1. CALLED TO SERVE
SESSION 3

2. Becoming a Competent Teen Leader

3. Jesus is our Role Model
When people asked Jesus for help, he responded to them.
You are entrusted with the care and safety of children.
It is an important responsibility.
We will review things that you should know to do your job well and have fun doing it.

4. Personal Boundaries
Necessary boundaries or limits must be observed when interacting with children and youth.
Boundaries protect physical and emotional comfort zones.
As a person called to reflect the light of Jesus, it is imperative to model respectful, responsible, and caring behavior.

5. What to Wear? Wear clothing appropriate for the activity.
You should be neat and clean. Your clothing should not be too tight or revealing.
Tee shirts with suggestive pictures, slogans, and slang are not to be worn.

6. What You Say
Language is important in front of impressionable children and youth.
Inappropriate language includes:
Swearing or the use of crude/vulgar language
Inappropriate slang/teasing
Racial or prejudicial remarks
Your language should be affirming with each individual you serve.

7. How I Act Kids love to play. You may occasionally
put your arm around a shoulder
high five
hold a child’s hand
hug, pat on the back, or sit beside a child.
However, don’t overdo it. Roughhousing, tickling, hugging, or lifting a child in the air may make them uncomfortable.

8. How I Act
The importance of appropriate physical contact cannot be under-estimated.
You teach children by how you touch and act. They begin to learn what they should expect from other adults.
Always be respectful of their comfort zones and personal space. Kids can’t “speak” about these zones. Their physical reactions will tell us.

9. Apron/ Swimsuit Zones
Children are taught that it is inappropriate for someone to touch them in the “wrap around apron/swimsuit” zone.
The acronym: PAN
Public
Appropriate
Non-sexual

10. A Healthy Public Image
Everything that we’ve talked about creates your public image.
This is how people see you.
As Christian teens in service of others
Be aware of your image
Keep it healthy

11. Know Your Surroundings
Be aware of your surroundings, indoors and outside.
This is important in protecting the safety of others as well as yourself.
This is a “safe environment”
Indoors consider:
the nearest emergency exits and lavatories
know where adult supervisors are located
Know where offices and fire alarms are located
Be aware of any unlighted, unlocked or secluded areas

12. Know Your Surroundings
Outdoors consider:
potentially dangerous areas
areas requiring extra caution
unlighted areas.
Important: If you are left alone with a group of children, it should be for a short time. You should never be left alone with only one child.

13. Know Your Surroundings
Knowing your surroundings is a serious issue.
Neither you or those your serve should be placed in a situation where your physical or emotional safety is at risk.

14. Injury Situations
While you are working with children or younger teens, a medical emergency may occur. Your parish should have alerted you to their emergency procedures.
Let the adult supervisor take control of the situation.
Stay calm and try to keep the other children calm and quiet.
Follow the supervisor’s direction to aid the injured student.

15. Injury Situations If there is no adult present at that time:
Send another student to get help from your supervising adult.
Keep the injured person from moving if possible. Remember that moving a student may cause further injury.
If the injury is severe, call Have a couple of students wait by the nearest door to direct the arriving emergency workers.
Report the whole incident to your supervisor when they do arrive.

16. Injury Situations
Your supervisor should contact the parents of the injured student.
Remember:
Contact your adult supervisor ASAP.
You need to keep the injured party from moving and by staying calm, you will help them to stay calm.
You need to keep the other children as calm as possible.
Your supervisor should contact the student’s parents.

17. Fire or Tornado Alert
You should know where the children or younger children should exit or stay.
While you may not practice a fire drill, be alert to the signs that direct you out of a room. You may also think ahead to see a secondary escape if a real fire blocks your exit.
Tornado drills are not often practiced. Students need to be in a inner room away from glass. They need to get close to the floor in case the roof gives in.

18. Disciplining Children
When children get out of hand or act up,
use a stern, calm tone; use eye contact
intervene before activities escalate
step between them to end chasing or a fight
stand next to a rowdy/mouthy child
slowly approach a child and gently put hands on his/her shoulders
take the child aside, make eye contact, calmly tell them they are out of line, and they must behave respectfully.

