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December 2007 Family Care Resources Helps with Childcare Solutions
By Julia Parmley The birth of an infant or adoption of a child is often an exciting and special time. But for parents returning to the workforce, finding childcare can be a daunting task. In 1988, the University recognized the growing need to assist employees with childcare and contracted with Carol Ann Rudolph, M.A. ’77, founder of Family Care Resources. Rudolph has worked with universities and businesses since 1977, offering childcare resources and referrals to parents for in-home care and daycare centers, testing and diagnostic services, education, and summer camps, as well as spouse or elder care needs, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and as far away as West Virginia. A former kindergarten teacher, Rudolph ran the daycare center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the 1970s before founding Family Care Resources in 1977. “After the NIH I realized the importance of empowering parents and helping them select good programs for their children,” says Rudolph. “I felt parents deserved face- to-face attention.” Rudolph says that new parents don’t always know where to begin when it comes to finding childcare. “My role is to educate and inform parents of the wide range of options they have.” Each of Rudolph’s consultations, whether on the phone or in person, is custom-tailored to the family concerned. After looking at factors such as a family’s location and income, the age and temperament of the child, as well as any special needs, Rudolph prepares a packet for the family that includes guidelines for choosing care and information about the different types of care available, including centers, in-home day care providers, and nanny/au pair agencies. Rudolph then follows up with each family after they make a decision. For parents interested in hiring a nanny, Rudolph provides tips on how to place an ad, what questions to ask, and how to check references. One of the childcare centers that GW parents often turn to is the Bright Horizons Family Center, a childcare center for infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children, on 2033 K St., NW. GW employees receive a discount at the center, and while there is a waiting list, Director Sarah Weston says GW employees have priority, and also are able to utilize the center’s “emergency care” if needed. Rudolph helps parents find these kinds of back-up care options in case of sudden emergencies, particularly since daycare centers can have up to a year’s wait. Rudolph says she has worked with a variety of parents. Some of her recent clients include grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren while the parents are serving in Iraq and families who are only temporarily in the area. Annette McGee, executive assistant in GW’s Law School, contacted Rudolph about childcare services and education for her grandson. McGee says her time with Rudolph gave her a “framework” for exploring options. “I would definitely recommend this resource to other GW employees, as many of us do not have the time or the expertise to explore the numerous options that are available,” says McGee. “These services are valuable to the University community.” “Childcare is an enormous decision for parents to make, typically in a very short time period,” says Rudolph, who estimates she assists approximately 130 GW employees a year. “They come in and are so relieved to see they have options.”
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