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.
- NAMI Ohio: Localized Family & Caregiver Support for individuals and families impacted by mental health.
- 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: Stress line support at 1-800-632-8188.