HOW CYF SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Allergies, anxiety, asthma, and autism all make the list of needs and concerns for kids and youth attending events at SOTV, and that’s just some of the ones that start with the letter A.
With over 500 kids in school year programs and hundreds more at summer camps and events, most people assume that the Children, Youth, and Family (CYF) team will receive notes about support needs for kids for all kinds of things, but they would be surprised to hear that it’s just over 30% of all registrations. In 2024, 160 registrations for fall programming came with a note of some kind of health concern, additional support request or noted allergy that might impact their experience at SOTV. While that number may seem staggering, it has been consistent for the last 4 years.
Each concern presents unique challenges to be addressed before kids even arrive. Program leaders check in with families in the weeks leading up to an event, and sometimes sooner for things like Vacation Bible School, when registration numbers are particularly high. On average, 1 in 10 registrations for CYF event or programs require some kind of follow up before staff begins work to arrange volunteers, materials, and event details needed to make a great experience for every participant.
Many requests are easy to accommodate and are thought of long before anyone registers. Choosing snack options that limit common allergies, like peanuts or tree nuts, and planning curriculum content that is friendly for a wide range of movement needs and limitations all happen ahead of time.
Some requests require more planning — finding a 1:1 buddy for a student with developmental delays or neurodivergence, arranging transportation for mobility issues when going off-site, or identifying sensory-friendly spaces and tools to use throughout the event may happen weeks or even months before an event begins.
“Making an event accessible for one person ultimately improves the experience for everyone because we all benefit from being in community together. You never know how a sometimes simple change for one person will make an activity or event a better experience for everyone else too,” says Kelsey Young, Director of CYF Ministries.
The CYF team believes that faith formation and fellowship are not only core parts of the baptismal promises, they are vital parts of every person’s experience in the world. Children’s Ministry Director, Andrew Kane, goes right to scripture and says, “When Jesus gave the great commission - “Go and make disciples!” - there was no qualifying statement about age or ability. We are called to nourish all people in their discipleship. Everyone deserves access to programs here at Shepherd of the Valley that encourage a lifelong journey of faith for people of all abilities.”
Sometimes though, limitations on volunteers, time, training, and available resources make it difficult or impossible for someone to participate. “It breaks my heart to have to say no in those instances when we can’t find a buddy or don’t have the resources to safely support their participation,” says Young.
People resources topped the list of the greatest limiting factors to full participation in 2024. Too few equipped volunteers to be 1:1 buddies continues to be a concern each year, and even too few overall volunteers can leave support requests unfulfilled. Having multiple leaders in a group makes it possible for leaders to share support responsibilities and give more one on one attention to kids who need it on occasion but not all the time.
Even in the face of these challenges, the CYF team continues to work towards better supports each year. Recently, they have joined in conversations with the Equity Leadership Team to seek out opportunities for additional staff training and volunteer tools and learnings from other disability ministries, and dreaming about new ways to support summer needs and encourage inclusivity in CYF camps.
The dreaming doesn’t stop there though. Rose Bentley, Youth Ministry Director, has previous experience working in special education classrooms and dreams of a more consistent and reliable space for kids and families to go when they are overstimulated or overwhelmed. “Having a sensory room that fits the needs of the families within our church and the children/youth that might need a quieter space or a space would be so important for making our church more welcoming and safer for all families and children,” says Bentley. Currently, sensory break rooms are only identified during high demand programs. A perpetual space could be a chance to welcome kids and families to more opportunities at SOTV.
While the CYF team dreams and continues work to provide for the needs that arise in programs and events, families are also finding ways of their own for kids to be fully engaged in worship and other fellowship activities. With the transition this fall to offer the chapel as space for families to be supported by staff during worship, it quickly became apparent this offered benefits for more than just families with young children.
“It’s hard for our family, and maybe others, in that our child is not appropriate for the nursery but sitting through an entire worship service in the sanctuary is a challenge. The Chapel provides a place where our child can experience worship without becoming overwhelmed,” shared one parent who regularly worships at SOTV. Others are finding their way to the Chapel as well and some are regular visitors to the shelf of worship resources outside the sanctuary. Stocked with fidgets and activities to keep little hands busy during services, this has also become a popular stop for both kids and adults throughout the week who can benefit from these tools.
Are you passionate about helping kids of all abilities learn about faith? Do you have a background working with people with disabilities, developmental delays, or mental health needs and want to share your expertise or time with CYF? Contact Kelsey Young to discuss opportunities!