faith Message into Life What methods will you select to engage the participants in a dialogue between their life experience/story and the Faith Story of the Christian community? How will you help them express their question challenges and learning's? Suggested Learning Methods: reflection questionnaire comparing movement one and two responses with the movement three story; creative expression of one's learning by writing, creating a role play or a dramatization or a case study, group activity/discussion, imagination activities where young people envision how they can live the learning's from the session; creating a role play, dramatization, case study, audio-visual (video, slide show) symbol, poster, or advertisement that expresses learning's about the Faith Story in contemporary terms. Step 5: Living the Faith Message In light of the entire learning experience, what methods will you use to engage the participants in deciding on what actions to take as individuals, in their communities and in the world? Suggested Learning Methods: journaling, action plans, service projects, application projects, practice, prayer experience. Step 6: Making the Connection What are some ways that you can provide a transition for this catechetical session to the experiences of the community that precede and follow? How can you connect this sharing of the faith message with other aspects of youth ministry? How can you provide ways for youth to demonstrate their learning and share what they have learned with others? 85

86 Faith Themes The ministry of catechesis most effectively promotes the faith development of young and older adolescents when the curriculum is focused on important faith themes drawn from the teachings of the Church and on the developmental needs and life experiences of adolescents. The following faith themes have demonstrated their significance within the context of lifelong faith development and learning. Their selection is designed to "shed the light of the Christian message on the realities which have great impact on the adolescent" (GCD 84). This framework, organized around the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is offered as the basis of developing a catechetical curriculum for younger and older adolescents. Additional faith themes may need to be included to address local needs. (Renewing the Vision, 1997, 30-34) Faith Themes for Young Adolescents The Profession of Faith Catholic Beliefs understanding the Creed and the core beliefs of the Catholic faith. Holy Trinity introduction to God's unique self-revelation as three in one and some implications for living Christian faith and spiritual life. Jesus Christ exploring the meaning of the Incarnation, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, and the call to discipleship. Church understanding the origins of the Church in Jesus Christ and understanding and experiencing the history of the Church and its mission. The Sacraments of Faith Sacraments understanding the role of the sacraments in the Christian life and experiencing the Church's celebration of the sacraments. The Church understanding the reason for and beauty of the Church; identifying the necessity of the Church for our salvation. Church Year understanding the meaning of the liturgical seasons of the Church year and the scriptural teachings presented through the Lectionary. The Life of Faith Life in the Spirit understanding how the Spirit dwells in our midst in a new way since Pentecost and understanding that God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. The Dignity of the Human Person recognizing the divine image present in every human person. Morality and Living a Virtuous Life incorporating Catholic moral principles and virtues into one's life and moral decision making. Personal Growth discerning the Spirit at work in their lives and incorporating the Catholic vision of life into personal identity. Relationships developing and maintaining relationships based on Catholic values and the meaning of Christian community. Sexuality understanding the Church's teaching on sexual morality, understanding the Church's positive view of sexuality as a gift from God, and understanding the importance of valuing chastity and sexual restraint. Social Justice and Service understanding the importance of respecting the rights and responsibilities of the human person, appreciating our call to be stewards of creation, and discovering and living Jesus' call to a life of loving service. 86

87 Grace as Gift recognizing God's indwelling spirit in our lives and responding to this gift, which justifies and sanctifies us through God's law. Lifestyles and Vocation discerning how to live the Christian vocation in the world, in the workplace, and in marriage, single life, ministerial priesthood, permanent diaconate, or consecrated life. Prayer in the Life of Faith Christian Prayer understanding and experiencing the many forms of prayer in the Church especially prayer through the church year and the importance of the "Our Father" in Christian prayer. Faith Themes for Older Adolescents The Profession of Faith Jesus Christ discovering the meaning of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and what this means for living in Christ's spirit today. The Mystery of the Trinity understanding and experiencing the triune God. Revelation understanding the revelation of sacred scripture and sacred tradition. Old Testament developing the knowledge and tools to read the Old Testament and to understand its meaning and challenge for us today. The Gospels developing the knowledge and tools to read the Gospels and understand their meaning and challenge for us today. Paul and His Letters developing the knowledge and tools to read Paul's letters and to understand their meaning and challenge for us today. Faith and Identity exploring Catholic beliefs and what it means to live as a Catholic today The Sacraments of Faith Sacraments of Initiation, Healing, and at the Service of Communion understanding the sacraments and how they are both personal and ecclesial, evoking a response from each of us. Worship developing an understanding and skills for participating in the sacramental life of the Church, especially the eucharist. The Life of Faith Catholic Morality applying Catholic moral teachings to contemporary life situations as one encounters the many complexities in our world. Conscience, Virtue, and Sin understanding and uncovering the desire to turn toward God and to do good and to act in accordance with God's grace, understanding the meaning and impact of sin, and learning to make decisions in accordance with one's rightly formed conscience. Justice and Peace understanding that the Catholic faith calls people to work for justice, to pursue peace, and to defend human dignity, and developing skills to act for justice, peace, and human dignity. Lifestyles and Vocation discerning how to live the Christian vocation in the world, in the workplace, and in marriage, single life, ministerial priesthood, permanent diaconate, or consecrated life. Prayer in the Life of Faith Christian Prayer understanding and experiencing the variety of Christian prayer traditions and discovering and responding to the Spirit's personal invitation to develop a personal prayer life. 87

