Safeguarding Congregation

Sheridan has been a Safeguarding Congregation since 2007!

What does this mean? It means that our staff, council and all volunteers who work with youth and children participate in Safeguarding God’s Children training to protect our children from sexual abuse and to protect themselves from allegations of abuse. This training is offered several times a year to the entire congregation at Sheridan and provides everyone with the tools to keep children safe. Participants are trained in the behavioral, emotional and physical boundary violations that perpetrators of abuse use to groom children. As more and more people become trained eyes and ears, they are aware of the warning signs in adults and children that abuse may be occurring. Awareness of warning signs and knowing how to respond when you see the warning signs can prevent the abuse from ever occurring. If abuse has occurred, the sooner it is detected, the sooner healing can begin.

Statistics tell us that one in four males and one in eight females will experience sexual abuse by the time they are 18. This is far too common and it is time to change this.

For more information on how you can participate in training contact Kathy Paisley. Or find more information on our website.