COVID-19 Response

Safe Reopening Guidelines for Youth Ministries

The following guidelines will help guide the conversation and any decisions made as these plans are developed:

1. Church Relaunch Teams should include a representative from youth ministry.
2. Safe Sanctuary policies should be reviewed and volunteers should be reminded of these policies as plans are made for transitioning back to in-person programming as a shortage of volunteers is a possibility as high-risk adults will remain home. Some changes in policy may need to be considered in order to reduce the possibility of spreading infection.
3. Safety Guidelines
   • Youth programming must follow CDC guidelines for sanitation, safety, size, and social distancing.
   • Guidelines and procedures for deep cleaning and regular sanitizing of all space used for youth’s ministries should be developed prior to in-person events and programs re-starting.
   • Develop a plan for providing face coverings for those youth and adults who arrive without one.
   • All staff, volunteers, and youth should wear face coverings and maintain 6 feet physical distance from all present whether gatherings are indoors or outdoors. Those who live in the same household can be considered a “family unit” and can be within 6 feet of one another but must wear a face covering at all times.
   • When possible, youth gatherings should be held outdoors.
   • Whether indoors or outdoors, a space of 36 square feet should be accounted for per “family unit” in attendance to allow for space for physically distancing as recommended by the CDC.
   • CDC guidelines for overnight trips for youth, college students and young adults may be found here.
4. Plans for registering or accounting for youth expected to attend in-person events and programs must be used in order to limit the number of youth and adults to safe social distance.
5. Attendance should be taken at all youth gatherings including youth and adults in attendance in case COVID tracing needs to occur.
6. Only prepackaged food may be served at any youth events. People may remove their mask only to eat and drink, but must stay socially distanced. (source)
7. It is strongly recommended that those who work with youth encourage those who are 12-17 years old to be vaccinated.
8. Please note that the CDC states that all people, even fully vaccinated ones, should “wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.” All counties in Arkansas are currently considered an “area of high transmission.” (source 1, 2)