The average working parent faces 8–12 unplanned childcare gaps per year: sick days, school closures, delayed openings, and caregiver vacations. Without a plan, each one becomes a 7am scramble. With a plan, it's a text message.
Layer 1: Your inner circle
List every person who could cover 2–4 hours on short notice — partner schedule-swaps, grandparents, nearby relatives, trusted neighbors. Write down their constraints honestly; a plan that depends on someone who's always traveling isn't a plan.
Layer 2: A backup-care membership
This is the layer most families miss. With an EGN backup profile on file — children's ages, routines, allergies, emergency contacts — one request can have a vetted caregiver at your door, often within 2–4 hours in our core service area. No 7am group texts. No vetting strangers from an app.
Layer 3: Employer & community options
Check whether your employer offers backup-care benefits (many do, unused), and know your school district's closure-notification system. Keep a 'gap day' kit ready: easy meals, activity ideas, and a pre-packed bag so any caregiver can step in smoothly.
EGN Family Advisory Team
The EGN team supports NJ families and caregivers from our Branchburg headquarters. (908) 505-5484
