The Context: Roughly 1.7 million Ohioans currently juggle professional duties with unpaid caregiving. This "Double Shift" has a direct business impact, with 64% of caregivers reporting they have missed work due to these responsibilities.

Identifying Employee Needs:

• Marked Behavioral Changes: Look for shifts in school performance or social isolation in an employee’s child.
• Signs of Distress: Increased irritability or verbalizing feelings of worthlessness in the family unit.

Employer Support Strategies:

• Provide Flexibility: Allow for "no-questions-asked" mental health days or flexible hours to attend therapy appointments.
• Foster Community: Establish Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) where parents can share lived experiences and build peer support networks.
• Manager Empathy: Train managers to use "I statements" and active listening to check in without overstepping boundaries.

Direct Resources:

• Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Bloom: A free digital curriculum providing short videos and guides for working parents.
• OhioRISE: Ohio’s specialized managed care program for youth with complex behavioral needs.
• Red Treehouse: A statewide directory for family and child mental health supports.
• Parents Helping Parents: Stressline support at 1-800-632-8188.