Care Teams

As Central's Board of Deacons (the Diaconate) struggles with redefining its own structure and modus operandi, we have decided to introduce and promote the concept of Care Teams as developed by the Care Team Network at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

To quote from their Manual: "A Care Team is a small group of persons (4-12) organized to offer practical, emotional, and spiritual support to someone with a health concern or other special need."

The team approach is different from a one-on-one volunteer approach in that it allows Team Members to do what they love to do, when they are able, in a coordinated way with a built-in support system.

Everyone likes to do something different when it comes to helping others. These are small things that are easy for you to do for another. "What are some of those things you like doing for another person?" Shopping for someone, yard work, running errands, visiting and listening, cooking, reading and studying the Bible together, home repairs, etc...

"A team approach allows you to do what you enjoy doing, what you are gifted in doing, and everyone has different gifts or interests." A Care Team works together to share the care among several persons so that no one person gets burned out. Each team has a Leader who enjoys organizing and delegating, as well as running an effective meeting once a month. Sometimes a team has co-leaders.

Communicate, Educate & Coordinate

The Care Team meets once a month for no more than 59 minutes in order to communicate about how things are going, educate or learn something new that helps the team care for the Friend more effectively, and coordinates the work or the tasks for the next month.

This organized team approach overcomes the fear of becoming too involved, getting overwhelmed, assuring team members they can give what they want to, when they are able.

Finally, Care Team Members can decide how long they would like to be on the team and it's totally flexible and guilt-free. If you need to drop off the team, you just tell your Care Team Leader, your Care Team (in a regular meeting), and your Care Team Friend.

Please stop by the Deacons table in the Concourse to fill out an Exploration Form. If you know of someone who needs a Care Team, please let us know about them. If you would also like to be on a Care Team, please check what you would like to do on the form.

See also:

• NV: Who Cares? We Do!