The biggest challenge for all working families is fast becoming alternate childcare solutions due to the spread of COVID-19. Whether you are trying to juggle childcare while working from home or you are an essential employee who must report to work, we offer the following ideas for finding new sources of childcare:

Reach out to your childcare provider If your child was in a daycare or after-school program that is now closed, you may be able to privately hire a teacher or caregiver to come to your home. This is a great option because these caretakers have been pre-screened, trained, and had a previous relationship with your child.

Contact local high schools or college students who may be looking for work. Many high school and college students are home with free time and a desire to work. You may consider reaching out to see if any of them have experience working with children and are available to watch your child at your home.

Collaborate with neighbors and other parents In times like these, working together as a community is more important than ever. Perhaps there is a small group of families who may want to develop a rotating schedule for childcare. Not only does this help entertain your child(ren), it allows parents to work with fewer distractions.

Check to see if your employer has a back-up care benefit. Some employers have back-up care benefits for their employees. Care is typically offered at a discounted rate as it is a benefit through your employer. Employers choose from a certain amount of days available to each family, per calendar year, and at a certain cost per hour. Please reach out to your HR Department to find out if this type of benefit is available to you as an employee, as well as further information on how to register for this program.

Search local online groups. Most towns and communities have local “Moms” or “Parents” groups through social media platforms like Facebook. Joining these groups can provide you access to post a question and read ideas and opinions of others. Individuals will often use these groups to network, gather advice and help locate resources. If you need childcare, you may find that someone in your area knows of a resource they can recommend.

Reach out to your religious or spiritual community. Turning to your church, synagogue, or mosque during a time of need can be very helpful. This may be a community that can offer temporary childcare, advice on your current situation or an opportunity to connect with a helpful resource.