Guidelines for Users of Childcare
Background
If your group is planning a church event and wishes to use childcare please read and abide by the following guidelines. Our guidelines follow the Floris UMC Childcare Policy and keep FUMC in compliance with the law. They also ensure good stewardship of church funds, some of which are used to pay Childcare employees.
How to Schedule Childcare for a Group or Event
Complete a Childcare Request Form, located in the 2nd and 3rd floor workrooms or online (click here for the Childcare Request Form). Submit form to Childcare Coordinator, Darcie Blalock at (571)723-8248 or darcieb67@yahoo.com.
1. Childcare is provided for children ages newborn through two years old during Sunday morning worship, through three years old during Sunday evening worship and through ten years old for Monday through Friday events. Every attempt will be made to provide childcare for events when it is needed for two or more families.
2. All childcare requests require a reservation. The number and ages of children requiring childcare must be specified. It is strongly recommended that each FUMC group designate a childcare contact that will be responsible for collecting reservation information. It is important that you take advance reservations from those attending your event if at all possible so that the Nursery can be staffed with the correct number of providers. *When a reservation is made for childcare, the workers will be paid, regardless of whether parents bring their children or not. If a group or ministry reserves childcare, then no children attend, and the reservation is not cancelled within two hours of the event, the ministry budget of the specific group will be charged a minimum of two hours of childcare.
3. Only childcare requests that go through the FUMC Childcare Coordinator can be considered.
4. When requesting childcare workers, state a beginning and ending time. Then, be sure that time is respected and don’t keep the workers past their agreed upon time.
5. Requests require advance notice. Whenever possible please make reservations two weeks prior to the event to allow plenty of time to hire staff. Requests which are made less than two weeks ahead may be accommodated.
6. The Childcare Coordinator and the Children’s Education Director reserve the right to decline childcare requests if staffing is not available and it is deemed that children’s safety may be compromised or adequate childcare cannot be provided.
Regulations Regarding Childcare Workers
1. The two adult rule is adhered to at FUMC with regard to childcare. The church will never hire one person to work alone. Teens may be hired as childcare workers to work with adults, but teens cannot be hired to work without adult supervision. Childcare may be cancelled if there are not two adults present. Parents may be asked to volunteer in the Nursery so childcare workers can adhere to this policy.
2. The childcare workers may work only on church property while a ministry event occurs on church property.
3. FUMC childcare employees cannot be hired to:
· work in someone’s home even if there is a church function occurring in that home
· work on church property while there is an event in someone’s home
· work on church property while there is an event that begins and ends on church property by goes off-site for part of the event’s meeting time
4. The list of childcare workers will not be used as a babysitter reference list for other people. The church is not allowed to endorse anyone for babysitting services.
We pray that providing these guidelines gives you the opportunity to offer functions to your ministry groups where safe and properly supervised childcare can be scheduled. If you have any questions, please phone the church at (703) 793-0026.