Child Care Referral Service Brochure

Dear [Company] Employee:

We're pleased to introduce the [Company] Child Care Referral Service. This is a company-paid program to help parents in the area find quality care for their children during working hours.

Finding the right child care provider can be difficult and time-consuming. Now you can get help from a trained child care specialist.

Here's how it works: you just phone [212-555-1212], our child care referral service provider. Counselors familiar with local child care resources will explore with you the factors to consider in your child care search. They will provide information about child care providers near your home or work who have current openings and match your child care needs. You then select a care provider from the referrals given you. If you are not pleased with the referrals, you can return to your counselor for additional consultation and referrals.

The Company pays the entire cost of the referral service. You will be responsible for paying the child care provider you select and for monitoring the performance of your provider. We are confident of the quality of the referral network, but neither the network nor the Company can guarantee the quality of a provider's services.

This brochure describes how the referral service works. If you take advantage of this new benefit, keep us posted on how well it works. If you have questions, contact the director of headquarters human resources or the vice president of human resources.

What the Child Care Referral Service Is

The Child Care Referral Service is a network of local trained specialists who are familiar with child care providers in the area. The network is coordinated by [name of service provider], a community-based resource and referral organization.

What the Service Provides

The service assists parents in defining their child care needs and locating providers who can meet those needs.

Who Can Use the Service

All regular full-time Company employees who live and work in the area are eligible to participate in the Child Care Referral Service program.

How the Service Works

You call the referral agency between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, identify yourself as a Company employee, and explain your needs to a child care specialist familiar with providers in the area. During other hours or when staff is not available, you can leave a message on the answering machine. Dedicated phone lines have been established to ensure prompt attention to your call.
The agency will refer you to several child care providers who meet your stated needs and have vacancies.
Using the information provided by the agency, you select the provider that is best for you and for your child.

Types of Child Care Providers

Day Care Centers: Generally, these include full-day care in nonresidential settings, and nursery schools, which usually provide part-day programs for children age 2 1/2 to age 5.

Family Day Care Homes: The provider takes care of one to six children in a residential setting, usually the caregiver's home.

In-Home Care: Parents who seek in-home care will be counseled on the type of caregiver to look for. The service does not include identifying or interviewing potential applicants.

Other Options: These might include before- and after-school programs, summer day camps, or a combination specific to your needs. These programs might be in centers, homes, or in the schools.

Getting Started

Your search begins with a telephone interview with a trained specialist who will help you determine what type of child care arrangement you need.

When you call, you should be prepared to answer a few questions regarding your child care needs.

What are the ages of your children?
Do you prefer child care near your work or near your home?
Are your children better suited for care in a center or would they do better in a residential setting?
How much can you afford for child care?
Are there any special needs, such as access to public transportation, accommodations for handicaps, special diets, and so on?
During what hours do you need child care?

The referral specialist will identify for you child care providers who have vacancies and meet your family's requirements for hours, locations, programs, ages, and costs. You will not have to call a long list of providers to find the vacancies yourself.

It may take time to locate what you need. Since there are shortages of providers for some types of child care in some locations, there is no guarantee that all of your needs can be met. If the type of care you initially seek is not available, our referral service will work with you to develop alternatives.

Information Provided

Once appropriate providers have been identified, you will be given the following information on those referred:

Ages of children served
Hours and vacation policy
Fees and subsidies
Licensing information
Provisions for children with special needs
Transportation arrangements
Child to staff ratio and group size
Program information

You will receive written confirmation of the child care providers referred. You will also receive a child care handbook prepared by a consultant and published by the Company. The handbook includes a checklist outlining what to look for in evaluating a child care provider.

It is important that you act immediately on the referrals you receive. Openings may fill quickly.

If you are unable to identify a provider from initial referrals, you may call the agency again for additional consultation and referrals. The agency will be in touch several weeks later to find out how well your needs have been met.

Choosing Wisely

Since we pay the entire cost of this benefit, there is no charge to you for the referral service, but you are responsible for selecting — and paying — for the provider best suited to fit your specific requirements and expectations.

You will be given referrals — not recommendations. Although we cannot guarantee the quality of provider services, every effort will be made to give you the information you need to make a wise choice. The ultimate decision is, of course, yours.

Some Questions and Answers

1. How can I be sure of the quality of providers is good?

The agency refers only providers who comply with the laws and regulations of local jurisdictions. Remember, ______makes referrals — not recommendations. Only your own observation and monitoring can assure you of quality care equal to the standards you desire.

2. What if there are no child care providers in my area. Can the program help me?

In areas where there is a shortage of child care providers, ______attempts to develop new resources and recruit new providers. In some cases, you may have to look for a provider en route to work if there are no providers immediately available in your area.

3. Can I use the service for temporary, emergency, or sick child care?

Yes. Although the emphasis of the program is on furnishing information on long-term dependable child care, your counselor will provide information and advice concerning backup care arrangements for emergency situations.

4. I have several children. Will [name of service provider] help me to find places for all of them?

Yes. The child care specialists have information about resources for children from infancy up to age 15.

5. What about children with special needs – such as handicapped children? Will the program help to find care for them?

Our referral service can provide information about child care programs with accommodations for special children, but cannot provide specialized advice on educational plans or treatment.

However, the referral service may be able to refer you to a community resource for such advice. The Company Employee Assistance Program can also assist you in getting help and counseling for children with special needs.

6. I am hearing impaired. How can I use the service?

You can use standard teletype (TTY) equipment to communicate on the telephone with [name of service provider] by calling [800-555-1212].

7. What if I'm not happy with the service? Has a complaint procedure been established?

Yes. If you have questions or concerns about a particular provider, contact [name]. If you have questions or concerns about the administration or quality of the referral service, contact the Company human resources department. We want to hear about your successes as well as any disappointments experienced in using our child care referral service.

8. I have friends and acquaintances who are interested in becoming child care providers. What should they do?

The [name of service provider] is in an excellent position to explain what is involved and how to become a child care provider. Your counselor will be glad to provide the necessary information.

Courtesy of Gannett Co., Inc., Arlington, VA