Coronavirus: Child Care Firm Offers Free Child Care In Texas

AUSTIN, TX — Care.com has bolstered its in-home child care services for emergency workers responding to the coronavirus outbreak with 90 days of free, premium access to its services, the company announced on Monday.

In addition to the free, three-month period of premium services, the company also has created tailor-made portals for frontline workers and caregivers across Texas, the company announced.

Emergency workers looking for child care as well as prospective caregivers can both enroll at https://texasfrontline.care.com/. Potential caregivers are subject to Care.com’s extensive background and safety checks, officials noted. While child care services are not typically free of charge, company officilas said the Texas portal gives residents the ability to waive their fees and volunteer as caregivers, providing additional support to frontline workers.

Gov. Greg Abbott lauded the initiative: "This Care.com initiative will provide an additional avenue of support for our frontline workers throughout the COVID-19 response," he said in a prepared statement. "I am grateful for Care.com's commitment to ensuring accessible child care is available to Texans fulfilling essential services during this time."

Care.com CEO Tim Allen added: "Care.com is honored to partner with Governor Abbott and the state to make this offer and access available to the frontline workers and caregivers across Texas. We are all dependent on the commitment of these essential workers as they look after our families and they deserve nothing less from each of us," said Tim Allen, CEO of Care.com."

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According to information found on its website, the company founded in 2006 allows families to find child care, senior care, special needs care, pet care, housekeeping, and tutors. It describes is data-driven insights as helpful for families narrowing their candidates based on factors such as pay rates, location, family makeup and needs. Additionally, the company's Safety Center provides guidance and resources, including access to background checks and a hiring guide and interview tips, to help families make informed hiring decisions.

Care.com offers of an array of services that enable families to find, manage and pay for care and provide employment opportunities for caregivers, according to its website. "These include a robust suite of safety tools and resources, easy ways for caregivers to be paid and obtain professional benefits, household tax and payroll services for families, and customized corporate benefits packages covering child care and senior care services," the company literature reads.