The Family & Workplace Connection (FWC) is a private, not-for-profit dependent care resource and referral organization providing services that help people successfully manage their work and personal lives in Delaware and nationwide. FWC provides information and programs for individuals with child care and/or elder care needs, the community-at-large, care providers, and employers. FWC is funded by individual and foundation contributions, and government grants and contracts.

REFERRAL SERVICES

• Child Care Referral Service
  FWC provides referrals to child care centers, family child care homes, preschools, school-age programs, and summer camps.
  
  

• Elder Care Referral Service
  FWC provides referrals representing 20 different services in Delaware, including assisted living, companion services, financial assistance, legal programs, senior housing, and transportation.

PROGRAMS TO INCREASE CHILD CARE* QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY
*child care includes after-school care

• Professional Development for Early Care and Education Professionals
  As part of the “Delaware First” comprehensive statewide career development system for early care and education professionals, FWC coordinates “Delaware First” courses throughout Delaware and publishes a quarterly training calendar/newsletter, Provider Pursuits.
  
  
• Resource Centers/Mobile Resource Centers
  FWC operates four Resource Centers in Delaware. The centers are located in North Wilmington, City of Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown and are operated in partnership with the State’s “Delaware First” career development system for early care and education professionals. The centers’ purpose is to give early care and education and school-age programs convenient access to information and materials for professional and program development. The centers feature a lending library of educational toys, audio-visual media, and professional development books. The centers also offer information on starting a quality program, needs assessments, marketing tips, career counseling, die cut machines, copying, and laminating. In addition, FWC operates three Mobile Resource Centers/Vans that bring resources to family child care providers and child care centers statewide.
  

• T.E.A.C.H. (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps)
  The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project provides scholarships for CDA and coursework leading toward an Associate Degree in Early Childhood. The scholarships link increased education to increased compensation and requires recipients and sponsoring early childhood programs to share the cost. In Delaware, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarships are available to anyone who works at least 30 hours per week in a licensed Delaware child care facility; has a minimum of one year’s experience in an early care or school-age center or who is a Level 2 family child care provider; earns less than $15/hour; and is committed to remaining in the field. Funding has come from the Delaware Departments of Education, Health and Social Services, Delaware First; City of Wilmington; Social Venture Partners; City of Newark, and PNC Foundation. Scholarship costs range from $501 to $2,500.
  
  
• Child Care Health Consultant Registry
  Child Care Health Consultants provide health and safety education to children and child care staff, offer referrals to community resources, and technical assistance on health and safety policies and practices. Call 479-1676 for a referral.
  
  
• Delaware Child Care Capacity-Building Program
  FWC manages this program through a contract with Delaware Health and Social Services. The program’s goal is to increase the supply and quality of child care to fill identified gaps: infant/toddler care, care for school-age children, care for children with disabilities, care for mildly ill children, and care during non-traditional hours. Through an RFP process, mini-grants are awarded to providers to expand, enhance, or create programs to address these gaps.
  
  
• Child Care Food Program
  The Food Program is a nutrition and meal reimbursement program, administered in Delaware by the Department of Education and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. As one of the program sponsors, The Family & Workplace Connection manages this reimbursement process for Delaware family child care homes and small child care centers who meet the income criteria. FWC also conducts training for the participating providers, who are visited three times a year by FWC food program monitors. Participants must serve meals meeting USDA requirements.
  
  
• FACET (Families and Centers Empowered Together)
  FACET, a family support program located in child care centers, strengthens and empowers families through educational activities, fun family events, and other support services. A Parent Council selects activities and makes decisions affecting the program. Drug-use prevention is also emphasized. FACET is funded by the Delaware Division of Family Services (Office of Prevention and Early Intervention). Each center receives training and technical assistance in the "I Can Problem Solve" model.
  
• Relative Caregiver Training
  FWC provides free training for Relative Caregivers that have contracts with the Delaware Division of Social Services. The 45 hours of training uses Delaware First curriculum, topics include Safety, Health, Nutrition, Early Language and Literacy, Child Development, Understanding Children's Behavior, and CPR and First Aid.
  
  
• Delaware AfterSchool Alliance (DEASA)
  The Delaware AfterSchool Alliance (DEASA) is a public-private partnership that endorses the goal of all school-age children being academically, socially, culturally, and physically healthy.

• Grand Time Off Program
  FWC manages a program in Delaware to provide respite for grandparents and relatives who are raising other family members' children in their own homes. Caregivers can use Grand Time Off to help them find and pay for short-term, occasional child care needs. FWC operates Grand Time Off through a contract with the Delaware Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities.
  

• ElderBuddy Program
  Piloted in 2003 with AstraZeneca, the ElderBuddy program matches employee volunteers with elders in need of companionship. More than 30 elders at senior housing facilities in Wilmington have been paired with AstraZeneca employees who have made a commitment to visit their elderly friendsfor a minimum of two hours a month. Matches are based on common interests and other requests. AstraZeneca provided FWC with a grant to develop and manage the program. The ElderBuddy program also links elders to resources that might be helpful to them.

FWC'S CORPORATE SERVICES

• Child Care and Elder Care Resource and Referral
  FWC specialists provide client employees with helpful support, guidance, information, and referrals to programs and services that meet their specific needs and have confirmed openings, when applicable. Child care specialists connect employees to child care centers, family child care homes, preschools, school-age programs, and summer camps. Elder care specialists provide customized referrals to a wide range of services and programs that cover housing, health care, transportation, legal and insurance issues, and much more.
  
  
• Just in Time Care
  Launched in 1995, Just in Time Care is a unique, comprehensive, community-based program that links employees with backup care options whenever their regular child care or elder care is unavailable. Employers subsidize the cost, helping to alleviate some of the financial burden on employees.