New Child Care Program Offered During Periods of Severe Weather
For many, the only thing more stressful than icy roads during severe weather is the prospect of having to find child care when schools and child care facilities are closed.
Tim and Martha Lassiter - who both work in Essential Service positions in Duke's health care facilities - haven't had to worry about child care during severe weather because they have been able to drop off their two children at a temporary child care site run by volunteers at Duke Hospital.
"It makes it so much easier than trying to juggle to find child care," said Martha, an oncology clinician in Duke's Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Program. "It takes the weight off our shoulders knowing that they are in a safe place while we are both at work. My husband works near the site, so he usually meets them for lunch."
Duke University Health System is formalizing this benefit by introducing a new Severe Weather Child Care pilot program beginning January 2005 to provide eligible staff employed by participating entities across the health system with quality and convenient child care when Duke's severe weather policy is activated.
"In the past, many entities have organized ad hoc child care during severe weather to fill this need," said Mindy Kornberg, assistant vice president for Human Resources. "While these efforts have helped staff manage child care during periods of severe weather, having a formal program that is managed by a nationally recognized child care provider will help provide consistent high quality care and reduce Duke's potential liability."
Staff members eligible to use the program are those who work in positions designated as "Essential Service" by the severe weather policy at the following entities:
- Duke University Hospital,
- Durham Regional Hospital,
- Duke Raleigh Hospital,
- Duke Health Technology Solutions,
- DUHS Clinical Labs,
- PRMO, and
- Duke Health Community Care.
Staff covered by bargaining units should refer to their respective bargaining unit agreements for information about severe weather.
The pilot program is being funded by these entities because they saw the need to provide severe weather child care to staff in Essential Service jobs to ensure patient services and other operations are maintained safely and efficiently during severe weather. The benefit will help eligible staff manage the demands of work and family during periods of severe weather when regular child care arrangements may not be available.
The new Severe Weather Child Care pilot program will be managed by Bright Horizons Family Solutions, one of the premier managers of child care centers worldwide. The program will include licensed instructors, meals and age-appropriate activities for children ages 3 up to 14 years.
When Duke's severe weather and emergency conditions policy is activated, Severe Weather Child Care will be available at three locations:
- Duke University Hospital
- Durham Regional Hospital
- Duke Raleigh Hospital
Space at these three locations is limited, so it will be necessary for
eligible staff to pre-register for the program as soon as possible and then
reserve space by calling a special Severe Weather Child Care RSVP line once
severe weather is imminent. Child care will be available on a first-reserved,
first-served basis for those who have pre-registered and called the RSVP line to
reserve space.
Eligible staff can find the necessary forms and more about how to pre-register for severe weather child care by visiting
the Severe Weather Child Care Web Site or by contacting the site coordinator where they work:
Duke University Hospital
Brenda Radford
919-684-6297 |
Duke Raleigh Hospital
Beverly Cass/Karen Summerlin
919-954-3000 |
Durham Regional Hospital
RonThomas/Lynne Mitchell
919-470-7263 |
If you have any questions regarding Severe Weather Child Care, please contact the appropriate site coordinator or the Human Resources director where you work.
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