Good News Presbyterian Church Nursery Handbook

Good NewsPresbyterian ChurchNurseryHandbookGood News Presbyterian ChurchP.O. Box 1051, Frederick, MD 21702301-473-7070

INTRODUCTIONThank you so much for volunteering to serveour little ones and our families by helping in thenursery! We hope you are blessed by thesweet faces you serve each time you are withthem.May they win your heart as you seek to wintheir little hearts for Jesus at these early stagesof their lives!The following pages contain some importantinformation for serving in our nursery. In orderto give both our volunteers and our children themost meaningful and safest possibleexperience, we ask that you read thishandbook in it’s entirety before serving. Wealso ask that you keep it for as long as you areon the nursery schedule as a referencemanual.Thank you again for your willingness to serveand bless our little ones!Updated March 25, 20091

Mission Statementand Ministry ObjectivesOur nursery exists to provide a safe, clean andnurturing environment that contributes to eachchild’s mental, social, emotional, motor, andspiritual development.Objective #1: To maintain and promotepolicies that ensure each child’s safety at alltimes while in the nursery.A. Volunteer Screening Policy1. All volunteers must complete anapplication for service.2. All adult volunteers must have a"background check" by submittingfingerprint cards. To do this you mustappear in person at either the MarylandState Police Barrack B (301-644-4151)or the Frederick County Sherriff’sOffice (301-600-1046).Both are located at 110 Airport DriveEast, Frederick, MD 21701.Directions: From I-70 East, take Exit 56.Make an immediate right onto BowmanFarm Road, then left onto Airport DriveEast. From I-70 West, take Exit 56. Circleback over I-70 and take the first right after2

crossing over the interstate. Go east onthe access road and it becomes BowmanFarm Road, then left onto Airport DriveEast.Your fingerprints will be checked againststate and local databases. You willreceive a response to this inquiry within afew weeks.Maryland State Police Barrack BFingerprinting hours: Thursdays, 12:304:00 p.m.Payment & ID: Present a validgovernment-issued, photo identificationand a check from the church for 5.00 foreach fingerprint card required (usuallytwo are required). If it is inconvenient toget a check from the church, please paywith your own check and the churchtreasurer will reimburse you.Frederick County Sherriff’s OfficeFingerprinting hours: Wednesdays,12:00-2:00 p.m. and 4:00-6:00 p.m.Payment and ID: Present a validgovernment-issued photo identification.The Sherriff’s office only takes exact cashor money orders. Fingerprint cards are 5.00 each (usually two are required).3

The church treasurer will reimburse youfor this expense.B. Sign-In and Out Policy All parents must register their childrenwith the Nursery Supervisor. Children new to the nursery should besigned in and given a name tag. Anyone retrieving the child of a nonchurch member, other than the parent(s)who checked the child in, will not beallowed to retrieve a child without priornotification to the nursery worker.C. Scheduling Policy There must be a minimum of two workersper nursery at all times. A minimum of 1 worker per 2 infants and1 worker per 6 toddlers must bemaintained at all times to ensure safesupervision of all children. There must be at least one female adultin the nursery at all times. Only pre-screened and pre-approvedvolunteers will be allowed in the nursery.Nursing mothers and parents helpingtheir own child with separation anxiety willbe the only exceptions.D. Diaper Changing Policy Male volunteers are NOT allowed tochange diapers or go into the restroomwith children.4

Diaper changing must always be done insuch a way that another nursery workercan easily see the child being changed aswell as the other children and workers inthe room.E. Policy Regarding Minors in the Nursery Minors are not allowed in the nurseryexcept during their assigned time sloton the schedule. Minors must submit an application forservice. They are not required toundergo a background check. Minors 12 and older are allowed toserve in the Infant Nursery and handleinfants in combined nurseries if theyhave completed a certified babysittingcourse. Minors must always serve with anotheradult.F. Facility Safety Policy The Supervisor will undergo Infant CPRtraining. A first aid kit will be kept in the toddlernursery along with a basic first aid sheetand Infant CPR sheet attached.Objective #2: Maintain and promote a cleannursery after each use to help prevent thespread of infection.5

