Child Care

I am a new coordinator for Mid Maine TimeBank in Waterville, Me. Our fiscal sponsors are concerned about liability issues should we offer child care, and have been advised that CIMA insurance will not cover child care. I noticed that many other TimeBanks offer child care of one form or another. Does this service increase the cost of insurance for other TimeBanks, and require regulation from the State? Does it matter if the language uses "babysitting exchange" or "child care?" Are these concerns any different for elder care? There is a great need in our area for child care of some sort, and I'd like to work this out.

Hi Stacey,

I am a new coordinator for Mid Maine TimeBank in Waterville, Me. Our fiscal sponsors are concerned about liability issues should we offer child care, and have been advised that CIMA insurance will not cover child care.

True, TimeBanks track time and do not "offer child care".

I noticed that many other TimeBanks offer child care of one form or another.

No, TimeBanks facilitate time credits and or time dollars as a means to build community.

Does this service increase the cost of insurance for other TimeBanks, and require regulation from the State? Does it matter if the language uses "babysitting exchange" or "child care?" Are these concerns any different for elder care?

I'm unable to answer the above questions

There is a great need in our area for child care of some sort, and I'd like to work this out.

Best wishes,
Tony

Thanks, Tony, for clarifying that the TimeBank itself does not offer child care per say, but facilitates the exchange. I don't know if that matters to CIMA. Does anyone else have any experience in how to phrase the matter of child care?

Hi Stacey,
These services are offered through our TimeBank, but haven't been used much. One of the ideas I had, short of loability insurance, etc, was to have a special evening where parents, children, or elders, met the babysitters/respite givers. Often seeing someone in person is an aid to these connections. We are also very careful to tell people when they join that they are making a contract with another person for a service. We advise that they use the same caution and wisdom in making these exchanges as they would anywhere else. The example we use is a 'babysitter'. You wouldn't hire a babysitter with no credentials, would you? We encourage the people offering these services to offer their testimonials and other credentials to people. We are learning to trust each other in our communities AND we need to be able to call references, etc, the same as anyone do a cash transaction.

I hope this is of help. We're still dancing here in Woodstock. Just had a class this morning with Inyo. That keeps me happy.
Best to you,
Kristine Flones
Woodstock TB

Dear Kristine,
I am dancing with you in spirit! Does your TimeBank carry liability insurance at all? It sounds like a no. I hate to get too caught up in liability issues, and your ideas sound logical. I have seen some places like Portland where childcare givers volunteer to pay for their own background check when offering that service. You say it isn't a big service for you? It's a huge need here. Many mothers are unable to work due to the cost of daycare; it is more money than what they would earn in income, and they are away from their children too, so a no-win situation, and a revolving door of welfare Moms.

Hi Stacey,
Since there is such a big need for childcare, it would be wonderful to set up a system which would include some kind of protection. That could be liability insurance and/or background checks. These are more important for you because it's ongoing day care for kids, not just an occasional babysitting job. Your State might offer something that would help. You might check in with Onion River TB in Vermont. I know that Gwen Hallsmith is there and she is a great connector/resource person.

Then you could also do some mixer parties to introduce people. It's essential that the caregivers have references. Maybe someone could also set up a form or a referral service through your website or on a blog....I'm not too current with all the possibilities online. Tony Budak is great at that. What kind of tool would be useful: something where people could share info, recommendations, etc.

hope this is of some small help.
Kristine

We have only just started our time bank but this is a big issue for us as well here in New Zealand. We are going to encourage the people to meet prior to the care and decide for themselves whether to offer this service. It is time banking so we don't offer childcare per se. Hard though and needs a lot of thought and input from members I think. We have also written that it is the parents responsibility to decide who looks after their children and we take no responsibility for any decisions that are made regarding these exchanges. We are also doing this for other vulnerable persons, not just children. Friendship, trust, respect and helping others are what we are all about so lets remember what time banking is about and focus on the core values.

