MARSHFIELD – The 2020-21 school year has begun and students are back in classrooms, virtually and/or in-person. The COVID-19 pandemic and potential for a surge in cases throughout Wisconsin in the coming months is a particular challenge for our staff who juggle responsibilities as a health care worker and a parent. We are again seeking help from the public in providing child care for our employees children.
When schools were shifted in March to virtual education, we created a Child Care Needed and Child Care Provided database to connect our employees in need of child care with people in the community who are able to provide child care. As a result we had more than 450 people offer their services, which allowed our employees to prepare for and treat COVID patients.
“The generosity of the dozens of people who availed themselves to our providers and staff was a tremendous help,” said Chris Kautza, gift officer, Marshfield Clinic Health System Foundation. “Those employees were able to focus on helping transition our clinics and hospitals to prepare for treating patients in the COVID world we now live in without having to worry about child care for their children.”
With the start of the school year, we have removed the initial list of those seeking and offering childcare and are updating it, including additional details of the need/offer for tutoring/E-learning assistance.
To help out a local health care provider, send an email to childcare@marshfieldclinic.org and include some key information. Your information will then be posted on an internal website where a health care worker may reach out to you. Please include information such as:
- Name
- Age
- City of residence
- Days and time of availability
- What age groups are you willing to provide care for (infants, toddlers, teens)
- Any special qualifications (e.g. CPR, formal training, E-Learning, etc.)
- Do you have transportation and how far are you willing to travel to provide child care
- Anything else you think may be relevant
