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Enhanced Caregiving Options at Johns Hopkins

Enhanced Caregiving Options at Johns Hopkins – Report of the University Pandemic Academic Advisory Committee and Update from Human Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our professional and personal lives tremendously. Members of the Task Force on Women’s Academic Careers (TF) have met regularly throughout the pandemic to discuss particular challenges faced by women during the pandemic, as well as seeking input from women in the DOM on their concerns. In early July, the TF hosted a virtual panel discussion on Women and COVID-19.

The TF has contributed recommendations to several entities tasked with addressing and mitigating significant challenges faced by faculty--especially junior faculty and women--including the Faculty Senate of the School of Medicine and the University Pandemic Academic Advisory Committee (UPAAC).

Task Force members Drs. Meredith McCormack, Heather Sateia and Ethel Weld, along with three other DOM faculty, participated in a listening session with President Daniels and Dean Rothman. This listening session was one of several held this summer by President Daniels and Provost Kumar with junior faculty from across the university. The listening sessions provided input on pandemic-related challenges faced by junior faculty for a working group of the UPAAC. This working group was primarily focused on caregiving issues. In addition to addressing caregiving, the report covers concerns and recommendations from junior faculty about career advancement, teaching and training and lack of agency. The full report was released on August 13, 2020 can be found here.

Here is a summary of several immediate enhancements to JHU caregiving benefits enacted in response to junior faculty input.

Finding care:

  • Enhanced existing paid premium membership to the Care@Work by Care.com app and platform. In addition to allowing employees to post jobs and perform detailed searches for providers, the service now includes expert assistance by Care@Work, which provides one-on-one support with a care specialist for an individualized care search. Use a keyword search for “Hopkins” on the Care@Work platform to narrow your search to caregivers specifically interested in working with the university community.
  • HR now provides affiliates with access to Komae, an innovative co-op-style parent network platform on which Hopkins families can find each other to pool resources for caregiving.
  • Maryland Family Network offers personalized child care resources and referrals for families seeking center-based child care in Maryland through their LOCATE service.

Backup care

Johns Hopkins provides subsidized backup care through Care@Work, up to 20 days per year to support child care or elder care when regular arrangements are unavailable. These services can come through care centers or individuals, and Human Resources is working to provide more flexibility in the network of providers.

Upcoming Caregiving and Program Information Sessions

Human Resources will be conducting Family and Caregiving Programs information sessions starting this month. We will cover how to use Komae Cooperative Care as well as Care@Work’s offerings to have a successful school year. To register for the first two sessions listed below, go to the Child Care HR page.

  • Friday, Aug. 21, 10:30-11:30 a.m
  • Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2-3 p.m.

Next steps

Human Resources is exploring options to provide tutoring and other assistance for children engaged in distance learning and increased financial aid for those struggling to afford unexpected care costs.

Find out more:

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Kelsey Bennett