88 PLANNING GOOD SERVICE EXPERIENCES Phase One: Selecting Appropriate Service Sites Choose an agency that is youth-friendly and that values the work of young people while recognizing their age and maturity, and that will expose young people to the real needs and issues surrounding the service that they will be doing. Select an agency that is in need of the help your group or the individual can provide. Be specific about the size of your group, the age of the participants, and their past experience of service. Ask for an orientation from someone at the agency for the young people that will be focused and to the point. What does the agency do? Who is helped by the agency? How are the programs funded? How does the agency measure success? Have a contact at the agency and take a tour of the agency prior to the service experience. Be sure the working conditions are safe and appropriate for the age group of your participants. Phase Two: Good Preparation Explain why the service is needed and why Christians respond to these needs. Talk about what they will hear, see, and smell when they arrive at the service site and what they are likely to encounter there. Provide them with the training and skills needed to accomplish their tasks. Challenge them to be open to the experience and to do whatever is necessary, even if it is a job that they would not regularly want to do. Help them to set realistic expectations for the experience. Be sure that your adult supervisors are well prepared for the experience and will allow the young people to take the lead whenever possible. Phase Three: A Quality Service Experience Work with the agency s staff to ensure the service experience is meaningful and worth the time and energy that will be invested from both the young people and the agency. Spend the time on organizational details so that the experience is not lessened by lack of supplies, poor timing, etc. Think through your service opportunity and be ready to be flexible to handle new situations as they arise. Oftentimes service organizations can have emergencies that make it hard for them to give you attention. Will you be able to make the experience meaningful on your own? Ensure that the participants feel supported and accompanied in their service experience. Affirm people for their service and help them to see the benefits of service in their lives. Phase Four: Reflection and Follow-up Process what happened, and connect the experience of service with the faith story through shared conversation, reflection, and/or journaling. Help the participants integrate their learning with their lives through ideas for concrete actions. Involving Youth in Service Workshop Copyright Center for Ministry Development, All rights reserved. 88

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90 LEADING EFFECTIVE DISCUSSIONS AND FACILITATING SMALL GROUPS Discussions are an integral part of youth ministry programming. Young people like being given the chance to express themselves and to seek out the opinions of others. They enjoy insightful and interactive discussions. They dislike being talked down to or having a discussion manipulated toward a pre-determined end. Good discussions will give young people the opportunity to think about a question and decide how he or she feels about the topic. By encouraging participation in meaningful discussions you can help young people to open up, to find expression for those things they long to share, and to help them discover a community that is open to them and their ideas and dreams. Here are some helpful hints for leading a discussion: Be familiar with the subject matter. Review the kinds of questions you want to ask. Give a brief introduction to the subject matter if it hasn t already been done. Begin with asking easy or non-threatening questions. Address everyone in the group by name. Make sure everyone knows each others name. Ask focused or specific questions that are in the context of their lives. Theoretical or disconnected questions elicit less of a response. Encourage participants to ask questions of one another. This will help keep the focus off you. Explore how the participants feel about the topic. This is much more interesting and meaningful than simply reporting facts. Avoid questions that require a simple yes or no for an answer. Ask open-ended question: o How do you feel? o What is your reaction? o What do you think? What would you do in this situation? o What would Jesus do? Understand and be comfortable with silence Be aware and alert to body language and facial expressions and respond properly. Avoid evaluating people s answers with comments like good answer this keeps the atmosphere open and objective. When you ask a question be sure to ask in kind and non-confrontational ways so as not to put anyone on the spot Do not take disagreements personally. Be orderly and on target. Give everyone a chance to talk, but don t exhaust a topic. Throughout the discussion and particularly at the end summarize all that has been said. Other things to keep in mind: Participate in all games, prayers, and discussions with the young people. Lead, encourage, affirm, and support the participants. Help the participant feel welcome and comfortable. Help each person in the group to get to know the others better, Be aware of the shy persons (who need more encouragement) and the rowdy ones (who need some calming sown). Learn about the young peoples lives. Never tell the participants what they have learned. Instead, draw the answers from their sharing. 90

91 Contribute to, but do not dominate, the discussion. Do not feel as though you have to fill in any quiet gaps. If you have trouble getting a discussion started, vary how you decide who will begin the sharing. For. Example, start with the person who has the most letters on his or her shirt, has the next birthday, has the longest name, has the highest house number in his or her street address, and so on. Make sure everyone in included, that everyone participates and has a chance to voice their opinion. Stress that each person s contribution is valuable. Do a lot of listening. Thank each person for their participation. Share your own story of faith with the young people. Remember to pray and have fun! PLANNING PRAYER SERVICES Gather The first part of the prayer needs to help those who are gathered to become aware of their relationship to God and their relationship to each other. As the group comes together to pray what actions, gestures, music, singing, proclamations, litanies, or other preparations will help this to occur? Listen The next movement of the prayer gives those now gathered a chance to hear the scriptures or current stories which allow us to reflect on how God is active in our lives. Readings, drama, videos, personal stories, witness reflections, music, songs, psalms, gestures, litanies, and silence are some elements which might be included. Respond The third movement of prayer reminds us that it is not enough to just hear the word of God, we must keep it. How will we respond to our awareness of how God continues to love us unconditionally? Spontaneous and composed prayers, intercessory prayer, the Lord s Prayer, psalms, songs, music, actions, or gestures are options. Send Forth The final movement of prayer sends us forth with a renewed sense of our mission to live the Gospel each and every day. Prayer helps us to focus on the big picture but also the simple way that each of us needs to be a disciple to those around us. Spontaneous and composed prayers, music, songs, actions and gestures, blessings, commissionings, exchanging a sign of peace are some of the ways this can occur. 91

