Child Safety Issues with Online TCK Programs

Sheryl O’Bryan, Lyn Shingledecker-Wheeler, Bret Taylor

Online youth group is suddenly interrupted by verbal and written profanity; a teaching seminar is “zoom-bombed” with hundreds of nefarious participants spewing x-rated comments in the chat to disrupt the teaching. Welcome to the new digital frontier ushered in by COVID-19.

The global pandemic forced most organizations to reconsider and restructure the ways they engage youth and families, debrief individuals and groups, hold TCK youth group meetings, and continue with education. As caregivers, educators, and counselors pivot to provide support in the digital domain, new issues arise regarding best practices in this borderland that joins the real and the virtual.

Zoom, SKYPE, WhatsApp, and Google Meet are the new verbs of the pandemic generation. This virtual everything trend is expected to continue after the world opens again. Kids previously underserved due to remote locations or other barriers to participation now find parity with their peers. Child safeguarding must be expanded from the face-to-face world to the virtual one.

Because this new frontier for providing support for TCKs opened, it is important to consider the nuances of this context. Some of the established rules still apply. The regular child safeguarding parameters of your organization should be utilized, such as:

- Background checks, references, and staff training

- Appropriate ratio of staff to students

- Two or more unrelated staff members

- Parental awareness and permission of their child’s involvement. It may be appropriate to have parents sign a written consent form.

- Keeping supervisors informed of your online programs/events for accountability

Some additional practices to consider for virtual offerings that involve kids should include:

- Avoiding apps/communication that automatically delete messages like SnapChat and some Instagram messages. Stay with apps which leave a digital trail and maintain that history to stay above reproach.

- Considering having “work” accounts with dedicated social media profiles which supervisors can access through your login credentials

- Additional training to know how to reduce the risk of malicious/unknown participation on your chosen platform

- Knowing how to make child safety reports when staff may not be physically in the same location as the minor

- Having contact information for parents should their kids display concerning issues or suddenly break off communication

- Having resources available to support kids and families

Keeping in mind kids who have special needs neurological,( mental health, etc.) that may need accommodations in the online environment.

Although virtual meetings of all sorts supplanted in-person ones in the last year, few caregivers prefer meeting with kids this way. However, new opportunities were created. God is able to use both in-person and online communication to transform a time of disconnection into greater global connection. As we continue to forge into this new world, we must be as vigilant about child safety.

This virtual everything trend is expected to continue after the world opens again. Kids previously underserved due to remote locations or other barriers to participation now find parity with their peers. Child safeguarding must be expanded from the face-to-face world to the virtual one.

References:

2020 Virtual MKCS - “Developing Virtual Community a workshop by Sheryl O'Bryan and Bret Taylor

Child Safety Protection Network: https://www.cspn.org/

VPN Mentor: https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/the-ultimate parent-guide-for-child-internet/

Household Quotes: https://householdquotes.co.uk/keeping-children-safe-online/

Lyn Shingledecker-Wheeler

Lyn Shingledecker-Wheeler is an MK who grew up in Latin America and she returned to the mission field working with MKs and their families. She transitioned to working with college-age MKs developing resources as well as supporting and connecting them. Currently, she serves as the co-leader for Global TCK Care and Education for SIL and in TCK Care and Education and staff care in the Americas area. She serves on the MKCS planning team and chairs the MK Education Summit planning team.

Sheryl O'Bryan

Sheryl O'Bryan began her life in MK world teaching high school social studies and English in Cote d'Ivoire. Over a decade later, she left in the middle of a civil war and joined her sending agency's member care team as the TCK Care and Education coordinator/specialist. She now serves as Director of TCK Services and Director of Communications for Interaction International. Sheryl lives in Florida. When she's not trying to unpack and get rid of things, she can be found doing an art or away from her computer at the beach.

Bret Taylor

Bret Taylor has been passionate about journeying alongside MKs since 1999. He began this journey as a chaplain/teacher at West Nairobi School in Kenya. In 2003 he joined Wycliffe USA and served as the Director of Youth and Family ministry at JAARS in NC. 2019 gave him the opportunity to join Interaction International. He has led programs and spoken at retreats around the globe and currently chairs the leadership team for MKCS.