WELCOME TO KID CITY AT LIFE CHURCH, LANCASTER

Children are welcome to stay with parents in the adult worship gathering or they may participate in Kid City. For your curiosity and comfort, our fundamentals are outlined here.
Contents Leadership Team & Contact Information Programs Parent Guidelines Volunteer Guidelines Illness & Allergy Guidelines and Procedures Transportation Policy Child Protection Policy Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7-9

Kid Citys Purpose To provide a safe and fun environment for children to learn about Jesus and his plan for their lives. Kid Citys Values The Gospel, life change, safety, fun, organization, team growth, and wise spending
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Leadership Team and Contact Information Kid City Director | Kristen May E-Mail: kidcityatlifechurch@gmail.com Phone: 717-515-1023 Facebook: Kristen Michelle May (Bupp) Elementary Coordinator | Ron Muccitelli E-Mail: ron.muccitelli@gmail.com Phone: 508-642-9737 Facebook: Ron Muccitelli Elementary Coordinator | Aimee Charles E-Mail: aimee.elyce@gmail.com Phone: 717-395-7808 Facebook: Aimee Charles (Aimee Durnin) Elementary Coordinator and Master Scheduler | Maggie McGillicuddy E-Mail: hicmar28@gmail.com Phone: 717-435-0910 Facebook: Maggie McGillicuddy Nursery Coordinator | Jessica Zubaly E-Mail: jessica.zubaly@gmail.com Phone: 717-314-1088 Facebook: Jessica Frances Programs Nursery | Birth through Age 4 Description: Our nursery is designed to provide a stimulating environment for babies and toddlers to play, interact with one another, listen to worship songs, and hear stories about Jesus. Preschool | Age 2 through Age 4 (coming in June 2012) Description: Preschoolers will have fun singing, hearing stories about Jesus, and engaging in purposeful play time. Elementary | Age 5 - 5th Grade Description: Through interactive Bible lessons, exciting learning activities, and engaging crafts, children will have fun learning about Jesus love for them and his plan for their lives. Staff Trainee Program | 6th Grade through Age 15 Description: This program prepares students to be a full-fledged KidCity Staff Member.

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Parent Guidelines Sign in your child(ren) at the Kid City registration table as soon as you arrive. Notify the registration staff if your child(ren) has special needs or allergies. Mark bags and all other belongings with your child(ren)s name(s). Keep your cell phones on vibrate in case a staff member needs to contact you. If you have a stroller, feel free to leave it in the designated Stroller Parking area. Kid City classroom tours are available upon request. A snack of Gold Fish or Animal Crackers will be offered to your child(ren). Prepare a bottle in advance if your baby will need a feeding before pick up. If your baby soils his/her diaper, it will be changed. Review the Illness and Allergy Guidelines and Procedures (p. 4) and the Child Protection Policy (p. 6-9). Plan to pick up your child(ren) directly after the gathering.

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Staff Guidelines If not on the schedule for the quarter and if not wearing an ID badge, do not hang out in the Kid City area after the registration table is manned. Prepare for your responsibilities in advance. Based on your area of service, be prepared to meet at either 9:15 a.m. or 9:45 a.m. Make sure parents sign-in their child(ren) and set their cell phones on vibrate. Check that parents have tagged their child(ren)s belongings. In addition to filling out a Child Information sheet, offer new/first time visiting parents a Welcome Card, a tour of Kid City, and inform them regarding the Stroller Parking area. Uphold the Child Protection Policy (p. 6-9) and the Illness and Allergy Guidelines and Procedures (p. 4). Notify the Kid City Director immediately in the event of an emergency. If a child cries for more than 10 minutes, contact the childs parent(s). Change diapers, clean up fluid spills, and apply first aid using sanitary gloves. Do not give any medication to children. Only give a snack of Gold Fish or Animal Crackers. Only give children water to drink unless another drink is provided by the parents. If an injury or incident should occur, be sure to thoroughly fill out an Incident Report Form and submit to the Kid City Director who will determine next steps if necessary. Help children to follow the rules so that everyone is safe and can learn without limitation. Only release children to parents or guardians. Children must be picked up from Kid City; staff may not take children to their parents. Help clean up/pack up the Kid City area after the adult gathering has ended. At least two staff must stay in the Kid City area until the last child has been picked up.

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Illness & Allergy Guidelines and Procedures Allergies A small snack of either Animal Crackers or Gold Fish will be given to children; water will also be provided. Parents must notify a staff member if their child has any serious allergies to these foods. Parents with babies must prepare a bottle in advance of drop-off. Illness Babies and children who display any of the following symptoms 24 hours before a church gathering should stay with their parent(s): Temperature above normal Constant nasal discharge of green or yellow Vomiting Diarrhea Exposed skin rash or infection Eye discharge or pink eye Known contact with another person having rotavirus, chicken pox, meningitis, or strep throat

If a baby becomes sick while in Kid City, parents will be notified. Parents should keep cell phones on vibrate and nearby so that they can be reach if needed. Staff should make a responsible decision as to whether or not they are well enough to be around children; if they are not, the Master Scheduler should be contacted immediately.