92 PLANNING MASS WORDS AND READINGS TASK GROUP Determine how the readings will be proclaimed and who will lector. Review the Sacramentary prayers and make any necessary suggestions. Compose or plan for the intercessory prayers. V Make homily suggestions with respect to the praying community. Plan or prepare for special blessings or commissions. MUSIC AND SONG TASK GROUP Choose a singable set of Eucharistic acclamations with which the group is familiar. Choose a psalm response to sing. Select songs for the gathering and sending forth, paying special attention to the function of those liturgical moments. Select other music or songs to accompany ritual actions (sprinkling rite, preparation of the altar and gifts, breaking of bread, communion procession, and blessings). Consider the songs to be played or sung as a call to worship. Provide worship aids or songsheets for the assembly. Secure necessary copyrights (see end of this section for information). ENVIRONMENT AND MINISTERS TASK GROUP Prepare or arrange the physical space where the liturgy will be held. Prepare the altar and ambo with appropriate cloths, candles, and Lectionary. Prepare bread, water and wine, communion vessels, purificators, Sacramentary, and check with the presider for the vestments needed. Make a plan for how the gifts will be presented and the altar table prepared. Make a plan for how communion will be distributed and assign Eucharistic ministers. Decorate the liturgical space with appropriate art, flowers, plants, cloths or cultural artifacts. Make a plan for greeting the assembly and distributing songbooks, or worship aids. Review the Assembly s Role Before you finalize your plans, review the ways that the whole assembly, not just the leaders, will be involved in the liturgy. How will the people gathered be able to pray through words, songs or actions? Remember that your team is not responsible for the liturgy--only the preparation. The liturgy is the responsibility of everyone gathered, so don t leave them out! Make sure your preparations allow for people to pray together, not be prayed at! Most importantly, make sure to leave room for God to speak to you, so that it can be your prayer as well. Review Plan and Meet with Presider If the team has been working in separate groups, the Liturgy Preparation Teams needs to walk through the total plan together. Complete the Liturgy Preparation Worksheet and review responsibilities. Meet with the Presider and review the liturgy plan. Copy worksheet if necessary. Make Final Preparations Some additional preparations would include: Creating a Worship Aid--a program with songs and prayers for the assembly. See end of this section for copyright information. Writing out a Liturgy Script. 92

93 Walking through the sequence with everyone involved. Setting up the physical environment for the liturgy. Practicing readings, music cues, dramatic presentations, etc. Getting ready to greet those who will pray. Evaluate the Liturgy Planning for evaluation is the last step of preparing liturgy because it helps you to know how to be better prepared the next time. Before you finish your planning meeting, decide upon a time when you will gather to evaluate this liturgy. Liturgy evaluation should always ask the question Did our preparations help the people to pray? When evaluating do not list things that went wrong or not as planned. Sometimes different elements don t go as well as planned, but the focus of liturgy was still achieved. Instead, describe evidence of how your preparations were successful. Determine what you learned which might help in future preparations. EUCHARISTIC LITURGY PREPARATION WORKSHEET Occasion/Season/Feast: Date/Day/Time: Planning Leader: Presider: Other Givens to Note: DISCUSS THE CONTEXT OF THE LITURGY Who: What: Where: When: REFLECT ON THE SCRIPTURES Read the Gospel first, then the First Reading, Psalm and Second Reading ( if Sunday or feast day). Note: In the Lectionary, there is a connection between the First Reading and the Gospel. Reflect on the historical context, literary styles, and then make connections to current events, issues and the faith community s response. Then create a short statement which will focus the rest of your preparation. 93

94 EUCHARISTIC LITURGY PREPARATION WORKSHEET GATHER Ý Preparation Time for the Assembly: V Call to Worship/Greeting: Opening Song (or reversed with Greeting): V Penitential/Sprinkling Rite: Music during this Rite (opt.): Glory to God (Song of Praise): V Opening Prayer: LISTEN V First Reading: Psalm Response: V Second Reading Gospel Acclamation: V Gospel: V Homily/Reflection: V Creed (Sundays and Feasts): V Prayer Intercessions: Music for Intercessions (opt.): RESPOND Ý Preparation of Gifts/Table: Music during Preparation: V Preface Text: V Eucharistic Prayer: Preface Acclam. (Holy, Holy): Memorial Acclamation: Amen/Doxology: V Lord s Prayer: V Sign of Peace: Lamb of God: Ý Communion Distribution Plan: Communion Songs: V Prayer after Communion: SEND FORTH V Final Blessings/Commissions: V Dismissal: Closing Song/s: V = Words/Readings Task Group = Music Task Group Ý = Environment and Ministers Task Group 94

