When Erin Kapczynski and her husband were faced with juggling two school-age children and full-time jobs, they decided the best way to fix the problem was by being the solution.
The couple launched Homework Helpers in November 2020, which connects students with professionals who can help them manage and organize their assignments. The service is an extension of their previously successful
Both programs were inspired by the pandemic, Kapczynski says. As work became remote and kids transitioned into a home learning environment, they quickly realized they weren’t the only family who would benefit from a helping hand. The best way to support parents, and particularly working mothers, is to first support their kids.
“Women have been so disproportionately affected by what's going on because of the caregiving aspect and yet they're still expected to deliver at work,” says Kapczynski. “Parents may or may not be equipped to teach their kids themselves, or maybe don’t have time.”
About 10 million mothers living with their school-age children were unemployed in January, roughly
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Screen Stars and Homework Helpers have seen rapid utilization during the pandemic, and 80% of their customer base are women. The initial platform, Screen Stars — formerly Screen Sitters — launched in May of 2020 and served primarily as a form of virtual child care. Sitters were vetted and hired by the Kapczynskis, after which parents scheduled blocks of time to have their kids watched after and entertained.
When online schooling proved to last longer than expected, the couple jumped at the opportunity to re-brand the company and branch out into a more education-based service for middle and high school aged students by adding Homework Helper. Although the new addition doesn’t offer tutoring in one specific subject, the tutors assist kids with managing their assignments and navigating complicated online school portals.
Since its launch, nearly a dozen companies — both national and international — have added Screen Stars to their employee benefits package offerings, according to Kapczynski. These services provide working moms with something running on short supply during this pandemic — peace of mind.
“Kids will always have homework and parents will have work and need a break,” she says. “This program is really intended to set those foundational skills for the kids.”
Throughout the pandemic, working parents have demanded more support through employee benefits. PwC provided
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As more companies join
“The savvy companies who want to maintain their edge should really be looking for services like this to support their remote workforce,” says Kapczynski. “Companies who want to build up that supportive culture and show and bring those extra benefits to their employees shows empathy.”