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Child Care
stacey.jacobsohn Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location/Time Bank: Waterville, ME	Dated: Fri Jul 24, 2009 8:46 am Subject: Child Care
	I am a new coordinator for Mid Maine TimeBank in Waterville, Me. Our fiscal sponsors are concerned about liability issues should we offer child care, and have been advised that CIMA insurance will not cover child care. I noticed that many other TimeBanks offer child care of one form or another. Does this service increase the cost of insurance for other TimeBanks, and require regulation from the State? Does it matter if the language uses "babysitting exchange" or "child care?" Are these concerns any different for elder care? There is a great need in our area for child care of some sort, and I'd like to work this out.
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TonyB Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 91 Location/Time Bank: N.E. Ohio	Dated: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:27 am Subject: Child Care
	Hi Stacey, I am a new coordinator for Mid Maine TimeBank in Waterville, Me. Our fiscal sponsors are concerned about liability issues should we offer child care, and have been advised that CIMA insurance will not cover child care. True, TimeBanks track time and do not "offer child care". I noticed that many other TimeBanks offer child care of one form or another. No, TimeBanks facilitate time credits and or time dollars as a means to build community. Does this service increase the cost of insurance for other TimeBanks, and require regulation from the State? Does it matter if the language uses "babysitting exchange" or "child care?" Are these concerns any different for elder care? I'm unable to answer the above questions There is a great need in our area for child care of some sort, and I'd like to work this out. Best wishes, Tony
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stacey.jacobsohn Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location/Time Bank: Waterville, ME	Dated: Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:47 pm Subject: Child Care
	Thanks, Tony, for clarifying that the TimeBank itself does not offer child care per say, but facilitates the exchange. I don't know if that matters to CIMA. Does anyone else have any experience in how to phrase the matter of child care? Last edited by stacey.jacobsohn on Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:10 am; edited 1 time in total
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Kristine Flones Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 41 Location/Time Bank: Woodstock, NY	Dated: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:31 pm Subject: Child Care & Senior Care
	Hi Stacey, These services are offered through our TimeBank, but haven't been used much. One of the ideas I had, short of loability insurance, etc, was to have a special evening where parents, children, or elders, met the babysitters/respite givers. Often seeing someone in person is an aid to these connections. We are also very careful to tell people when they join that they are making a contract with another person for a service. We advise that they use the same caution and wisdom in making these exchanges as they would anywhere else. The example we use is a 'babysitter'. You wouldn't hire a babysitter with no credentials, would you? We encourage the people offering these services to offer their testimonials and other credentials to people. We are learning to trust each other in our communities AND we need to be able to call references, etc, the same as anyone do a cash transaction. I hope this is of help. We're still dancing here in Woodstock. Just had a class this morning with Inyo. That keeps me happy. Best to you, Kristine Flones Woodstock TB
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stacey.jacobsohn Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 4 Location/Time Bank: Waterville, ME	Dated: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:20 am Subject: Child Care
	Dear Kristine, I am dancing with you in spirit! Does your TimeBank carry liability insurance at all? It sounds like a no. I hate to get too caught up in liability issues, and your ideas sound logical. I have seen some places like Portland where childcare givers volunteer to pay for their own background check when offering that service. You say it isn't a big service for you? It's a huge need here. Many mothers are unable to work due to the cost of daycare; it is more money than what they would earn in income, and they are away from their children too, so a no-win situation, and a revolving door of welfare Moms.
Back to top
Kristine Flones Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 41 Location/Time Bank: Woodstock, NY	Dated: Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:05 am Subject: Childcare
	Hi Stacey, Since there is such a big need for childcare, it would be wonderful to set up a system which would include some kind of protection. That could be liability insurance and/or background checks. These are more important for you because it's ongoing day care for kids, not just an occasional babysitting job. Your State might offer something that would help. You might check in with Onion River TB in Vermont. I know that Gwen Hallsmith is there and she is a great connector/resource person. Then you could also do some mixer parties to introduce people. It's essential that the caregivers have references. Maybe someone could also set up a form or a referral service through your website or on a blog....I'm not too current with all the possibilities online. Tony Budak is great at that. What kind of tool would be useful: something where people could share info, recommendations, etc. hope this is of some small help. Kristine
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sue stikkelman Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 4 Location/Time Bank: Roimata, Christchurch,New Zealand	Dated: Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:53 pm Subject: child care
	We have only just started our time bank but this is a big issue for us as well here in New Zealand. We are going to encourage the people to meet prior to the care and decide for themselves whether to offer this service. It is time banking so we don't offer childcare per se. Hard though and needs a lot of thought and input from members I think. We have also written that it is the parents responsibility to decide who looks after their children and we take no responsibility for any decisions that are made regarding these exchanges. We are also doing this for other vulnerable persons, not just children. Friendship, trust, respect and helping others are what we are all about so lets remember what time banking is about and focus on the core values.
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