Question 1

How long will I have to wait for a buddy?

Accepted Answer

The time varies but the average wait time for a buddy is 2-3 weeks. During this time, we will gather information about your child using a SHINE Family Questionnaire. We may ask you to have a phone call, attend SHINE with your child, or have a meeting or 2 with your child’s buddy on Sunday morning in order to help us get to know and find the best fit for your child.

Question 2

Does SHINE offer buddies for both  the 9am & 11am services?

Accepted Answer

We try to be as flexible as possible and work hard to accommodate everyone. However, we are a volunteer-driven program that serves over 30 families and 50 volunteers with variable needs. We may not be able to accommodate a request to have a buddy at a specific service.

Question 3

Can SHINE support all children who request 1:1 support?

Accepted Answer

No. SHINE may not be able to provide support to a child for the following reasons: Child is consistently presenting with behaviors that could compromise safety, including harm to themselves or othersLevel of support required does not match our volunteer skill setChild is able to be fully included in the regular Kidstown programming

Question 4

What special events are there for SHINE kids and families?

Accepted Answer

SHINE is a ministry of Kidstown and so SHINE families and kids are invited as equal participants in all the special events that Kidstown offers, this includes but is not limited to: Move Up Sunday, Friday Night FX, Child Dedications, Bible Presentations, and Kids Week. We encourage SHINE families to follow the Kidstown Calendar for a list of special events. While we do not offer 1:1 buddies for these programs, we are committed to accessibility and ask you to contact us for any special assistance needs: SHINE@grace.org

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