Registration for Kids Kare at Home, a sick child/backup child care service for the U-M community, is now open. This service is for those times when regular care is unavailable. For example, when a child needs to stay home due to illness, but the parent must be on campus or at work, a Kids Kare caregiver may be available to provide backup care in the home.

“At this time of year, it happens to working parents everywhere,” says Barb Mulay, manager of the U-M Work-Life Resource Center. “A sick child means juggling schedules, which can be very stressful. The university offers this service to help make things a little easier.”

To use the Kids Kare at Home program, faculty, staff and students must first register online. Parents are encouraged to register now to ensure access to the service, beginning January 1, 2016. Registration is free and there is no obligation to use the service.  

“Many parents sign up just in case it’s needed, for a little peace of mind,” adds Mulay. “And our new service provider really delivers service you can count on - provider availability and parent satisfaction have been fantastic at over 95%.”

Please note, an hourly sliding-scale rate (based on the total family income) will be determined upon registration. Parents who enrolled for the service in 2015 must re-register for next year.

More information: Kids Kare at Home, sick child/backup child care service.