Work/Family/School Balance

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Work/Family/School Balance
www.healthy-kids.info Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed
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Family/Work/School BalanceAmericans report
sharply higher levels of work- family conflict
than do citizens of other industrialized
countries. 90 percent of American mothers and
95 percent of American fathers report work-family
conflict.
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Todays family

• Now, 70 percent of American children live in
  households where all adults are employed.
• Nearly one in four Americansmore every yearare
  caring for elders.
• Hospitals let patients out quicker and sicker.
• Yet employers still enshrine as ideal the
  breadwinner who is always available because his
  wife takes care of the children, the sick, the
  elderlyas well as dinner, pets, and the dry
  cleaning.

The Three Faces of Work-Family Conflict from The
Center for American Progress and the Center for
WorkLife Law at the UC Hastings College of the
Law analyzes the work-family conflicts that
millions of American families face and provides
common-sense, progressive recommendations to
solve them...  (Jason Rahlan  202.481.8132 
 jrahlan_at_americanprogress.org Download the full
report (pdf)  Download the executive summary
(pdf) 
www.healthy-kids.info
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Grandparents as parents

• The fastest-growing household type is
  grandparents being the primary guardian for their
  grandchildren.
• Grandparents are the primary guardian for 30 to
  50 of children under 18 in some inner cities.
• Grandparents also are a major source of childcare
  for working parents.
• Nearly 20 of working mothers with young children
  use the childrens grandparents for childcare.
• 1/3 of the grandmothers who provide care for
  their grandchildren are employed, so they often
  end up in the same position single mothers are
  inat risk of losing their jobs.

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Got stress?
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Crisis?

• What happens when your kid gets sick?
• What happens when your babysitter gets sick?
• What happens when you get sick?

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Score yourself

• personal life?
• family life?
• social life?
• participate in your congregation?
• participate in your childs school?
• participate in civic life?

www.healthy-kids.info
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Got stress?

• Multiple family responsibilities
• No paid sick days
• Unpredictable and inflexible workplace schedules
• No paid family and medical leave
• Mandatory overtime
• Discrimination against parents, pregnant women
  and caregivers

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Work Disruption

• Nearly one out of every two low-wage parents
  interviewed in one study had been sanctioned at
  work due to family care responsibilities. Some
  were fired others lost wages others were denied
  promotions or received verbal or written warnings.

www.healthy-kids.info
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Parent involvement

• You are not alone.

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The Key Relationships

• You need allies and back up networks
• Set up your support system before school starts.
• Keep emergency back up numbers up to date.
• Provide backups with authorizations and current
  info to act in your place.

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Research
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Your Policy Book

• Medication/Delegation
• Attendance/Absences
• Teacher Student assignments
• Physical Education
• Grading/retention
• Field Trips
• Emergencies

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Consider

• School schedules
• School demands
• School attitudes
• School policies
• School expectations

www.healthy-kids.info
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Building the Comprehensive Coordinated Care Plan

• Safe
• Effective
• Reliable
• Continuous
• Peace of mind
• Avoids disruption
• Educational continuity
• Health security

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Ellie Goldberg, M.Ed.
www.healthy-kids.info