Care Team Ministry
To: SAPLC Cabinet Members
From: Lynda Morlock and Ann Rabie, Parish Nurses
Date: November 2005
Re: Care Team Ministry
The Care Team Ministry program is a joint partnership between Twin Cities-area Christian congregations and Lyngblomsten. Care Team Ministry responds, free of charge, to the non- medical "quality of life" needs of individuals and families, such as visits, light chores, caregiver respite, provision of meals, etc. Referrals could come from the pastors, from the parish nurses, from families or from individuals themselves.
The Ministry began in 1998 with 5 pilot churches and there are currently 12 participating churches (see handout). Lyngblomsten, which will enter its 100th year in 2006, has announced an expansion of the Care Team Ministry and is looking for two more interested congregations to partner with them. We Parish Nurses recognize that this program would be a valuable adjunct to our ministry and we are eager to apply for one of the places offered.
Julie Pfab is the Care Team Ministry Coordinator at Lyngblomsten. She provides training for the Care Team Leader in the congregation as well as for the other volunteers in the program. In order to start Care Team Ministry we would need at least 1 Care Team Leader and 10 volunteers by April 1, 2006.
There have already been some wonderful examples of this type of ministry at St. Anthony Park Lutheran and we would like to build on this kind of volunteerism. People of all ages may participate. Volunteers give of their time and talents as they are able, from a couple of hours a week to one hour a month.
The volunteers' initial training is at Lyngblomsten and is only two hours long. Lyngblomsten offers ongoing training and seminars as needed, and has included topics such as Volunteer Drivers' Training and Risk Management.
Julie has calculated that the cost of launching a new Care Team Ministry is about $2500 per congregation. However, because of the generous support of the Lyngblomsten Foundation, the start up cost to a congregation is only $700. We Parish Nurses have enough money in our account to cover that cost!! Thereafter an annual fee of $400 per year includes our share of Julie's salary. She attends the monthly meetings of the Care Team Ministers and is available as an advisor in the whole process. As long as the Parish Nurses are on budget we would be willing and able to cover the annual amount. If the Parish Nurses were not funded and if the congregation valued this program, then the $400 would have to be added to the budget.
We are excited about this opportunity. Cindy Albing is willing to be our first Team Leader and we would work together with her. Others in the congregation have indicated interest in being involved. We see the Amazing Grays as one source of volunteers, but we would like to have an intergenerational program here at SAPLC.
We have already presented this opportunity to our pastors. Pastoral support is essential for the success of such a program. We would like to submit our application as soon as we have cabinet approval. Please understand that acceptance of our application is not guaranteed. However, we are prayerfully optimistic!
Thank you very much.
The Parish Nurses