This volunteer group aims to provide child care during emergencies

There have been discussions recently on how finances can create a barrier to receiving healthcare, but money isn't the only obstacle for many Americans. In a survey of reproductive-aged women, 14% reported missing or delaying their own healthcare because of a lack of childcare.

However, there's an organization that’s looking to address that challenge. Silke Knebel is the founder and CEO of the National Emergency Child Care Network out of Durham, North Carolina. Her plan was to keep a group of volunteers across the country on retainer who are ready to show up and take care of kids when called.

“We started in 2024, and right after we started, Hurricane Helene hit and we kind of hit the ground running,” Knebel said.

Nowadays, the calls that the group receives can range from parents needing help with children during a move, to a guardian needing care for their child while they’re in the E.R.

“A lot of hospitals contact us because their patients are going to surgery and they don't have child care, and hospitals don't provide child care, so they want to outsource it,” Knebel said.

Listen in the player above to hear how the organization stepped in for families during Hurricane Helene and the LA wildfires, and how the group is hoping to grow.