If you have ever served in a Young Men or Young Women presidency, you know the drill. You announce an activity, hand out the permission slips, and remind the youth to bring them back next week. The following week, half the forms are missing. You send emails to parents, make phone calls, and inevitably end up with a line of parents signing paper forms on the hood of a car right before you drive away.
Collecting liability waivers and permission slips does not have to be this difficult. Here is a strategy to get total compliance without the headache.
Why the traditional method fails
The paper method relies on a youth remembering to hand a piece of paper to their parent, the parent finding a pen, signing it, and the youth remembering to put it back in their bag. There are simply too many steps.
Even email distribution has its flaws. Parents receive dozens of emails daily, and a PDF attachment requiring a printer and scanner is a massive barrier to completion.
The SMS Strategy
To get quick action from parents, meet them where they already communicate: a parent group text or approved ward communication channel. A direct message with one mobile-friendly link removes extra steps.
Create the link
Set up a digital waiver that can be accessed via a standard web URL.
Send to the group
Drop the link in your ward's Gospel Living app circle or parent group text.
Watch it fill
Monitor completions in real-time on your dashboard.
Drafting the perfect message
When you send the link, keep the message brief and direct. Emphasize that it only takes a moment to complete.
The result: Zero friction
When parents tap the link, they should be able to review the details, draw their signature on their screen, and submit it instantly. No app downloads, no account creation, and no passwords to remember.