Alignment

Understanding Confidentiality: Training for Volunteer Church Office Assistants Patricia J. David Terminal Objective 1: Identify the potential damage that can be caused by breaches in confidentiality in a church setting. Enabling Objectives Assessment Idea Absorb Activity Do Activity Connect Activity
A. Describe in 2-3 short sentences past experiences when you were personally hurt by breaches in confidentiality and identify (check off) the feelings you experienced. [See connect activity, which also serves as a nongraded self-assessment]
(1) Introductory scenario/story of 13-year-old girl shares a secret with a friend, only to have it shared with her whole school hurt, betrayal and humiliation, etc. [Reference Grapevine and Telephone games and Sticks and stones may break my bones from childhood] not harmless when it comes to sensitive information about a human being even for adults. Even in the church.

(2) Write 2-3 sentences describing a time when something similar happened to you. [Note: No one will ever read this, but writing helps you to verbalize it.]

(3) How did you feel? (check all that apply)

angry humiliated hurt betrayed stupid nave violated unloved scared

SEE SAMPLE ABSORB B. Given a series of scenarios describing the personal stories of people who have been hurt, list four long-term negative consequences of breaches in confidentiality. (3) List 4 long-term negative consequences (choose four of the most devastating from a list or ones youve experienced) (?)
(2) Info to read describing longterm consequences of having confidentiality breached: lack of trust, withdrawal from relationships, negative attitude, unwilling to open up or give of themselves, interpersonal conflict. Do you recognize any of these in your own life because of previous trust issues? Terrible thing to do to another human being!

SEE SAMPLE CONNECT (1) Scenarios (first-person testimonies) of 4 people who have been hurt in the past and how it has affected them. Match each person/testimony to a longterm consequence they may be experiencing. (4) Reflection: Do you know anyone who exhibits any of the symptoms weve discussed?

C. Given a list of Scripture verses as a basis for understanding Gods plan for His church, explain in 3-4 sentences the harm done to Gods purposes when Gods ideal for His church is compromised.

(3) Short answer (3-4 sentences): What could be the effects of breaking trust in the church? [examples: people not coming to church, interpersonal conflict, loss of witness in community, people ultimately dont come to Christ]

(1) Narrative about the importance of the Church (church = people). God loves people! When we hurt people, we weaken Gods Church.

(2) Drag & Drop list of Scripture

verses under appropriate heading (personal relationships, integrity, mission and witness of the church, Importance of the Church, etc.): Do whats helpful for building others up, not tearing down, church is body and bride of Christ, love one another deeply, from the heart, How to conduct yourselves in the church the pillar and foundation of truth, do n/t out of selfish ambition or conceit consider others better than yourselves, millstone around neck, etc.

(4) Reflection questions: What about YOUR church? etc.

Terminal Objective 2: Create a list of at least four principles to guide your sharing of any information. Enabling Objectives Assessment Idea Absorb Activity Do Activity Connect Activity
A. Be able to define the terms confidential and confidentiality by writing a brief description of each. (3) Write down your own definition of confidentiality. [Feedback should include elements that should be in definition.] (1) Dictionary definitions [Click on books to see definitions Not wanting to be the cause of any hurt, you decide to brush up on confidentiality First, you look up the definition (1) Info to read about types of items encountered in a church office that may be confidential and why (financial records, moods and disagreements of staff, a/t highly personal (2) Pick multiple: Generic examples from their own lives Do you consider this information confidential or not? [my bank statement, my credit card statement, my medical history, my past, my mood, previous education or employment, why I left my last job, etc.] Connect: How would you feel if your confidential file was made public? SEE SAMPLE DO #2 / SAMPLE CONNECT (2) From list of 10 items, drag and drop each one into a confidential or not confidential file folder at bottom of page. After submitting and reading feedback, learner has option of trying more items. [similar to above activity, but focused on church setting and not personal).

B. Given a list of types of information you might encounter when working in a church office, categorize (sort) information as either confidential or not confidential.

(3) Quiz (confidentiality items that require more thought: church budget no, because its public information / next years budget yes because it hasnt been adopted or made public yet)
(3) Arrange items: from full list of sample principles and ones learner creates, allow him/her to rearrange them and delete some to create personalized list of at least 4 principles. Self-evaluation questions (connect): Do you think this will help? / Are you willing to carry this list with you for the next month? If so, print a copy now.

C. Based on scenarios of various church office situations, formulate (list) at least 4 principles to guide your sharing of any information.