95 Copyright Information If you are reproducing music to include in a program or worship aid for a retreat or prayer service, it is important to obtain copyright permission from the publisher. It is illegal to reproduce printed music without permission from the publisher. Check with your music director/campus minister to see if your parish/church or school already has a license which will allow you to reprint music. If not, most liturgical publishers will grant permission for a small fee. Several liturgical publishers are listed below. Please respect the artists who compose music for worship and depend on royalties and commissions for their livelihoods. MUSIC PUBLISHERS G. I. A. PUBLICATIONS, INC S. Mason Ave. Chicago, IL Fax OREGON CATHOLIC PRESS (OCP) includes New Dawn Music, Epocti/NALR formerly of Phoenix,AZ 5536 N.E. Hassalo Portland, OR LITURGY ( ) SPIRIT AND SONG P.O. Box Portland, OR WORLD LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS, INC N. Willow Road P.O. Box 2701 Schiller Park, IL

96 PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR YOUTH RETREATS The youth retreat is a component of the church's prayer and worship ministry with adolescents. They complement efforts to meet the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and relational needs of adolescents. The purpose of the time-apart on retreats is to allow youth to reflect upon the movement of God in their lives, to provide a climate in which young persons might encounter Christ alive among us, to experience community, and to formulate their personal responses to the call to discipleship, received in baptism. They should empower youth to live discipleship and should enable them to more fully own their identity in Christ. Retreats should strengthen young people for the continuing task of witnessing to Christ within their schools, parishes, and families. Youth retreats are most effective when participants freely choose to take part. Recommended Retreat Components Physical Adequate sleep Adequate recreation time Balanced diet Access to outdoors and nature, if possible Spiritual Liturgical celebration: priority on eucharistic celebrations for two-day retreats; reconciliation service, if in keeping with retreat design Prayer: communal; private; reflection time Scripture PsychologicaI/SociaI/CatecheticaI Balance of private time and group time Opportunity for guidance and counsel Reflection on human experience Community-building Opportunities for participation and involvement Creative activity and expression Input and presentations Discussion and sharing opportunities Supportive Components Orientation or preparation of participants, pre-retreat Follow-up process Evaluation by team and participants Team-training, plus sound planning and program-design A Retreat is developed around a theme. The theme for the retreat is selected for a particular group of people at a particular time. The key question is: what aspect of the Good News should we share within this retreat? The amount of content should be moderate to allow for prayerful reflection, integration of the insights and discernment of "back-home" applications. 96

97 A Retreat theme is developed throughout the elements of the retreat The theme is reflected throughout all of the elements of the retreat: in the community building, the environment, the hospitality, the socials, the prayers and the presentations. A theme can be broken into several topics. In a weekend retreat these topics could be covered in five to seven sessions. Each session could be approximately 90 minutes to 120 minutes in length. A Retreat session includes a variety of ways to think about, consider and apply the insights of a particular topic. A typical session can include: A focusing activity designed to engage participants into the topic. A teaching from tradition and scriptures Individual reflection time / journaling Group Activity Small group discussion Large group discussion Faith witness to the topic Identification of "back home" applications and implications Elements of Youth Retreats Community -Icebreakers -Hospitality -Community Building -Social -Unstructured time Faith growth -Scriptures -Teaching / Sharing of Tradition -Witness -Discernment Prayer Process -Individual prayer -Quiet time / reflection -Communal prayer -Spiritual Direction -Occasions of prayer /blessings -Presentations -Meditation / Contemplation -Small and Large Group -Liturgy Discussions -Sacrament of Reconciliation -Music /Media / Audio Visuals -Commissioning -Learning Experiences / Simulations 97

