Four months ago, we announced that UC Santa Cruz would start providing subsidized back-up care for employees and students. Today, I am pleased to share that there are additional forms of support available through our partnership with Bright Horizons .
Out-of-network support now available
Employees and students can now use the out-of-network support option when Bright Horizons is unable to fulfill their request for back-up care through the Bright Horizons network. This means that students and employees can use their existing care network—such as babysitters, relatives, friends, and other care providers—and Bright Horizons will reimburse employees and students up to $100 per day for care that they arrange on their own. This option is only available if Bright Horizons cannot provide care during the day and time requested.
Virtual tutoring
Students and employees can now schedule time with an experienced tutor to help their 5 to 18-year-old children with their academics. The tutoring includes help with reading, math, science, social studies, and more than 300 other subjects. Students and employees will receive 4 hours of virtual tutoring for each back-up care use. After registering with Bright Horizons, you can submit a tutoring request through the back-up care site and then schedule the days and times that work best for your family.
Virtual camps
Students and employees can also enroll their 3 to 12-year-old children in virtual camps that are offered through Bright Horizons by Steve & Kate’s Camp . The program offers a wide range of online classes and clubs in an easy-to-use platform. Activities include crafts, Roblox, fitness, Minecraft, digital art, space exploration, mathletes, acting games, and more.
More about back-up care benefits
Each eligible employee and student who registers for the program will be allotted 15 uses per year. Employees and students will be responsible for a copay per use, and campus will cover the rest of the cost. The copay per use for employees will be $10 per child, or $15 per family, for center-based back-up care, and $4 per hour for in-home care (for up to 10 hours/day for up to three children). The copay per use for students will be $5 per child, or $10 per family, for center-based back-up care and $2 per hour for in-home care.
To access the support and programs offered by Bright Horizons, students and employees must register online. I encourage those in our community who are raising children or providing adult care to learn more about these helpful benefits and to register well before you are in need of back-up care.
