Maximizing Church Check-In Efficiency: A SteepleMate Guide

Setting Up Check-In for Children and Events

Ready to elevate your congregation's experience with advanced QR code scanning, customized labels, and real-time tracking? 




Idea
Need help deciding between check-in vs attendance tracking? Here's a guide to help you decide.
FeatureCheck-InAttendance
Label PrintingRequired for extra securityNot available
Security for Child Check-OutAdvanced security with photo ID verification and QR codesBasic, no additional security features
ReportingCheck-in history reporting availableAttendance and absence reporting
Use CaseIdeal for events needing detailed tracking and security, e.g., child care during servicesSuitable for general meetings or adult classes without strict security needs
Roster of AttendeesAvailableAvailable
Authorized GuardiansRequired for checking children in and outNot applicable
Check-In StationsSupportedSupported
Attendee RegistrationHandles both registered and unregistered attendeesPrimarily for registered attendees



The Check-In Settings Guide for Admins is a resource to help church administrators configure and optimize the child and event check-in system. This guide walks you through each step of your check-in settings, including defining lead times, check-in durations, permission groups, label customization, and family identifiers.

church check-in system


In the General Settings section, specify Check-In Lead Time & Duration:

  1. Set your check-in lead time to define how early before a service or event starts that you would like to allow check-ins.
  2. Duration time determines how long after a service begins that check-ins are allowed to continue.
church child check-in system


Permission Groups:

  1. Select or create a group to grant check-in permissions. This typically includes people who have been approved and trained by the church to check in people to children areas and events.
  2. This is beneficial for churches with general check-in areas or when Welcome Center staff assist with check-ins.

child check-in software for churches

Photo Requirements

  1. When checked, the check in process will begin by requiring photos for anyone who does not yet have a photo in the system. You may capture a photo from the check-in page, from a person's profile in the person manager or in the church directory.
secure child check-in for church


Check-In Label Configurations (Optional)

In the Layout section, enable Label Check-In Printing:

  1. While optional, configuring labels is recommended. Start by uploading photos of parents and children into their profiles to verify guardians by their ID.
  2. QR codes simplify the check-out process by allowing a quick scan without needing physical documentation or pins.
kid check in software


If enabling label printing, specify dimensions, orientation, style, font, and decide on including a photo and QR code on labels.
church check-in system


Info
QR codes simplify the check-out process by allowing a quick scan without needing physical documentation or codes.

Check-In Groups

Define which groups children and people can be checked into during services or events. These could be specific classes, child-care groups, or registrants from events. Group leaders and check-in administrators can then manage check-ins for these groups.

check in stations for churches


Family Identifiers

Assign customizable eight-character identifiers to families for easy search and check-in during drop-off.


Info
Ready to start learning how to check-in people? Head over to our guide
"Check-In People for Services and Events"


      • Related Articles

      • Check-In People for Services and Events

        Our Check-In Guide is crafted to streamline the process of managing check-ins, ensuring a secure and efficient system. This guide covers essential steps for volunteers who will be assisting families with the check-in process, and utilizing technology ...
      • Creating a Special Event in SteepleMate: A Step-by-Step Guide

        Welcome to the SteepleMate Knowledge Base! In this guide, we will walk you through the process of creating a special event in SteepleMate. This includes setting up an event landing page and managing registration. For those who prefer a video ...
      • Setup Your Church Calendar in SteepleMate

        Whether you're planning a Sunday Service, a Youth Group Meeting, or any church-related event, SteepleMate's calendar feature is your go-to tool for keeping everyone informed and engaged. SteepleMate not only simplifies church event management but ...
      • How to Create Group Calendar Events in SteepleMate

        Creating group calendar events in SteepleMate helps your church or ministry stay organized by easily scheduling and tracking group meetings. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up group events, including recurring appointments, ...
      • Creating Supply Requests & Sign Up Forms for Church Services and Special Events

        Need a private sign-up form for a meal-train or a way to track who is donating to the Christmas drive? SteepleMate's new Supply Requests feature allows churches to create and manage supply forms or sign-ups for church services and special events. ...
      • Recent Articles

      • Using a Different Online Giving Provider with Your SteepleMate Website

        This article explains what you can and can’t change on your site, and how to share a third-party giving link with your church family. Do I Have to Use SteepleMate for Online Giving? No. You are not required to use SteepleMate online giving. Some ...
      • Why Do I See “We Seem to Have a Problem Verifying Your Internet Connection” on the Giving Page?

        Overview When someone tries to give online through SteepleMate and sees a message about a problem verifying their internet connection, it usually means their connection is coming through: A VPN (Virtual Private Network) Certain types of public Wi-Fi ...
      • Can Online Giving Features Be Hidden in the SteepleMate System?

        SteepleMate understands that not every church chooses to use online giving within the SteepleMate System. This preference is acceptable, and churches are free to determine the giving approach that best serves their congregation. A church’s decision ...
      • Why Church Website Images Can Get Cut Off

        When updating your church website’s Home (Hero) section, it’s important to understand how responsive design works. Modern websites automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes, including: Desktop computers, Tablets, Mobile phones Because of ...
      • Connect Center (Web Kiosk) Customization

        What is the Connect Center (Web Kiosk)? The Connect Center, also referred to as the Web Kiosk, is the web-based interface churches use to allow congregants to: Sign in for prayer or fasting Submit prayer requests or testimonies View announcements ...