98 WITNESS TALKS A witness talk can be given in a variety of different formats. It may be a short, personal witness on how one event in the speaker s life has impacted what they believe, understand or feel about a particular aspect of the Christian faith. It may also be a lengthier presentation on a topic related to the Christian faith journey, given by someone knowledgeable on the theological aspects of the particular subject. Whether or not a witness talk contains a theological teaching element, its primary purpose should be to inspire, encourage or perhaps simply affirm participants in similar struggles and experiences on their faith journeys. While witness talks frequently focus on a personal sharing from the speaker s life, they always contain contemporary, concrete examples of living as a Christian in today s world. By bringing the message home to participants in their regular lives of school, work, family and friends, a witness talk becomes a living, breathing vision of our journeys as followers of Christ. A witness talk often utilizes a passage from Scripture to help present the aspect of our faith being referred to in the personal sharing. This can help make Scripture come alive for participants by bringing the truth of our faith into present experience. It may also stand alone without explicit reference to Scripture. Most importantly, a witness talk needs to be honest and grounded in a living faith. Choosing Speakers Choice of speakers can depend greatly on the nature of the talk. Because of its purpose, a witness talk that is more educational in nature should generally be given by a more polished speaker who is necessarily knowledgeable about the topic being presented. If the talk is primarily a personal witness, however, the speaking abilities become less important. Because a witness is about sharing something of one s personal faith journey, it is more important that it comes from the heart. This is not to say that a good witness does not need any preparation. It is simply better to work on presentation with a less polished witness who has consciously dealt with real faith issues, than to work on finding an honest witness for a polished speaker to deliver. Keep in mind the words of Scripture: "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God." 1 Corinthians 2:1 No matter the type of talk, the person giving a talk should: Live the truth about which he or she is going to speak (or honestly struggle with it). Reflect a life of grace to others around him/her. Be driven primarily to share his or her faith story with others, not to entertain. When preparing to recruit people to give a witness talk, begin by praying about who you want to speak. When you know who you want to invite, do just that invite them. Some people may need encouragement, but no one needs coercion. Let them know why you chose them, where you see Christ in them, what led you to them. You may know them to be particularly knowledgeable in the aspect of faith you need them to share about, have a particular story you are aware of you want them to share, or simply see them as a good role model for the participants you expect to gather on your witness. Either way, if they are uncertain, ask them to pray about it and get back to you in a day or two. If they are still unwilling, let it go and choose someone else. People giving talks or witnesses need to be comfortable sharing their stories. 98

99 Working with Speakers Have them think of experiences they may care to share about their faith journeys. Have them write their talks out, word for word. This is particularly important for inexperienced speakers. Keeping on schedule becomes very important during a witness, so communicate to your speakers how much time they have. Ask them to time themselves while reading their talks aloud. Work with them to adjust their talks according to the time allotted. When they are ready, invite them to read their talks out loud to you, just as they intend to deliver them. Listen to the entire talk before commenting. o Ensure they are using good eye contact and voice inflection. o Notice nervous habits that may be distracting to listeners (i.e., constant pulling on the o ear, throat clearing, hand tapping), and kindly point them out. It may be helpful for some to stand behind a podium and grasp the sides to keep their hands still. o Look for places that need more detail as well as those that are unnecessary. o Watch for revelations of overly personal information, and make sure they have received permission if they talk about anyone else. Above all, be sure you believe in the genuineness of the speaker. Once you are satisfied with the talks, ask them to memorize them and deliver them again. This is so much more effective than reading it. o For many it is helpful to have an outline written out on note cards, but they should not be reading it word for word. All this may seem like a lot of work, but it is well worth it. A well-prepared talk or honest witness from the heart can change souls. Tips for Preparing Speakers. Do not let a speaker tell you in general terms how the talk will be given. Be sure to listen to the talk as it will be delivered. While it is helpful to notice the previously mentioned nervous habits, do not make them of primary importance. What is more important is that they are giving their talk from the heart. Be sure the point of the talk is clear. Imagine yourself hearing the talk without knowing what the objective of the talk is supposed to be and see if the speaker drives that point home. Notice eye contact. It is crucial that eye contact is made at least when the primary points of the talk are being made. Ensure the speaker really believes what he or she is saying. If participants question the integrity of the speaker, the effectiveness of the witness can be jeopardized. Time the talk. Listen for things that can be cut out if it is too long, or areas that need to be fleshed out if it is too short. You may discover that the talk is good the way it is. If so, change the schedule to reflect how long the talk will take. Pray with them and for them. It is not they who will change the lives of the participants. It is the Holy Spirit. 99

100 Preparing the Talk Worksheet Reflect on these questions as you prepare: If your talk is primarily a personal witness In what event of your life did you most keenly experience God s presence? What happened? What did you learn? How were you affected, changed? How did you become a better, more faithful person and Christian as a result? If your talk is more presentational in nature What is my objective? (What do I want the participants to learn or understand by the end of my talk?) Why should the participants care about your objective? How is it relevant to them today? What personal story can I share to help the participants relate this learning to their daily lives? Depending upon the length of your talk, it may be a good idea to incorporate some active learning. Rather than simply talking at participants for the allotted time, you can introduce your topic or bring it home using a variety of techniques that get your audience moving and engaged. Numerous resources are available to assist you with ideas. Basic Talk Guidelines: Trust in prayer during the preparation of your talk, and consider tying it in with Scripture. Keep the objective of your talk simple and focused to keep participants engaged and attentive. Stay within the allotted time frame. It can be difficult to make up for lost time on a witness. Use a story or illustration to make it more than simply informational. What a Witness Talk Should Not Be: Sensational. This is not about impressing people with an amazing event in and of itself. Emotional: an outpouring of personal troubles or present, here-and- now struggles and difficulties of a very personal nature is better suited for family, close friends or therapy. Preachy: even a topical presentation is not primarily an instruction in Christianity. What a Witness Talk Should Be: Relevant: keep it real (connected with experiences to which the participants can relate). Age-appropriate: speak at the level of your audience, but be challenging. Hopeful: even serious topics must leave participants with a sense of hope, not discouragement. 100

