I don't need a long response, I am just curious to know if it is standard practice to have a paid person doing childcare in your UU congregation? If you care to add more, can you tell us about how big your program is and when you started it? Do you believe that for a small, struggling program, paying for childcare could bring in new potential families?
Thanks!
8 comments:
Our tiny congregation (often 20 adults and 10 kids) usually has an adult volunteer and a paid youth assistant. Improving the stability and quality of RE and childcare has played a major role in the steady growth of the congregation.
Yes. Our church (less than 90 adult members) has had paid child care for the 9 years I've attended. It is absolutely vital that a church pay for childcare at least during the worship service (we also asked them to provide it during meetings when we were new to the church and they kept asking us to be on this committee or that). I'd go for a paid RE (non-member) director, as well, but that's a pipe dream at the moment.
The two women who offer RE at 10:00 (before the service) volunteer, but they pay My Sparkly Girl $15 to watch them during the service. It has been my experience that you will grow your church if you offer child care. It is that simple.
Yep, paying for childcare is a good idea (if the church can afford it!).
At our church (around 115 Adults and 40-ish children)our Sunday School teachers are volunteers but the nursery staff is paid. Usually we also have a parent with them as well. I would echo what jfield said about growth. People will only come if they feel thier kids are both safe and taught well.
Our church is roughy 150 members, and the teen assistants during the service are paid. There is a new policy in place to offer childcare for every event sponsored by the church, and the sitters, usually teens, are paid and food is also provided if the event goes over a standard mealtime.
We usually have a paid person in the nursery during services. For other events (parties, dinners, etc.) we also pay for childcare (although sometimes the parents are expected to cough up a little money to help defray the expense).
Great work on the mile project. Our church pays for childcare (100 members). We initially paid just teens but then four years ago we switch to an adult with teen assistance. The adult (paid more) and the teens are paid for childcare during the worship service. For other events teens are paid.
My church (membership roughly 1000, with several hundred showing up to two services a week) has a paid sitter for the babies, and has RE during each of the two services.
Childcare is often given at night events, by the RE director, some people she hires, or both.
CC
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