It’s an established truth amongst those in the know (a group growing every day) that coops help makes parents lives better. They save families money, build community, and help parents achieve that illusive “balance” we all seem to be chasing in our lives. But like in any group, especially one in which a number of different households are involved, there are going to be hurdles to overcome. Adam Rabiner, a member of the Prospect Heights Babysitting Coop, was kind enough to write about some challenges that his coop battles, how they are facing them, and the lessons they have learned in the process:

My Brooklyn baby-sitting coop formed six and a half years ago, about the time my first child was born.  With eleven active members, those who post for a sitter have a strong chance of getting one.  Our principal challenge over the years has been to increase those odds even further and to create a coop where every single member goes out and sits at least periodically.  Members have voiced concern that it is difficult for prospective new members to feel comfortable coming into a group with a sizable number of inactive members who they may never meet.  Coops are based on trust and ongoing, dynamic, relationship building, and it may hard to build up trust in this situation.  Achieving full, active participation, though, has been elusive, and in fact may be unrealistic.

 

Our group has pursued several strategies to encourage maximum use.  One is simply moral suasion.  At business meetings we’ve had frequent conversations about the benefits and necessity of a fully engaged membership.  We’ve also created both positive and negative incentives to encourage use.  For example, we instituted a new rule that families who do not go out at least once in a given calendar year will be penalized and those who go out the most will be rewarded.  With four months remaining in 2011 and seven families sit-less this year, the verdict is still out on how effective this reward system will prove to be.  Our latest effort is to have the Membership Chairs reach out to these families and speak to them about the reasons they are not using the coop in order to explore ways to better address their needs.

 

Courtesy of Mark Jaffe

I’m hopeful that this last strategy makes a positive difference – but my sense is that families choose to use or not to use a baby-sitting coop for various reasons, some of which may be beyond the control of the group.  Members may move away from the neighborhood, remaining with the coop out of loyalty and friendships, but find using it impractical.  They may find alternative care arrangements for their kids.  They may need to take a hiatus due to having another child, unusual family living arrangements, or life circumstances.  They may simply enjoy attending a coop’s social activities and remain members for that reason alone.

 

Ultimately, it would be grand if every single family that joins a coop chooses to use it several times a year.  That’s a gold standard and I’d be happy to see it realized in my Brooklyn neighborhood.  I’m waiting to see if our latest efforts to spur greater usage bear fruit.  If they do not, I remain comfortable knowing that a coop can be functional, even vibrant and healthy, with a dozen or so committed members.

A big thanks to Adam for sharing his wisdom and experience. We will be eager to hear about Prospect Heights’s progress towards their goal of 100% participation!