| |
 |
|
Back-Up Care and Dependent
Care Referral Services
The Board realizes that more families are now
caring for both young children and elderly relatives. To aid employees
with dependent family members, the Board provides its employees
with a Back-Up Care Benefit and Dependent Care Referral Service via telephone or website,
which can
- locate caregivers;
- supply information about dependent care alternatives;
- provide educational materials on a wide variety
of topics such as, adoption, parenting, education, retirement,
and elder care; and
- locate emergency child or elder care when regular arrangements fall through
The Back-Up Care and Dependent Care Referral Service is administered
by Work Options Group. Work Options does not recommend
specific care programs, but acts as a consultant to help you determine
what you need and how to find it.
This service is provided free of charge to Board
employees, and is easy to use. You must register in advance to use the back-up care benefit. Log on to www.workoptionsgroup.com or call 1-800-557-0847.
For more information, please contact the Management
Division, Benefits Section or the Work Options web site.
Back-Up Care
Work Option Group's Back-Up Care program offers 100 hours of around-the-clock care per employee each year. When you need a provider, you may call work Options Group and arrange for a temporary, licensed provider--to assist either at home or in a center. Employees pay a subsidized amount based on the type of service, and are billed after care is received. The copayment schedule is below. A minimum of four hours of care is required.
- $2 copayment/hour per child for center-based care
- $4 copayment/hour for home care (rate applies for up to three dependents)
The total cost of back-up care used during the year will be subject to imputed income. (You will pay a tax on the difference between what you and the Board pay for this service.)
Child Care
Work Options counselors are knowledgeable about care for children
of all ages, from infant to school-age. They can help you research
various care options and child programs, including
- vacancy verified child care referrals;
- day care centers;
- nursery schools;
- in-home care;
- after-school programs;
- summer camps;
- nanny placement agencies;
- programs for the physically challenged and
learning disabled; and
- adoption.
Elder Care
Work Options counselors are also knowledgeable about elder
care. They can
- help answer your questions about:
- nursing homes or other assisted living communities,
- long-distance caregiving,
- aging and health problems,
- legal issues, and
- financial concerns of the elderly;
- help evaluate alternative living arrangements;
- find respite care when you need a break from
caregiving;
- give you tips on how best to cope with caring
for elderly parents in your own home; and
- refer you to local resources for further
assistance.
Other
Work Options also provides information on work/life topics
such as
- primary and secondary education,
- colleges and universities,
- balancing work and family,
- at-risk or high-risk adolescents, and
- convenience services.
|