19. Stop Dangerous Play Now
Stop dangerous play before it escalates into injuries or fighting.
Be proactive

20. The Child Who Idolizes You
It is not unusual for a child or younger teen to look up to you.
They become attached; it can be a crush.
Older, more mature teens need to be alert to this.
treat all children the same; play no favorites
continue to be kind to the idolizing child.
don’t encourage the child or show them special attention
don’t accept large or valuable gifts from them

21. The Child Who Idolizes You
You are responsible to set emotional boundaries and divide individual attention equally
Too much attention deprives others of a share of your attention

22. Child/Peer Disclosures
A child may reveal issues or concerns to you.
If a child or friend confides an abusive or neglectful situation, here’s is how you can help.
Be a compassionate, good LISTENER
REASSURE the child or friend that you are concerned
AFFIRM they did the right thing by telling you
Do not question the person

23. Child/Peer Disclosures
Report the situation immediately to an adult you trust
Give the facts as they were conveyed to you
The adult should take the next steps
You will remain anonymous to the accused
You should not discuss the problem with non-authority people: Confidentiality (don’t gossip).
You may make a report to the Department of Social Services of the local police.

24. Secrets and Safety Secrets about abuse must not be kept.
When the safety of the child/friend is in danger, confidentiality applies to everyone except those responsible for intervention.
Report the information to a trusted adult and to no one else.

25. Teens Serving With Teens
When working or volunteering, you’ll likely be serving alongside other teens.
Expect to model responsible behavior while being “on the job”.
Expect to put job responsibilities first
Children, elderly or people with disabilities in your care must be your primary concern.

26. Teens Serving with Teens
You may work or volunteer with younger or pre-teen kids.
Being a high school person may make you attractive
You may find them attractive too
How do you handle a situation like this?
As mentor and leader, it is inappropriate for you to become involved while you are in this role.
You’re equally accountable to all younger teens
Your interest in one person can negatively impact the group
Be kind, but don’t encourage the younger person.

27. Teens Serving with Other Teens
Teen Driving Situations:
Is it inappropriate to offer a ride to:
a younger teen?
A teen working with you?
This violates the rule of not being alone with participants.
Why might some parents be upset about a teen driving their younger son or daughter home?
Written permission will mitigate liability for you or your parents

28. Teen Driving Situations
Leadership roles include safety of others
Rides home when not prearranged goes beyond the boundary of safe environment
Your job is to ensure a safe environment for all participants
You and your parish are responsible for safety during travel

29. Respect Between Teens
Teens you work with should respect your boundaries:
physical, emotional, and behavioral.
You must respect their boundaries.
You have the right to say “NO” to any talk, action, behavior that makes you uncomfortable or that you believe is wrong.
Seek an adult if the person refuses to stop.

30. Respect Between Teens It is always important to:
respect self and others
be cautious sharing personal information

31. , Cell Phones, etc.
Communicating through , instant messaging, texting, etc. is fun and rewarding
Good only when used properly and responsibly
What information should you be careful in sharing with a new acquaintance?
Never share your address, phone number, or answer personal questions.

32. , Cell Phones, etc.
Caution: Predators roam sites like Facebook and various gaming sites
Sharing too much information can put you or others at risk
You need to be careful with someone you have not met
Follow your instinct: if you are uncomfortable or uneasy, it may be someone is invading your emotional boundary.
Never put things online that can damage your healthy public image.

33. Dating Relationships with Peers
You may meet a new romantic interest among your co-volunteers or co-workers
While working together:
You are individuals, not a couple
Public displays of affection must not happen
Flirting and dating are inappropriate during your service activity
The kids you serve are your primary concern

34. Teen to Teen Disclosures
If you learn about sexual or physical abuse, the safety of the other teen is your first concern.
Confidentiality cannot be kept
Never promise to “keep a secret”
Contact an adult.
You cannot protect them without adult help.

35. Conclusion
Today we’ve talked about responsibility in your service role in your parish or school
The Church welcomes your efforts, vibrant enthusiasm, and rich talent which you are contributing to your parish’s life
You are capable of doing much good and making a real difference.
Be your best self as you serve Jesus through his Church.

36. Conclusion You have the right to feel
Capable--using your unique talents in the best way
Confident--feeling secure about the people you work with, and the space you work in
Competent- - using training and skills to be good at what you do, and willing to do better
Christ-like- - using your hands to serve and opening your heart to care