What are CareCircle programs?
CareCircle programs are an online “safety net” that can provide extensive practical and emotional support during life’s greatest challenges: eldercare, a serious illness of a family member or friend, adjusting to a new birth or adoption, helping when a loved one dies, or recovering when a home is damaged or destroyed by fire, hurricane, flood, tornado, etc.

CareCircle programs stimulate and facilitate supportive activities by an “invited” caring community by: 1) building awareness of the details of the situation, 2) giving “permission” to help and 3) providing clear direction on what is needed or appropriate. Organizing this type of “safety net” was once a daunting task involving endless phone calls and emails: today, with a CareCircle program, it takes only minutes a week.

How do they work?
After the purchase of the CareCircle program your employee (or someone they know) is given access to the program’s easy-to-personalize secure website. The private and secure website can be launched quickly, providing a simple and cost-effective way to communicate in minutes. In order to create a vibrant community of volunteers and deliver real help for their friend or loved one, each CareCircle program includes telephone and email user support as well as:

1. Guidance on how to assess needs, and organize help.
2. An email management tool for building awareness of the website.
3. A home page that provides information about the situation the program addresses.
4. A guest book where visitors can leave positive and supportive messages.
5. An interactive calendar that gives site visitors the opportunity to volunteer for activities like a single meal delivery, transportation on a specific day, house sitting, etc. Because the helping has been divided into individual events, it’s easier for busy friends to get involved.
6. Guidance on identifying ways for “out-of-towners” to get involved. Whether it’s leaving a message of support, ordering a gift online, or having a meal delivered by a local restaurant, a program provides many ways for anyone to participate, at any time, from anywhere.

What is a Preferred Employer Partnership?
It is a partnership that provides a Partner’s employees with special pricing when they purchase their own CareCircle programs: $49.99 for 6 months; $69.99 for 1 year (a $20 savings from CareCircle retail rates). The employer pays a one time set-up fee: $2,000.

For HR directors:
CareCircle programs are easy to implement without any need for HR management or ongoing involvement. CareCircle helps create links in locations identified by HR. These links go to online marketing pages CareCircle creates (and can host), where the service is explained, and employees are given an easy way to purchase a program.

Other facts about CareCircle:
CareCircle has been providing CareCircle programs to individuals from their Web site and through partnerships with benefits providers, homecare companies and religious organizations for over 5 years. CareCircle support programs received The Conference Board and Families and Work Institute 2006 Moving into the Future Award as an “Innovative Approach for Addressing Eldercare, Flexibility and Work Life Issues”. CareCircle was showcased in an article in the Employee Benefit News in 2007.