Advisory Boards and Boards of Directors

Introduction Crisis nursery and respite care programs will rely on the advice and support of numerous people during the many phases of their existence. Two important administrative bodies which may provide direction and support to crisis nursery and respite care programs are the advisory board and the board of directors. The structure of the program or parent organization will determine whether the program receives advice from one or both entities. The following information provides an overview of both types of boards. Advisory Boards Effective advisory boards are critical to the success of crisis nursery and respite care programs. Having an independent body of community leaders, parents, and other interested community members can be key to building a secure, ongoing program.  The advisory board plays an important public relations role, as well as, providing program staff with a fresh perspective on programmatic issues. In addition, working with an advisory board may increase the organization’s potential to broaden its funding through contacts for in-kind resources, and for direct financial support. Each advisory board member brings something unique to the program. Some members will take responsibility for specific tasks. Other members will not be able to accept specific responsibilities, but will attend meetings and provide valuable input. Others may not be able to attend many meetings, but have good contacts or can carry out a specific function independently. Some board members may not be able to attend meetings or take any specific responsibilities, yet their support, even if in name only, may be important because it lends credibility to the project. For the entire article, please download this: https://newmimsy.sunstrata.com/IMS/DownloadFile.aspx?Id=xLvhko+Fm2iYwV3…