New England Yearly Meeting’s (NEYM)Child Safety PolicyĀ applies to all youth programming, including programs provided virtually. The following are specific to the use of Zoom or worth highlighting:
Youth Programs Zoom meeting links will be shared with appropriate youth staff, participants, and parents/guardians only. These links will not be published more widely. Vetted adult staffers will “arrive ahead of participants for all meetings.
Junior Yearly Meeting (JYM) Programs will have new links for each day of Sessions. Jr. High Yearly Meeting (JHYM) and Young Friends (YF) will use the Waiting Room function of Zoom to safeguard against uninvited guests.
Visitors to any of the youth programs must contact the program coordinator for links.
Visitors will not have access to any personal contact information for youth.
Zoom sessions with children under 12 will not be scheduled simultaneously with adult programming during Sessions, in order that that parents are available off-screen to monitor their children’s participation.
All children under 12 will be identified by first name only on their screens.
Youth Staff will be trained to respond to uninvited guests or disruptions.
Program Coordinators and I.T. Support Staff will follow the most up-to-date best practices for safety.
Bearing in mind that Zoom keeps and accesses data from any recordings, whiteboards, chat data etc., no private health or sensitive pastoral care information will be uploaded, discussed in chats, or recorded (i.e., during youth staff meetings).
Youth Programs Zoom meetings will not be recorded.
Participants will commit to not taking screenshots. Photo consent by parents or guardians will be observed. Coordinators and designated “photographers” will announce when screenshots will be taken, providing opportunities for participants to opt out. Only first names of children may appear in any NEYM event photos.
All groups, including breakout groups, will strive to have at least two vetted adult youth workers present. When small breakout groups of teens have only one, the program coordinator will make unannounced “visits,” ensure there are at least three participants in the breakout group, and review how to leave the meeting/room with everyone ahead of time.
Questions or concerns regarding this policy and best practices should be addressed toĀ Gretchen Baker-Smith, JYM-JHYM Coordinator, orĀ Noah Merrill, NEYM Secretary.
An Introduction
The Quaker Religious Education Collaborative (QREC) is an international, cross-branch, grassroots network of Friends sharing a stewardship for lifelong Quaker faith formation through religious education. We formed in April 2014 and now serve more than 300 Friends in our network. We actively engage and support each other across languages and continents. We gather for regional and annual conferences and offer monthly Conversation Circles via an online conferencing platform.Ā
We share leadership as part of our collaborative mission, making decisions using the Quaker āsense of the meetingā process, sitting in expectant, worshipful waiting for the emergence of shared truth. Read moreā¦
Working Circles
Our workĀ takes place in ācirclesā or small groups of Friends who labor on a common task, usually meeting by video conference due to the geographic diversity of the membership. Read moreā¦
The Resource Library
Finders Guide, a sampling of the collection
The QREC Resource Library is a place to share lessons and other educational information in support of our work as Quaker religious educators. This library is a forum for curricula, articles, videos and other educational materials on Quaker themes. You will also find principles, policies and procedures to strengthen operation of your child, youth and adult religious education programs.
Find renewal, companionship, and help for nitty gritty issues in Quaker religious education, all the while opening spaces for Spirit to work and listening together for Godās way forward.
QREC holds an annual conference and retreat. In addition we hold online Conversation Circles and post other religious education events as we learn about them.
Online conferences for Quaker religious educators to share about their work. Conversations are scheduled for two sessions per topic to encourage international participation. Ā Join the conversationā¦
Other Events
Religious education events of interest to Quakers from all parts of the world. Please let us know about upcoming online or in-person events happening in your area. See the list of upcoming eventsā¦
Love at the Heart
Spiritual Practices
Discernment
Active Caring
Quaker Family Culture
Finding the Light
Faith at Home
Home is the heart of faith formation for all families. This is especially true for Friends. As an experiential religion, Quakerism is best learned through living in loving community. Indeed, the vast majority of faith formation for our young Friends happens at home in the busy swirl of daily life.
The Quaker Religious Education Collaborative (QREC) is an international, cross-branch, grassroots network of Friends sharing a stewardship for lifelong Quaker faith formation through religious education. We formed in April 2014 and now serve more than 300 Friends in our network. We actively engage and support each other across languages and continents. We gather for regional and annual conferences and offer monthly Conversation Circles via an online conferencing platform.Ā
We share leadership as part of our collaborative mission, making decisions using the Quaker āsense of the meetingā process, sitting in expectant, worshipful waiting for the emergence of shared truth. Read moreā¦
Working Circles
Our workĀ takes place in ācirclesā or small groups of Friends who labor on a common task, usually meeting by video conference due to the geographic diversity of the membership. Read moreā¦
The Resource Library
Finders Guide, a sampling of the collection
The QREC Resource Library is a place to share lessons and other educational information in support of our work as Quaker religious educators. This library is a forum for curricula, articles, videos and other educational materials on Quaker themes. You will also find principles, policies and procedures to strengthen operation of your child, youth and adult religious education programs.
Find renewal, companionship, and help for nitty gritty issues in Quaker religious education, all the while opening spaces for Spirit to work and listening together for Godās way forward.
QREC holds an annual conference and retreat. In addition we hold online Conversation Circles and post other religious education events as we learn about them.
Online conferences for Quaker religious educators to share about their work. Conversations are scheduled for two sessions per topic to encourage international participation. Ā Join the conversationā¦
Other Events
Religious education events of interest to Quakers from all parts of the world. Please let us know about upcoming online or in-person events happening in your area. See the list of upcoming eventsā¦
Love at the Heart
Spiritual Practices
Discernment
Active Caring
Quaker Family Culture
Finding the Light
Faith at Home
Home is the heart of faith formation for all families. This is especially true for Friends. As an experiential religion, Quakerism is best learned through living in loving community. Indeed, the vast majority of faith formation for our young Friends happens at home in the busy swirl of daily life.