101 WITNESS TALK WORKSHEET Name of Talk: Length of talk: Theme of Talk: What specifically do you hope your listeners will gain/learn/leave with by hearing your talk? What experience(s) will you share in your talk? Will you use Scripture in your witness? If so, list or describe here: What will follow your talk? Examples may include small group discussion questions, a learning activity or a prayer service. Describe the activity here in as much detail as necessary to help you with your talk. If you are using small groups, include the questions here. Outline your talk here, or write it on index cards. When finished, review it to see if it fits in with the theme and purpose listed above: Practice: Practice your talk in front of your witness leader or other preparer. Use this space to make notes on what your listener observed (i.e., too long, too short, fidgeting, unclear focus, etc.) 101

102 Youth Leader Orientation Youth leaders are defined as young people in grades 7-12, depending on the program. Here are some things that should be highlighted. These are taken from the Safe Environment Booklet: For Youth Assisting Adults in Ministry. Please call the Safe Environment Office if you need a copy and the accompanying Trainers script. 1. Importance of creating a safe environment. 2. Importance of the role of Youth Assistants. 3. What do Youth Assistants need to be aware of and when to alert an adult. 4. Who are Youth Assistants? 5. What are the expectations of a Youth Assistant? 6. What can Youth Assistants expect of Adult Leaders? 7. What can an Adult Leader expect of Youth Assistants? 8. What are the role expectations within their peer relationships? 9. How can Youth Assistants help Adult Leaders in creating a safe environment? 102

103 SAMPLE FOLLOW UP TO YOUTH EVENT For events to find their full effectiveness, it is vitally important that you spend some time with the youth that attended, to talk about the experience, what they learned and how they can make the connection into their life. The following are some questions that might help you in that process. What new insights did you gain from : How can you put these into action in your own life? How does what you heard connect with our faith story? What questions do you have that are unanswered? What one thing are you going to do differently in your life because of what you experienced? SAMPLE LETTER TO FAMILIES Getting the Most from the Experience The should be a great experience for your son or daughter and for your entire family. It provides an opportunity for you and your youth to learn and dialogue together about important things in life like their faith and personal responsibility for active participation in the life and mission in their church. To make the most of the experience, consider the following: Prior to the experience Let your youth know how proud you are of his or her willingness to take part. Pray for your youth and for the entire leadership team as they prepare for the experience. Share a special meal together (at home or out) the night before your son or daughter departs. Make sure that the young person is free from all activity at home like ball games, work, etc during the time period of the experience. During the Program Post the program schedule in a visible place at home and/or work so you'll know where your youth is and what she/he is up to. Pray for your youth, for the members of your local team, for the program presenters and participants, and for the new friends they will be meeting during the program. Do something special for yourself (and for other family members) while your son or daughter is gone: read a good book, go to the movies, invite friends for dinner, call or write someone you've been meaning to connect with, volunteer time with a group you respect and support. Following the Experience On Returning Home: Young people return from an experience with different levels of readiness to share. Some come home tired from the work and travel, and need some sleep before they're ready to talk. Others are excited and want to share every detail with you and with anyone else willing to listen. Still others need time to process the experience, and won't be ready to go into detail until they've put it all together in a way that makes sense to them. Some may find the experience hard to talk about, feeling that, since you weren't there, you just won't understand. Having lived with your youth as long as you have, you probably know in advance which of the above categories he or she 103

104 will fall into! Let your youth know that you're ready to listen. Ask an initial question or two and go where it takes you. The sharing may come out in bits and pieces rather than as a whole. You may, for example, start off hearing more about the new friends they made than about what they learned or what they did. Or you may learn indirectly about the thoughts they're carrying from a chance comment. In either case, let them tell the story at their own pace. Please, make time to listen and to hear the feelings that stand behind the spoken words. Continuing the experience: An important part of any program is learning how to integrate their newly acquired skills/information/experience into their daily lives in an ongoing way. Consider the following approaches: Discuss how you spend your time as a family, and how you make decisions about which groups and causes to get involved with. Decide together what your "time" priorities should be for the coming month or year. Discuss your own struggles and joys of faith with your youth. Encourage your youth to take an active part in the activities at the parish. Consider participating in a parish faith enrichment program. Discuss together what you're presently doing, as individuals and as a family, to be involved and sharing your gifts. If there's more you'd like to do, decide on a project you can get involved with as a family. Discuss together what you re presently doing, as individual and as a family, to help grow in your faith. Encourage your son or daughter to continue praying for those he or she met during the event. In addition to the above it is also valuable to attach the schedule for the event so parents can follow along. 104

105 STIPENDS For Priests Mass Intention stipends. This is what the priest gets for the specific intention for which the mass is said (i.e. person, anniversary, etc.). The archdiocesan norm is $5, $10, $15 Weekend/weekday Mass $35 Confession/Penance Service (for presiding at service you may give an additional amount) $15 per time/service Mileage In accord with current rate as found in the Clergy compensation policy Presentations for lay, religious or clergy Deciding on a stipend for a presentation is certainly something that is unique to the individual and the parish/school doing the inviting. The first thing is to ask the presenter if they have a set fee. Here are some things to consider in the way of compensation: Mileage----A starting a point is to obtain the federal mileage guidelines Preparation time-----for every hour of presentation, it is reasonable to assume that there is 2-3 hours of preparation time. Presentation-----While there is no set amount, $25 per hour (plus preparation time) is a reasonable figure. For example: 1 hour presentation $25 2 hour preparation time $50 $75 (plus mileage) LITURGICAL MINISTERS Parish/School Liturgical Ministers Parish/School liturgical ministers are to be; Fully initiated (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) members of the community of faith Ordinarily at least a junior in high school Trained through participation in an annual workshop by the Worship Office Mandated by the Archbishop 105

