Child & Youth Safeguarding
As a community, Iron Works Church is committed to protecting the vulnerable, caring for survivors, and holding abusers accountable. Our commitments come from God, who is a refuge for the abused and never ignores their cry (Psalm 9:9, 12). Our community seeks to embody God’s priority of justice for the vulnerable that comes with his Kingdom.
Our goal is to prevent and respond appropriately to abuse by becoming a community that is educated on various forms of abuse and common dynamics, clarifying appropriate boundaries, and doing the hard work of holding each other accountable. All persons should experience an environment of safety and justice and one that is free from any form of abuse.
It is for that purpose that IWC has a safeguarding team. This team consists of 4 qualified members of IWC that are available to help support the church with any questions, reporting, education, and prevention issues that come up. The team is comprised of Ray Rishty, Julia Sovocool, Julia Low, & Stefany Gess.
If you have a question or a concern, or would like to make a report, contact the safeguarding team.
If you see abuse occurring, or have a reasonable belief that abuse has occurred, this must be reported. See below for contact information:
Chester County Child, Youth and Families office which takes reports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 610-344-5800
Or Childline at 1-800-932-0313
If you need help doing this, please contact the Safeguarding Team - we are here to help you!
Training on IWC’s abuse prevention policies is available here.
Looking for counseling? Many IWC staff and volunteers use ServingLeaders Ministries.
Resources for Volunteers
The first steps for any family ministries volunteer at Iron Works is to obtain the state-required background checks for working with children as well as to become familiar with IWC’s abuse prevention policies through our recorded training.
Clearances should be renewed every five years; while abuse prevention training should be repeated every two years. Your ministry leader is available to help you navigate through these processes.
There may be additional policies & procedures specific to your ministry, which your ministry leader should make available to you.
Ministry Leaders:
Lauren Andreades (Nursery & Children’s Church Volunteers): lauren@ironworkschurch.org
Sheyna Land (Youth Group & Sunday School Volunteers): sheyna@ironworkschurch.org
Annika Griffith (contact for volunteers outside of Family Ministries specific programs): annika@ironworkschurch.org
Additional Resources for Volunteers: