²ÝÝ®¶ÌÊÓƵapp

SIU Carefully

SIU is excited to introduce Carefully to support parents and caregivers at SIU Carbondale, SIU Edwardsville & SIU School of Medicine. This partnership aims to drive academic success and college completion in the SIU parenting community with a new option for childcare. With Carefully, parents can build trusted networks for sharing care, so they can succeed at SIU with more mutual support from others who understand their unique challenges. Learn more, share with others, and volunteer to support the parenting community at SIU - .

Why Carefully?

Our partnership with Carefully reflects a shared belief in the power of community-based childcare. With data showing parents with childcare are 300% more likely to graduate and 62% more likely to rise above the poverty line, it’s clear that providing these options is crucial. Carefully offers an innovative solution supporting the , especially valuable in Illinois, where 58% of residents are living in a childcare desert.

“Family, friend and neighbor child care (FFN)—child care that is offered informally in families and communities by trusted family members and friends—is a critical aspect of our child care system. Nearly 6.4 million children ages 0-5 receive care from about 5 million FFN caregivers, making FFN care the most prevalent form of non-parental child care in the United States. This is also the care option that demonstrated the most resilience during the pandemic, keeping essential workers on the job and our communities running.”

Benefits for Parents and Caregivers

Sharing care and organizing playdates with Carefully provides an option for childcare that can alleviate stress while giving parents more time to focus on academics .By joining Carefully, you’ll be part of a trusted community of fellow SIU parents, enabling you to :

• FIND COMMUNITY & SUPPORT Create your trusted childcare pack with Carefully as you “Find your pack” at SIU!❤️as you connect with other SIU community members with similar childcare needs, challenges & solutions - childcare swaps, private playgroups & more. Reach out when you have a question, need some advice or need a break.
• FIND CARE Reach out to your network for care when you need it, so you have time to take care of yourself too.
• SAVE MONEY 'Karma Care Hours' keep your childcare ecosystem in balance reminding us to ask for help when we need it and give help when we can.

Help us build a network of community-based care at SIU

Whether you are a parent or just someone who cares, you can support this critical initiative by volunteering as a Carefully Community Builder to help build a more caring, connected, and supportive campus.