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Transportation Policy If there is an off-site event planned for Kid City children, parents should provide transportation for their child(ren) to those event. However, if that is not possible, staff may provide transportation with a parents consent. The below are requirements of those drivers. 1. Drivers must have at least 3 years of driving experience. 2. The vehicle must carry more than the minimum insurance. 3. The vehicle must have a current inspection and registration card. 4. Seat belts must be worn by all persons in the vehicle. Passengers may not exceed the number of seat belts in the vehicle. 5. Drivers may not have any convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI). 6. Drivers may not have more than two moving violations in the past three years. 7. Drivers may not have more than one at-fault accident in the past three years. 8. Drivers should engage in courteous driving behavior at all times and obey all traffic laws. 9. If cell phone calls are necessary, they must be made by a non-driving passenger. If that is not possible, the driver must pull off the road to use the cell phone.

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Child Protection Policy The policy and procedures outlined herein apply to all minors (children age 17 and younger). Policy Objectives 1. To protect minors from any type of abuse 2. To protect approved Kid City staff from false allegations of abuse Definition of Child Abuse Child abuse refers to an act committed by a parent, caregiver or person in a position of trust which is not accidental and which harms or threatens to harm a childs physical or mental health or welfare. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Any physical mistreatment of a child including hitting, slapping or squeezing, 2. Any sexual mistreatment of a child including physical and/or nonphysical contact, 3. Any type of harmful neglect of a child including failure to provide adequate safety measures, care or supervision, and/or 4. Any emotional mistreatment of a child including verbal abuse. General Guidelines All approved staff should immediately report to leadership any reasonable suspicion of child abuse of which they have knowledge or observe within the scope of their duties. 1. Reasonable suspicion means that there is credible evidence or inconsistent history in explaining a childs suspected abuse. 2. Reporting is not a determination that the child abuse has actually occurred; it is a request for an assessment of the condition of the child. Reporting and Response Plan Approved staff is required to report as soon as there is reason to believe that a child in their ministry is a victim of abuse. A completed Incident Report Form should be submitted to the Kid City Director within 24 hours. Persons making such a report should keep it strictly confidential. Upon notification, the Kid City Director will do the following: 1. Review the submitted Incident Report Form and determine whether or not there is reasonable cause for the allegation.
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 If it is determined that there is not reasonable cause, the findings and actions taken will be documented and the investigation will be concluded. If there is reasonable cause, a report must be filed with Lancaster County Children and Youth Social Service Agency at 717-299-7925 and with Pennsylvanias Child Line Services at 1-800-932-0313 within 48 hours of the receipt of the report. If there is reason to believe the child is in imminent danger or in danger of continued abuse, steps must be taken to ensure the childs immediate safety. 2. Reasonable action must be taken to ensure the alleged perpetrator has no contact with the child before or during the investigation. 3. Contact liability insurance company of both the church and the property. 4. Cooperate with local agencies as they proceed with their investigation. 5. At the conclusion of the investigation, review the situation, respond to recommendations of Child Services and identify areas for improvement. Names of all those who take an active role in reporting an incident will remain strictly confidential. Reports will be made available only to legally applicable parties. Application Process Before any person is approved to serve as a staff leader in Kid City, he or she must successfully complete the following: 1. Attend Life Church regularly for 3-6 months (per the KidCity Directors discretion) 2. Obtain an incident-free Child Abuse Clearance and Criminal History Clearance (applicable to volunteers age 18 and over only). 3. Serve as Kid City Support Staff for 3 months (1 quarter). 4. If the volunteer wants to continuing serving in Kid City, a Staff Application must be completed. Anyone who does not satisfy the above requirements will not be approved to serve in ministries that include direct contact with children. All information in this process will be kept confidential and will only be shared with leadership. Standards and Safeguards 1. Staff should never be alone with children. There must always be at least two approved staff present with every child or group of children. 2. Programs and events must be in settings where there is at least one window, opening, or door that provides visibility to the public.
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3. Children must never be left unattended. 4. If a child needs to use the bathroom, the following are procedure that can be use: The entire group can go to the bathroom with two volunteers. One volunteer can take a child to the restroom, but must stand outside of the restroom and maintain voice contact. If that child needs assistance in the bathroom, a second approved volunteer must be called upon. If a second person is not available, the child must exit the bathroom for help. 5. Tickling, showing affection in private, and touching areas other than shoulders, hands, or upper back is unacceptable. 6. When babies or young children need diapering or changing, there must always be two approved volunteers present. 7. Attendance records will be updated at every activity, event, or class so that all present children and volunteers are recorded.

Discipline Physical correction such as spanking is not permitted. Instead staff will utilize redirection, positive reinforcement, and verbal reinforcement of rules. If these measures are ineffective and the child continues to be disruptive, the parent/guardian will be asked to remove the child from the event, activity or classroom. Church Accountability 1. All Kid City staff must complete a Kid City Application and must have an incident-free Child Abuse Clearance and Criminal History Clearance (age 18 and over only). 2. Any parent may observe a class or activity involving their child at any time. However, if a parent desires to observe more than two weeks, they must submit an incident-free Child Abuse Clearance and Criminal History Clearance to the Kid City Director. 3. The Kid City Director will make periodic unannounced visits to classrooms and events to ensure proper standards and safeguards are being followed. 4. The Child Protection Policy will be reviewed annually with Kid City staff to ensure complete understanding. 5. The Child Protection Policy will be evaluated annually by the Kid City Leadership Team to ensure its relevance and appropriateness.

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