Guidelines for Nursery Volunteers

Thank you for serving as a nursery volunteer!  The purpose of nursery volunteers is twofold.  First, it provides an often vital supplement to the paid staff, and second, it provides parishioner involvement and feedback to church staff concerning the quality of our nursery care. 

We ask that you follow these guidelines when volunteering....

1.  Please arrive by the start of the worship service or other activity for which you plan to volunteer.  A few minutes beforehand would be helpful, if possible.  Although most children use the nursery during the 9 a.m. worship service (or 10 a.m., during the summer), there may be children throughout Sunday morning.  We have not traditionally asked volunteers to assist with the earliest service.  If you can stay for more than one service (i.e. 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.), that would be wonderful.  Some volunteers whose children are in the nursery may elect to leave once other children’s parents have collected them to participate in Holy Eucharist, so that the volunteer may share Holy Eucharistic with their children as well. 

2.  If you cannot come on your assigned day, please make every effort to find a replacement from the volunteers list.

3.  Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the nursery guidelines for staff, which are posted in the nursery.  The St. Alban’s nursery uses the Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers developed by the Department of Social Services for the Commonwealth of Virginia.  These standards ensure that children are given the highest quality care possible. 

4.  Remember, the most important ways volunteers help are by:

·                     Playing with, assisting, and otherwise caring for our youngest members and visitors

·                     Assisting the staff in emergencies (i.e. finding parents or calling 911)

·                     Helping maintain an appropriate STAFF/CHILD RATIO.  It is important not to have more than 5 children for each staff or volunteer in the nursery.  If a child arrives and it would be more than 5 children per staff or volunteer, ask if the parent can stay for a few minutes until another volunteer can be located.   It is fine if a parent offers to stay and help in the nursery.  Per the minimum standards all volunteers must be at least 14 years old.

 If you would like to help with this important ministry by becoming a volunteer, please contact Gina Clune.