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| Vol. 17, No. 24 | March 19, 1998 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 24 | March 19, 1998 |
Mothers-to-be Susan Koski (front left), executive vice president's office, and Nancy Geist Giacomini, dean of students office, check out the Family & Workplace Connection for child-care information while Maxine Colm (left), vice president for administration, and Liane Sorenson, women's affairs, who both initiated the program, look on.Connecting with the Family & Workplace Connection (FWC) for information about child care is now faster and easier. The service has gone on-line with a pilot program at UD allowing faculty and staff to electronically access and fill out a request form for child care information, based on individual requirements.
The most comprehensive and current source of child-care information in Delaware, eastern Maryland and southeastern Pennsylvania, FWC is made available by the University.
The innovative program provides referrals to infant and toddler care, preschools, before- and after-school care and area summer camp programs.
Maxine Colm, vice president for administration, and Liane Sorenson, women's affairs and the Commission on the Status of Women, initiated the on-line program and helped in its development.
"Finding child care is one of the most challenging jobs a parent has to face," Colm said.
"We saw an opportunity for technology to help our busy parents. Going on-line provides UD personnel with an easy, convenient way to gather information about child care," she added.
"An exciting feature of this service is that the child-care information is customized for each family's specific needs. By going on-line, FWC saves parents time and quickly provides them with options for child care in their area," Sorenson said.
To access the on-line request form for child care referrals, click on "Employee Information" on the University's home page. Proceed to "Benefits Services," then "Child Care Referral," put in your employee pin number and Social Security number and fill in the child care request form.
Among the questions asked are the type of care needed, the preferred location, the drop-off and pick-up hours and other details.
FWC will do a radial search, starting at the desired location, and identify child care facilities that meet a parent's requirements, then mail or fax profiles of three to five of these child-care facilities within two working days.
In addition, FWC offers educational materials to help users decide what child-care program is best for them, the components of high quality care, how to choose child care and tips for raising children.
If more referrals are needed, an employee can check the "resubmit" box on the request form. If the criteria changes, then another request can be submitted.
"The new on-line service provided by FWC gives parents a starting point for finding suitable child care that meets their individual requirements and also helps them make an informed decision about what facility is best for their needs," Sorenson said.
-Sue Swyers Moncure
Photo by Robert Cohen
