Haven - Honoring and Valuing Every Need

Our special needs ministry aims to include children in general classrooms as much as possible. Each Sunday, the Special Needs Coordinator at your campus will place your child in the level of inclusion that will set them up for the greatest level of success. Children may be fully included, partially included, or stay in one of our Haven classrooms on any given Sunday depending on the child’s individual plan, volunteer availability, and classroom dynamic.

Children who are part of the special needs ministry will always start and finish in their age appropriate Haven classroom.

Your child will have the opportunity to experience worship, engage in a Bible story, pray, have a snack, complete a craft, and play with other kids. Their time in class is designed to be structured, purposeful, and fun.

Children age three and under will have their diaper changed during the service. Children age four and five that wear diapers will only be changed if the diaper is soiled.  Children over the age of five that wear diapers will not be changed.  If diaper is soiled, parents will be called to change their children.

The leaders in Haven love children deeply and have been trained for their roles by BattleCreek staff, but they are not necessarily professionals. These people offer their time freely and care for each child to the best of their abilities as members of the Haven volunteer team.

Safety is one of our primary focuses at BattleCreek Church, but we know sometimes sickness and accidents happen. If your child appears to be sick, bleeding, or hurting him/herself, a coordinator will call/text you immediately. BattleCreek volunteers and staff will not perform medical procedures on children or give medication to children.

If a child starts behaving inappropriately, the Haven Special Needs Director or campus Coordinator will set up a meeting with you to discuss the behavior and develop a plan to encourage positive change.  The coordinator on campus may also call/ text you out of service if necessary.  We will call the number on file, so please make sure this number is kept current.

We stand with you in prioritizing safety and accountability.  BattleCreek Kids and Haven ministry will always have two adults in the classroom at all times, including during diaper changes.

If your child becomes independent in his or her classroom and no longer needs our services, the Special Needs Coordinator will set up a meeting to discuss next steps for your child.