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Penn Offers Wintertime Backup Coverage for Caregivers

November 20, 2019

The winter season means cold, snow, potential school closures, little runny noses and a host of other events that may require you to find backup care for family members. That’s why Penn has a variety of programs and partnerships that help bring peace of mind.

Be prepared for winter weather surprises by keeping Penn’s backup care options  in mind.

Snow Day Child Care
This program, offered in partnership with the Penn Children’s Center, provides all-day child care for benefits-eligible faculty and staff when inclement weather closes schools in the School District of Philadelphia while the University of Pennsylvania remains open.

Snow Day Child Care is available December 2, 2019 through March 27, 2020 for children ages 12 weeks to 12 years. It is not a requirement that your child be enrolled in a Philadelphia school to participate.

The University covers most of the cost for Penn faculty and staff Snow Day Child Care, but there is a daily fee based on several factors including your Penn salary, the age of your children, and the number of children you place in care. Parents must register before there is a snow day by completing an online application . For more information, call the Penn Children’s Center at 215-898-5268.

Care.com
Penn offers benefits-eligible faculty and staff backup care through Care.com. If an elderly parent is visiting and needs extra assistance, your regular caregiver is out of town and you need another one, or you could use help after surgery, Care.com has got you covered.

Through Care.com, you can have temporary backup care in your home, at an out-of-town work location, or at an adult relative’s residence day or night, seven days a week, including holidays. Care.com puts you in touch with professionals who meet your family’s specific needs and expectations. The University covers some of the cost of this care through a subsidy program. Subsidies are based on your annual base salary and other factors, including the number of family members receiving care and whether special needs exist.

Penn offers benefits-eligible faculty and staff up to 10 days of subsidized backup child or adult care per fiscal year.

Child Care - Care is available for children who are 17-years-old or younger, typically in your home. You can also arrange to have the care at your business-travel location. Care.com can provide care for more than one child at a time, and children who are sick. Please keep in mind that only mildly ill children are eligible for care.

You can take your child to a vetted Backup Care Center. The Care.com safety team conducts on-site evaluations, audits, and annual re-credentialing for every Backup Care Center. The service is available across the country, Monday-Friday, during center hours. Visit penn.care.com for reservations and details.

Adult Care - Adults 18 years of age and older in your immediate or extended family are eligible for care whether they reside with you or not. Immediate or extended family includes your spouse, as well as your parents and parents-in-law, siblings, grandparents and adult children. You can also use adult care when you need personal assistance due to illness or injury.

Services include meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, prompting for medication, and assistance with bathing, dressing, and other similar daily activities. Care can be provided at the family member’s location, even if it’s in another city.

Senior Care – This benefit connects eligible faculty and staff with the support and guidance of experienced Senior Care Advisors. Advisors offer caregiving strategies, such as finding the appropriate level of care, proactively planning and paying for care, and assisting adult children whose parents do not want to accept care. The service also allows for free in-depth consultations with a Geriatric Social Worker.

While not required, it is best to register with Care.com in advance of requesting child or adult care placement so that basic information about you and your family is in the system, including your home address, names and ages of your children, and other pertinent details.

To request backup care, call 1-855-781-1303, Monday-Thursday, 7 am-8 pm and Friday, 7 am- 5 pm. If registered, you can also make a request through the Care.com Backup Care online system. If you are not registered, please visit penn.care.com.

For more information about work-life benefits, visit https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/wellness-worklife