FAQ

Adult Volunteers

My church is just starting to screen volunteers. What do I need to know?

The most current District Policy is as follows:
1. Local church policy: District Affiliated churches are required to screenall adults who work with minor children. General Council churches areencouraged to do this also.
2. District Council sponsored events policy: Every church (District orGeneral) is required to verify that they have screened the workers that theyare sending to district sponsored events. This verification requires two form(both are required):
i. Affidavit listing and verifying all workers have been screened.TheAffidavit form is supplied by the DRC. Churches must utilize this form. Thisform must be signed by the Senior Pastor, but it does not need to be notarized.
ii. Worker Application or Worker Information form.This information needsonly to be supplied one time—once the worker is listed on the “approved worker”database it need not be done again.
Worker Application form. DistrictAffiliated churches must provide copies of the Worker Application which the DRCsupplies.
Worker Information form. General Council Affiliated churches may providecopies of whatever volunteer application they might use, or they may provide anabbreviated Worker Information form that the DRC supplies.
iii. Adult Visitors. Parents and other adults that want to observe an eventmay (at the discretion of the event director) register at the door and beissued a Visitor badge. Visitors may observe as a spectator, but their contactwith minors may be restricted.
3. Screening Procedures.
a. California churches: The District recommends Live Scan screening. LiveScan is preferred because
i. It is easy to implement—all the church needs to do is to give the individualthe church’s ORI number and ask them to go to any local LiveScan office, and
ii. The screening goes forward not just backward. Normal screening isbackground only (the past) but Live Scan will notify the church if theindividual commits a crime in the future. (Hence the name, “LiveScan.”)
Help in applying for an ORI number. In order to utilize the LiveScanprocess, the church must apply with the State for an Organizational Identifiernumber (ORI.) The application is somewhat involved. However we have arrangedfor a local firm to assist the church in this application:
Carol Berkley at Landlord Protection Service (LPS)
Phone 916-685-7556 or email Carol Berkley
b. Alternative screening: Churches may to utilize another background screeningservice such as: Choice Point or Protect My Ministry.
c. Nevada churches: Nevada does not offer Live Scan. Nevada churches willneed to utilize one of the alternative services, or Nevada does still allowindividuals to be fingerprinted by their local Sheriff Departments.

If you need any help or explanation, please contact the District ResourceCenter. Let’s do everything we can to protect the children!
What child:adult ratios do you suggest?

(1) Section 18290 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations provides:
Contractors shall maintain at least the following minimum ratios in all centers:
(A) Infants (birth to 18 months old) -1:3 adult-child ratio, 1:18 teacher-child ratio.
(B) Toddlers (18 months to 36 months old) -1:4 adult-child ratio, 1:16 teacher-child ratio.
(C) Preschool (36 months to enrollment in kindergarten) - 1:8 adult-child ratio, 1:28 teacher-child ratio.
(D) Children enrolled in kindergarten through 14 years old - 1:14 adult-child ratio, 1:28 teacher-child ratio.
(E)Compliance with these ratios shall be determined based on actual attendance.
(2) Section 18291 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations provides:
(A) Whenever groups of children of two (2) age categories are commingled and the younger age group exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the total number of children present, the ratios for the entire group must meet the ratios required for the younger age group.
(B) If the younger age group does not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total number of the children present, the teacher-child and adult-child ratios shall be computed separately for each group.
(3) Section 18292 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations provides:
Except as otherwise provided in this Division or Title 22 California Code of Regulations, Community Care Licensing Standards the program may exceed teacher-child and adult-child ratios prescribed by Section 18290 by fifteen percent (15%) for a period of time not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) minutes in any one day.

District Sponsored Events

Do you offer scholarships for district events?

At this time the only scholarships we offer are for summer camp.
What is the Kids Fine Arts Festival?

Kids University is the Kids version of the Youth Fine Arts Festival. This event is "two for the price of one." The children present their gifts to be judged and awarded appropriately. Then all the children choose a ministry skill to learn and present in the final session. Workshops include puppets, movement, artistry, choir and human video.
What is K.E.E.P breakfast at District Council?

Tickets can be purchased on line or in the packet sent to churches.
This breakfast is for all those who work with children including Girls Ministries and Royal Rangers. Learn about the events for the year and see the churches receiving a BGMC plaque. Come and meet co-laborers.
What is the BGMC Kids Missions Trip?

This is a pretend missions trip where the students go through the steps of traveling and meeting missionaries.

Summer Camp

Do you offer scholarships for camp?

Yes. Currently our scholarships are for campers and a camp scholarship request form is available in the church camp registration packet.
My church is not going to camp. Am I able to send my child as an individual camper?

Yes. We will do our best to accomodate your child with another church for team games and cabinmates. Contact our office for help registering your individual camper.
My church is not an Assemblies of God church. Can our group attend a camp?

Yes. Please contact our office for specifics in registering your group and what paperwork we would need from your church.
I have jr. helpers in childrens ministry...can they come to camp as a counselor?

We do allow C.I.T's (Counselor In Training) to come to camp. However, you will not be able to count them as a counselor. A counselor is categorized as an adult that is a minimum of 18 years old.

C.I.T's will also need to submit a camper permission form signed by their guardian as they are still a minor.

BGMC

Where do I send the church BGMC offering?

All offering checks should be made out to BGMC. Send your offerings to:BGMC, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, MO 65802. All offerings must be postmarked by December 31st in order to receive giving credit forthat year.