A. Cleaning ProceduresThe Supervisor should disinfect the nurserytoys and equipment after each use of thenursery.B. Wellness PolicyParents will be asked to NOT bring theirchild to the nursery until at least 24 hoursafter any of the following symptoms haveceased without the assistance ofmedications. Fever (100 or above) Sore throat Vomiting Diarrhea Pink Eye or other eye infections Green/yellow discharge from nose oreyes Any unexplained rash Skin infections (e.g., boils, ringworm,impetigo)Objective #3: Maintain, promote and developand nurturing environment that contributes toeach child’s:1. Mental Development: Through quality toyselection and books, and items for creativeplay (older toddlers)6

2. Social Development: By encouraging andteaching kindness with words and hands,sharing and taking turns.3. Emotional Development: Throughappropriate loving, cuddling and holding oflittle ones and modeling kind words and softvoices.4. Motor Development: By providing ageappropriate toys (as space allows) for grossand fine motor skills and activity ideas forvolunteers.5. Spiritual Development: We want topromote the Gospel in the lives of childrenthrough the following and other similarmeans: Worship Music Teaching a few simple Scripture versesfor repetition and theme, suggested bythe Nursery Supervisor. Books with spiritual teaching and Biblestories (age appropriate) Modeling Christ-like character andgentleness in the volunteers. Praying with the children Activities that teach Scripture truths,suggested by the Nursery Supervisor.7

Parents’ Role and Expectations1. Parents using the nursery will be expectedto serve a minimum of one time slot everyother month. The nursery functions as aco-op with parents. If parents wish to usethe nursery, they will be asked to also servein the nursery as a volunteer.2. Parents will be asked to bring a diaper bagwith diapers, wipes, all necessary comfortitems (excluding toys) and preferred snacksif child has allergies.3. Parents will be asked to label all belongingsthat may be used in the nursery. A churchdiaper bag tag will provided for allregistered children.4. Parents will be asked to sign-in their childwith all requested information, to use thepermanent name tag provided by thechurch. Once the parents and childrenbecome well known in the church, nametags will no longer be required.5. Parents will be asked to register their childwith the nursery and provide all requestedinformation including allergies and specialneeds information.8

Nursery VolunteerJob Description1. Volunteers are to know and agree to followthe mission statement, ministry objectives,policies and procedures in NurseryHandbook.2. When unable to serve for whatever reason,volunteers are to find their OWNreplacement from the nursery schedule andTHEN notify the Supervisor of the change.Volunteers should NOT contact theSupervisor to find a replacement for them.Volunteers should contact the Supervisorfirst ONLY in the event of a true emergency(after 8 PM the night before service).3. Volunteers are encouraged to developrelationships with the children and theirfamilies and work to promote ministryobjectives while serving.4. Volunteers must arrive 15 minutes earlyand wear a name tag.5. Volunteers should wear name badges sothat visiting parents can better remembertheir names and be able to clearly identifythem as our nursery workers.9

6. Volunteers should introduce themselves tovisiting parents who bring their child to thenursery, give a nursery pamphlet to theparents, and help their child acclimate tothe nursery.7. 5th Week Volunteers will also be used asemergency substitutes.8. Volunteers are encouraged to ask JasonRobling (ajrobling@msn.com) to provide aCD of the sermon they missed becausethey were in the nursery.Nursery SupervisorJob Description1. Promote, execute, and improve upon thenursery’s mission statement, ministryobjectives, policies and procedures.2. Recruit, screen and train all nurseryvolunteers.Manage the nursery schedule. Remindvolunteers of service via phone the week oftheir upcoming service.3. Clearly, firmly, and graciously correctnursery volunteers who are not serving inaccord with our nursery policies andprocedures.10

4. Oversee the physical environment of thenursery including toy purchasing, stockingsupplies and cleaning.5. Provide each nursery volunteer a namebadge to be worn during the service in thenursery and remind volunteers to wear theirname badges.6. Report to Pastor and Deacon Board anyneeds and issues concerning the nursery.7. Substitute for a worker ONLY in the eventof a TRUE emergency (after 8 PM the nightbefore service OR when there are too manychildren and not enough workers and anemergency substitute was unable to beobtained).8. Arrive 20 minutes early in order to: Help prepare the nursery. Help greet parents and children,especially families new to our church. Assist with the check in process. Leavefor church worship service at 10:25. Be sure volunteers have everything theyneed to serve the children.11

5. Provide each nursery volunteer a name badge to be worn during the service in the nursery and remind volunteers to wear their name badges. 6. Report to Pastor and Deacon Board any needs and issues concerning the nursery. 7. Substitute for a worker ONLY in the event of a TRUE emergency (afte