Channing Memorial Church Year of Decision 2006-2007 Committee Information & Resources Caregiving

To: The Transition Team
From: Barbara Nowicki, January 30, 2007

The following talking points for the Channing Care-giving Program are based on a phone conversation with Nickie Kates in which she described how the Care-giving Program functions successfully now, and a brief vision of how the program might expand in the future.

Channing Care-giving Talking Points:

• The Channing Care-giving Program (CCP) is not a "committee" per se but a collaboration between a primary facilitator, 2 or more monthly coordinators, and the congregation as a whole.
• The key to the smooth and successful functioning of the CCP is to keep things simple.
• In order to keep things simple and avoid issues with liability/insurance etc. the CCP does not arrange for paid services (like housekeeping, babysitting, or paid transport services) and does not support a van transport service.
• The CCP does provide a basic suite of services including cards, letters, phone calls, food, rides, running errands. They also serve to connect people in need in the congregation with others with information, talents or expertise.
• For continuity, the CCP requires one person who serves as facilitator or administrator, preferably with some experience in the social services or health care fields (this person has been Nickie Kates for many years).
• The CCP facilitator needs to maintain a close working relationship with the minister in overseeing the congregation's care-giving needs.
• The CCP article featured in the monthly Catalyst is very important to keeping member of the congregation in touch with one another but does not provide volunteers for the CCP.
• Immediate needs for the CCP include:
• More volunteers to sign up for specific tasks (errands, rides etc.).
• Volunteers to spend time as a companion for the elderly.
• Training sessions for care-giving, perhaps to be done as a monthly “chat”.
• A full-sized table at the Channing Service Fair each fall (rather than sharing a table) as they need room for volunteer sign-ups for a large suite of possible activities.
• In the future the CCP would like to:
• Encourage better coordination with small group leaders to provide appropriate support and care-giving through small group ministry.
• Involve more youth in the CCP.
• Expand to allow the CCP to reach out more to the local community.
• In the future, should the congregation grow in size:
• 3 (or even 4) caregiving coordinators migh be needed, instead of the current 2.