UpDate - Vol. 14, No. 10, Page 13
November 3, 1994
New health-related options now available to employees

     The University has several options available for employees
seeking child-care and elder-care assistance. It also has instituted a
new maternity-related benefit for the mother and new baby after they
have been discharged from the hospital.

Child, elder care
     Child-Care Connection offers a free, personalized resource and
referral program. University employees may call Child-Care Connection
at 479-1688 in New Castle County, or 672-0505 in Kent and Sussex
counties, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, to receive
help in finding a licensed child care provider.
     The University also has a cooperative arrangement with the Girls
Inc. Child-Care Center in Newark. The center reserves 50 percent of
its slots for children of University employees and offers a 10 percent
discount on its charges, which are set on a sliding scale basis. Girls
Inc. provides infant care, child care, before- and after-school care
and summer camp. Call 292-0425 for more information.
     University employees who need help with caring for a sick child
or a dependent who needs assistance in caring for him- or herself may
contact the Visiting Nurse Association. The nursing agency has a
variety of services available, on a fee-basis, to assist in these
situations, including a national network of services for elders who
live out of state. In New Castle County, call 323-8200; in Dover, call
674-7710; in Milford, call 422-2010; and in Georgetown, call 855-9700.
     For help with child-care or elder-care concerns, call Liane
Sorenson or Donna Tuites in the Office of Women's Affairs, telephone
831-8063; or Deborah Dintenfass in the Office of Benefits Services,
telephone 831-8823.

Maternity care
     The University, in conjunction with the Group Health Insurance
Committee of the state of Delaware, has instituted a new benefit, "The
Mother's Helper Maternity Program," under Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Delaware and Principal Health Care of Delaware medical plans. This
benefit is designed to ensure the well being of and support for the
new mother and baby after discharge from the hospital. Pre-
registration is required, and employees should contact either Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Delaware or Principal Health Care of Delaware to
receive information on these benefits.
     As part of the Mother's Helper Maternity Program, a registered
nurse will visit the participant's home within 24 to 48 hours after
discharge from the hospital. The nurse will assess the well-being of
both the mother and baby. The nurse also will provide up-to-date
information on topics such as routine newborn care, physical and
emotional postpartum changes, breast feeding, cord and circumcision
care, formula preparation, feeding techniques, hygiene and postpartum
exercises.
     Once the registered nurse's visit is complete, participants will
be entitled to eight hours of homemaker service to assist the new
mother and a $50 gift certificate toward the purchase of an approved
car seat or other useful baby item. (For multiple births, the parents
receive $50 per child.)