Q: I've heard the term "risk management," but I'm not really sure what it is. If we do background checks on our staff members, both paid and unpaid, haven't we taken care of the risk?
A: Not completely. Background checks are a valuable risk-management and liability-reduction tool. But risk management involves more than that. You might define it this way: "Risk management includes all management efforts aimed at minimizing the adverse impact that problems may have on an organization."
The goal is to put in place systematic and organized processes that avoid, eliminate, or lower the chances of problems.
Here are four steps for starting a risk-management program at your church.
Look at each ministry position and identify potential areas for liability.
First, examine ministries that work with vulnerable groups, such as infants and preschoolers, children, youth, single women, and shut-ins. Are any workers in these ministries involved in potentially unsafe actions? For example, was a nursery worker left alone on a shift because her partner didn't show up? What changes need to take place to ensure safety?
Evaluate ways to manage those risks.
What can you do to protect the people you serve—and your servants? For example, set up a policy that two nursery workers must be present at any given time. Include guidelines to follow in case two workers aren't present.
Choose the means and implement your strategy.
With risk management, talk is a great place to start but action is required. Conducting background checks is a good first step. (Be sure you have the signed authorization of the person being checked.) Put volunteers at ease by applying this requirement to everyone and by running a background check on yourself. Also, assure people that results will be kept confidential. Risk-management training is available through Church Volunteer Central's Training Station courses.
Continually monitor and reassess your strategy.
Periodically re-evaluate whether the steps you've put in place are actually managing the risks you've identified. Consider assembling an ongoing "risk-management team" to monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements.
The days of pretending bad things don't happen at church are over. To create a safe and trusted environment, create a complete system that's intentional about managing risk.
Bob D'Ambrosio, a consultant and trainer with Church Volunteer Central, has 25 years' experience with volunteer administration.
Copyright © 2005 Group's Church Volunteer Central.
