Managing School Closure as Someone Who Works for an Essential Organization

Social distance is essential to slowing the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, our communities must support our healthcare and critical infrastructure workers so they can continue working. During this challenging time the Komae app is available for free as a tool to help schedule and manage childcare coverage for our most essential workforces. 

The Komae app is a cooperative childcare app that provides an important care management option for healthcare workers, first responders, and those working for essential businesses. On Komae, parents swap ‘Komae Points’ as a way to manage and coordinate care for their children within a trusted network. If you’re someone who needs to receive more help than you’re available to offer to others, we’ve made points available for purchase. Likewise, if you’re someone who serves others more than you need care for yourself, we offer periodical point cash-ins where you can use your excess earned points to purchase awesome products and giftcards. In this way, the app can be used to coordinate the rotation of care days and communicate need within trusted groups regardless of your capacity to give.

Getting Started

  • We encourage you to create a group in the Komae app with the name of your organization or community and copy the share link to distribute to your colleagues or neighbors so that your households can provide care for each other when possible.
  • Send an email to your colleagues or neighbors letting them know Komae is available for you to use together. Email info@mykomae.com for a template!
  • Contact us with any questions you may have. Consider us your personal resource during this trying time.

 

Best Practices

  • Buddy Up: We recommend creating small isolated hubs of families, confining sit-swap relationships as much as possible to limit virus spread.
  • You don’t need to have kids to join the Komae group. Anyone willing to help our essential workforces by watching their kids is welcome and encouraged.
  • We encourage distance drop-offs. Rather than walking up to greet the other parents at the door or go into their house, just let the kiddos cross the last 6 feet on their own.

What are you waiting for?