Congregations Caring for Children

Setting Up a Task Force to Study Program Possibilities

Setting Up a Task Force to Study Program Possibilities

Setting Up a Task Force to Study Program Possibilities

Setting Up a Task Force to Study Program Possibilities

Setting Up a Task Force to Study Program Possibilities

The impetus for initiating or changing a weekday child care program may come

from a congregational member, a neighborhood parent, or a child care provider

in the community.  That person goes to the congregation and asks permission to

establish a task force to explore program possibilities.  The task force ultimately

becomes the group which convinces a congregation to support a particular child

care program.  It defines the community to be served and discovers its needs.  It

assesses the congregations' feelings about having a child care program.  It sur 

veys the community to find out how many families with young children live

near the congregation and how those children are being cared for.  It looks at the

church location and asks, is this area convenient to working parents?  Are there

non working parents who might need a program here?  Then it brings the results

of its study to the congregation's governing board.

A task force becomes the advocate for a child care program.  If members of this

group are convinced there is a valid need they are likely to win the approval of

even the most reluctant members.

The Make up of a Task Force

Members of a task force are people in a congregation or community who will be

affected or have resources to offer a child care program: persons who are respon 

sible for education, building maintenance, community outreach, kitchen func 

tions, legal matters, budget and finance; child care professionals; parents.

The Task Force's Responsibilities

The task force has four responsibilities:

1. To establish whether a program is needed.  If a program is already

operat ing, the task force assesses what needs it is meeting and what needs

are unmet.

2. To define the purpose of a program for the congregation

3. To determine whether and how the congregation can support a program.

4. To select a child care program and recommend it to the congregation.

Adapted from Helping Churches Mind the Children: A Guide for Church Housed Child Care Programs.

Ecumenical Child Care Network, 1987. Used with permission.

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