Search: Employer & Community Services > Child Care Options For Employers > Creating and Supporting Child Care Services When employers identify a shortage of child care facilities or programs in the community, they can elect to provide or support the creation of those services themselves. On-Site or Near-Site Child Care Center: An employer develops a new child care center on or near company premises. Employers subsidize the construction and/or operating costs of the center, and it is often run by an outside provider. Partnering with Other Employers: A group of geographically close companies share the expenses of operating a child care center for their employees. This option is particularly suitable for small companies, downtown businesses, industrial parks, and shopping malls. Family Child Care Network: Family child care is offered for a small number of children in the provider's own home. Companies can form or fund networks of family child care homes to provide child care for their employees or members of the community. The employer may also recruit and train providers to meet specific child care needs for their company. Such networks are well suited to businesses that require employees to work early, late, or weekend shifts. Back-up or Emergency Care: Employers provide choices for short-term care of employees' children when normal care arrangements fall through, such as when the provider is sick or during unexpected school closings. Back-up care can be provided on-site or through contracted providers. Sick Child Care: Employers provide in-home care for children who are mildly ill or recovering from a health problem that keeps them from attending school or their usual child care arrangement. Odd Hour Care: Employers provide in-home or center-based care for children during nontraditional hours, such as during a late shift or on weekends. Before/After School Programs: Employers provide supervised activities for school-age children before school, after school, and during school holidays and vacations. These programs can be housed in various buildings around the community. Many employers also provide transportation between the company, the programs, and the school the child attends. Summer Camp and School Holiday Care: Employers offer or sponsor programs on-site or in the local community to provide care for children during summer vacation or on school vacation days. Advantages: Can address specific needs and/or shortages, such as after school care or back-up care Builds community resources for families Can be a very effective recruitment tool Cuts absenteeism and tardiness caused by unreliable child care arrangements Can adapt hours and programs to employee needs Considerations: Start-up costs can be significant Requires long-term financial commitment Demand may fluctuate or be difficult to predict May take time to build stable enrollment "The bottom line is that our efforts to support employees' work-family priorities are good business. They are neither 'perks' nor 'giveaways.' These tools will help us attract, motivate, and retain people who are more likely to be more dedicated, more focused, more innovative, and more productive."       Randall L. Tobias       Chairman and CEO, Eli Lilly and Co. Choosing A Child Care Program or Policy When choosing a child care assistance program, you should consider the following factors: Your objectives: What do you hope to achieve by offering child care assistance? The needs of your employees: What are your employees' most pressing child care needs? What types of assistance would address those issues? Community resources: What services are already being offered? What service gaps exist that the company could fill? Back to top