Logging in for the first time

Summary

Your church has signed you up for Safe Pathways, a short safeguarding training that helps make your church one of the safest places in the community. This article walks you through signing in for the first time so you can see what's waiting for you and get started.

Who this is for

Volunteers signing in to Safe Pathways for the first time.

What you'll need

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• The invitation email from Safe Pathways or your church administrator
• A modern browser on your phone, tablet, or computer

Before you start

You should have received an email from Safe Pathways (or from your church administrator) with a link to sign in. If you haven't received anything yet, check your spam or junk folder, the email comes from a safepathways.com address.

If you still can't find it, ask your church administrator to confirm the email address they have on file for you and to resend the invitation.

Steps to sign in

1. Open the sign-in link

Click the link in your invitation email, or go directly to app.safepathways.com in your browser. The sign-in screen has a language toggle if you'd rather work in Français.

2. Enter your username or email

The sign-in field accepts your username or email. For most volunteers, the username is the email address your church has on file. If you're not sure of your username, select Forgot username? and Safe Pathways will email it to you.

3. Enter your password

Your invitation email gives you a way to set your password. If you don't have one, or the link has expired, select Forgot password? on the sign-in page, or ask your church administrator.

4. Confirm you're in

Once signed in, you'll see a left-side menu with four items: Overview, Training, My requirements, and My Account. That's your volunteer account, you're in the right place.

What happens next

Overview is your starting point. It shows Your authorization, whether your church considers you fully cleared to serve, and Your safeguarding checklist, which lists everything on your plate: training, references, church policies, and the items your church handles for you. Each outstanding row links to the page where you complete it.

Don't worry if some rows are empty or nothing is assigned yet. Your church may still be setting things up. If nothing appears under Training after a few days, check in with your church administrator.

The most important thing is to start your training. Open Training and select Start Here on the first pathway card you see. The intro pathway is always included, it's four short videos and a quick quiz, and it shouldn't take more than about 10 minutes. After that, if your church has assigned you a role-based pathway (like Children, Youth, or Vulnerable Adults), you'll see it listed there too.

Frequently asked questions

I got the email but the link doesn't work

Try copying and pasting the full link into your browser's address bar instead of clicking it. Some email apps cut off long links. If that doesn't help, go directly to app.safepathways.com and sign in there.

I don't know my password

Select Forgot password? on the sign-in page and follow the emailed link to set a new one. If nothing arrives, contact your church administrator.

I signed in but I don't see any pathways

Your church may not have assigned your pathway yet. This is normal if your church is still setting up Safe Pathways. Check back in a day or two, or ask your church administrator.

The menu shows Dashboard, Volunteers, and other items I don't recognize

You may be signed in as a Church Administrator rather than a volunteer. If you're supposed to be a volunteer, let your church administrator know, they can check your permissions.

I share an email address with my spouse / family member

That's fine. Each account has its own username, and that's how Safe Pathways tells you apart. Sign in with your own username. One caution: the Forgot username? email can only be sent when exactly one account uses that email address, so keep a note of your username if you share an email.

Can I use Safe Pathways on my phone?

Yes. Safe Pathways works in any modern browser on your phone, tablet, or computer. No app download is needed.

Notes

• The sign-in field accepts your username or email; for most volunteers, the username is the email on file.
• Forgot username? emails your username when exactly one account uses that email address.
• A shared email address is fine: each account has its own username, so keep a note of yours.
• Next: Your volunteer dashboard and Starting a pathway.
• If you get stuck: Resetting your password, Troubleshooting: I didn't get my login email, and How to get help (and what to include).