About this Checklist
Texting and messaging can be powerful tools for connection—but without clear boundaries, they can also introduce risk. This checklist helps your ministry establish safe, transparent communication practices that protect youth, support staff accountability, and build trust with families. By setting expectations and educating leaders, you create a digital environment that reflects your ministry’s values and safeguards everyone involved.
Do you follow a published set of guidelines and policies that govern texting and messaging practices for your ministry’s employees and volunteers who work with youth?
Do you have a standard practice (i.e. mandatory class or educational material) for communicating your guidelines and policies to the staff?
Does your youth ministry staff obtain the express permission of the youth’s parents to communicate electronically with their children?
Do your youth ministry staff members use mass text and emails to large groups and avoid individual communication whenever possible?
Do multiple youth ministry staff members have access to the accounts or devices used to communicate with youth in order to provide accountability?
Do you educate your youth ministry staff that texting and instant messaging should not be used as a substitute for conversing with teens in person?
Do you train your staff on how to address and report a situation in which they receive an inappropriate message from a youth group member?
Do you follow your state’s mandatory reporting laws regarding possessing, sending, or knowledge of improper pictures and sexually explicit messages?
Have you educated your youth leaders that sexting is not tolerated?
Posted 2022
This is a sample document only. Your organization is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. Accordingly, this checklist should not be used or adopted by your organization without first being reviewed and approved by a licensed attorney in your state. Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company assumes no liability in the preparation and distribution of this checklist.