(2) Explanation of some

sample principles for sharing information: Is it true? Is it fair? Is it kind? [blog post]. Will it cause someone to think less of that person? Checked in Spirit? keep it confidential. If the person isnt part of the problem or the solution, its none of their business. Just because someone asks doesnt mean they need to know]

(1) Scenarios: What should you do? scenarios with feedback to teach principles. Multiple Choice: learners decide best course of action in each scenario. SEE SAMPLE DO #1 [See assessment activity]

(4) Job Aid: Allow users to print their list on a reminder card to post in their office or keep in their wallet as a reference for future situations. SEE SAMPLE CONNECT

SEE SAMPLE ABSORB

Terminal Objective 3: Critically examine past behavior and determine a strategy for future behavior in regards to maintaining confidentiality. Enabling Objectives Assessment Idea Absorb Activity Do Activity Connect Activity
A. Given time to prayerfully reflect on your short-comings in the area of maintaining confidentiality, ask God for forgiveness and make a commitment to maintain confidentiality in the future by signing a commitment form. (2) Self-Assessment quiz to identify personality traits that lend toward sharing too much information (How vulnerable are they?) Which statements describe you? [see sample assessment description] SEE SAMPLE ASSESSMENT (1) Scripture and brief explanation: Forgive my hidden faults (Ps. 19) See if there is any offensive way in me (Ps. 51). Not always aware of what weve done or our predispositions. (4) Read and sign Commitment Card (covenant): You cant change the past, but you can change the future. Make a decision right now (option to print). This also moves into the realm of a connect activity. [Note: learner can decline to sign, but will be asked to explain why by choosing from a list. This wont be recorded, but having to determine an answer will help them think through their reasons.] [See assessment idea] (3) Add to list of possible responses and choose the 4-6 most natural ones for you to use. Memorize them [Practice exercises: fill in the blank to complete statements] (3) Personal Reflection: Is your conscience clear? Do you need forgiveness? What will you do? Ask God to forgive you? Go to someone and make it right? (Matt 5) Ask God to reveal to you your hidden faults.

B. Based on specific scenarios of potentially compromising situations you might encounter, develop and memorize (recall) a list of 4-6 possible responses to use when others request confidential information.

(2) Choose best responses for scenarios. See enabling objective C above (terminal objective #2). Take the learner back to the same scenarios, give sample responses and ask which ones would work best in each situation. (I wish I could tell you, but thats confidential, I believe thats probably a private matter. Why do you ask? or Why do you want to know? Not to change the subject, but or Speaking of (then change the subject).

(1) Explanation of where we go from here and the importance of having a plan so youre not caught off guard.

(4) Job aid: Print your list of possible responses when someone asks about sensitive information. Read it over every day for a week to help you memorize them.

C. Given a list of common

office practices (both positive and negative), create your own personal checklist of 4-6 simple behaviors to safeguard sensitive information.

(1) Virtual Field Trip: Picture of a church office with email open on
computer, pastors calendar open on desk, file out with persons name on it, volunteer talking on the phone. Have learner click on items to see potential problem. Feedback/more info comes up explaining how to keep the material secure. On click to next page, feedback is given if learner missed checking any of the items.

(2) Check your church policy

manual for office procedures that guard confidentiality. Create your own list, incorporating info from virtual field trip. [Learner will be able to choose from list and type own list.]

(3) Job aid: print list of office procedures from (2) as a reminder. Post somewhere in your church office.

SEE SAMPLE ABSORB #3

Terminal Objective 4: Demonstrate an appreciation for the value God places on His church by taking appropriate measures to guard sensitive information. Enabling Objectives Assessment Idea Absorb Activity Do Activity Connect Activity
Given sample responses, determine (list) the steps you will begin to take to guard Gods church by maintaining confidentiality and signing a commitment to do so regularly. (2) Self-Evaluation (also a
Do activity). Add to list of steps to take (see below). Drag and drop to list of things to do (in order of importance) to create their own to-do list. Examples: limit exposure to sensitive info, be more aware, dont allow others to accidentally see info, dont tell others about info you learn in the office, review job aids, ask God for help, ask God to make you forget some things and to guard your heart and mouth, Take your job more seriously because it can have serious consequences, etc.

(1) Recap what weve [See assessment idea] covered in course: How would you feel? How will you know? Where have you been? Where will you go?

(3) Print to-do list from assessment as a reminder. (4) Sign commitment card, expressing covenant to do whatever is in your power to guard confidentiality in the church. (option to print commitment card).