106 ABBREVIATIONS AND TERMS Certificate A statement that a program or course of studies has been completed through attendance, participation, or fulfillment of requirements. Certificate in Youth Ministry The Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies is a ministry education program for those in ministry with youth, ages 11 to 18, in both parish and school settings. It equips leaders with the knowledge, skills, practical tools and techniques needed for creative and comprehensive ministry with youth. Certification The process whereby a person demonstrates compliance with standards for professional competence. A person who is certified has undergone some kind of formal assessment process and has been determined to be satisfactorily competent in those competencies described in an approved set of Standards. This process is still being developed. Charter for the Protection of Children The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is a comprehensive set of procedures established by the USCCB in June 2002 for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse. Circle of Care (COC) Circle of Care is the Archdiocese of Omaha Safe Environment program. All those 19 years of age and older who have regular contact with children and youth are required to take this certification (or recertification) training every 5 years. Circle of Grace (COG) Circle of Grace is a safe environment program developed by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to Article 12 of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It serves the dual purpose of educating and forming youth about the value of positive relationships with God and others. CMD The Center for Ministry Development (CMD), based in Gig Harbor, WA is the premier organization for Catholic youth ministry training. Catholic Youth Ministry partners with CMD in providing training for our adult leaders and volunteers. The Archdiocese utilizes CMD for the Certificate in Youth Ministry. Many other programs utilized by parishes in the Archdiocese are: Young Neighbors in Action, Just5Days, Youth Ministry Access. CLI The Catholic Leadership Institute has been in the Archdiocese of Omaha for over 30 years. During that time 1000 s of young people have participated. Many have gone on to vocations in the church, from priesthood to youth and campus ministry to pastoral ministry. Many other are leaders in their communities in a variety of different ways. CLI gives young people an opportunity to grow in faith and personal responsibility to peer leadership. In 2007 the Archdiocese of Omaha changed the name to the Catholic Leadership Institute to reflect that not only are young people called to be Christian Leaders, but also Catholic Christian Leaders. The program focuses on five basic skills and support 106

107 group activities: Leadership and Leadership styles; Communication; Program Planning; Group Dynamics and Consensus Seeking. In addition to this, young people plan and experience vibrant prayer and worship experiences through opportunities for prayer and mass. Conformity Listing of Catechetical Materials List of catechetical texts found in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Curriculum Framework This document is designed to provide systematic content to guide the catechetical formation of young people of high school age in the various catechetical contexts in which it takes place. Empowering Adults Empowering Adults is a training program in Catholic youth ministry and catechetical theory and practice. Sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Youth Ministry Department, the program provides participants with the basic information and skills needed to understand and work in catechetical and youth ministries with today s youth in grades GDC The General Directory for Catechesis is document approved, written and produced by the Congregation for the Clergy of the Roman Catholic Church, based in Rome. An essential companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) provides religious educators, teachers, and catechists with a single point of reference for all aspects of catechetical instruction, for content and pedagogy, as well as for methodology. Beginning with an introductory reflection of how contemporary human and ecclesial conditions have impacted the preaching of the Gospel, the Directory moves through a detailed presentation of the goals and essential elements of catechesis, from its role in the Church's mission of evangelization, to norms and guidelines for its presentation, to adaptations for various groups and situations. GRACES Growing in Responsible Adult and Children Education and Sexuality is the Archdiocesan Committee that monitors and oversees the safe environment efforts in the archdiocese. March for Life The March for Life is an annual pro-life rally protesting abortion, held in Washington D.C. on the anniversary of the decision in the United States Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. The Pro-Life Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Omaha sponsors and organizes the annual youth pilgrimage. NACYML The National Association for Youth Ministry Leaders is a professional organization of ordained and lay ecclesial ministers dedicated to the field of youth ministry. It is open to adults who view their role in youth ministry as a vocation, are committed to ongoing professional development and ministry formation and are connected to a Catholic parish, school, diocese, or youth serving agency. This is a member driven organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting its members in their ministerial practice and professional development. National Celebration of World Youth Day. The National Celebration of World Youth Day, takes place on the 30 th Sunday of Ordinary Time each year in the United States. It offers all involved in youth ministry an opportunity to highlight the gifts 107

108 and joys that young people and youth ministry bring to faith communities across the country. This date was chosen by the US Bishops because of the appropriateness of the lectionary readings, and it does not conflict with other national celebrations/observances. While the U.S. Bishops have declared the 30 th Sunday of Ordinary Time to be World Youth Day in the United States, some parishes may not find this date to be the best weekend to celebrate their young people due to previously scheduled events or celebrations. Rather than giving up altogether, work with parish staff for a more appropriate weekend for your community. At times, our national celebration for World Youth Day does fall on the same Sunday as Mission Sunday. When this happens, we invite parishes and schools to collaborate in the celebration of these two important events. Every other year the Archdiocese of Omaha sponsors an Archdiocesan youth rally, to allow young people to come together and celebrate as an Archdiocese. NCCYM The National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry is held during even numbered years and is sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. Through a series of workshops, keynote presentations, and liturgical events, NCCYM provides an exciting, faith filled celebration of faith along with powerful continuing education for youth ministry leaders. NCCL The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership is the National organization that resources and supports diocesan and parish catechetical leaders. NCYC The National Catholic Youth Conference is an exciting, biennial three-day experience of prayer, community, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers and their adult chaperones. The schedule includes keynote addresses, prayer, workshops, liturgy, opportunities to participate in Reconciliation and Eucharist Adoration, recreational activities, concerts, exhibits, and an interactive thematic park. This event gathers the Bishops of the United States with over 25,000 high school youth from around the country. NDC A companion to the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC), the National Directory for Catechesis builds on some of the core themes of the GDC, like catechesis's relationship to evangelization and worship, and provides practical tools for doing catechesis well. This is a "must-have" for anyone in catechesis or Catholic education-teachers, principals, directors, and coordinators of religious education and youth ministry, catechists, and students in the field. Negligence There are 4 elements which should be present before negligence can be found: Duty, Violation of Duty, Proximate cause of injury. Injury or damage was caused by the violation of duty. NFCYM The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, Inc. Is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia. The primary purpose of the NFCYM is to advocate for and to support Catholic youth ministry on the national, diocesan, and local level. The NFCYM sponsors NCYC and NCCYM and provides resources and training to parish and diocesan leaders. It is unique in that the Catholic Church in the U.S. is the only denomination with a national organization dedicated to the support of youth ministry leaders

109 OEC Office of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Archdiocese of Omaha, is the agency in which youth ministry, religious education, adult faith formation and others are located. Region 9 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is divided into 14 episcopal regions. Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas (MINK) make up Region 9. RTV The Catholic bishops of the United States defined Catholic youth ministry in the 1997 document Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry (RTV). The bishops identified three goals and eight components which provide direction for this ministry. TEC Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a recognized movement of the Roman Catholic Church, offering to youth (juniors and older) and young adults an experience of the Paschal Mystery of Jesus. Through evangelization and catechesis, this intergenerational movement facilitates spiritual growth of youth and young adults with a community of adult mentors. TEC calls forth one s goodness for service in the Church and world. USCCB The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Roman Catholic hierarchy (i.e., bishops and archbishops) in the United States. Youth Serve YouthServe offers an integrated approach to service learning from a Catholic perspective. A 3-day program, for those entering 8 th and 9 th grade YouthServe assists young disciples in responding to their call to serve others by combining learning with hands-on experience at local work sites Youth Update Youth Update is a monthly e-newsletter published by the Archdiocese of Omaha Youth Office. The publication is ed to all parish youth ministry contacts and Catholic High School Campus Ministers and chaplains that have been provided to the office. IT includes information on current events. Youth Ministry Access (YMA) Youth Ministry Access is a subscription-based online resource library sponsored by the Center for Ministry Development (CMD). The Archdiocese of Omaha has been able to purchase the annual subscription for all parishes and hopes to be able to continue that practice. This is a $225 gift to parishes. Online resources include a variety of gathered programs, non-gathered activities, journal articles, and online learning sessions. Youth Ministry Access is based upon Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry the national pastoral letter of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (1997). All resources are designed utilizing the latest youth ministry research conducted by the Center for Ministry Development and published in Effective Practices for Dynamic Youth Ministry (Saint Mary s Press, 2004)

110 World Youth Day (WYD) World Youth Day is a young adult-oriented,( but open to both youth and young adults) Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all young adults, regardless of religious convictions. World Youth Day (or in short 'WYD') was initiated by Pope John Paul II in At present the Archdiocese of Omaha Vocation office sponsors and organizes the pilgrimage for those who will be18 by the time of the trip. WYD typically happens every other year. Youth Rally Every other year (on the off year of NCYC) the Archdiocese of Omaha sponsors an Archdiocesan Youth Rally to celebrate the National Celebration of World Youth Day. This daylong celebration brings in national keynote speakers and musicians, a special mass with the Archbishop, workshops and much more 110

111 Contact Information 111

112 CONTACT INFORMATION Archdiocese of Omaha Chancery 100 N. 62 nd Street Omaha, NE Office of Evangelization and Catechesis 3300 N. 60 th St. Mercy Hall Omaha, NE (FAX) (Work Cell) William Beckman Rita Ramos Cathi Snyder Peter Kennedy Director Coordinator of Youth Ministry Coordinator of Elem. Catechesis & Catechist Certification Coordinator of Catechist & Evangelization Formation Rural Assistant Coordinators of Faith Formation and Catechesis Region 1 Jan Kunz (cell) [email protected] Region 2 Shanna Dendinger (cell) [email protected] Region 3 Krista Dybdal (cell) [email protected] Region 4 Sarah Ehlers [email protected] Patty Brudney [email protected] Office Manager. 112