WORMS Childcare Travel Fund Application Process

WORMS Family Care Award to Attend 2019 INFORMS Annual Meeting

Purpose:

The WORMS Family Care Award will partially reimburse recipients for up to $500 in costs associated with care and/or travel for family members whose caregiver is participating in the 2019 INFORMS Annual Meeting.  Approximately five grants will be awarded each year, with the exact number depending on available budget.

Eligibility:

Recipients must be registered to attend the 2019 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA on Oct 20-23.

Eligibility is limited to current students, post-doctoral associates, or early career professionals (e.g. junior faculty or professionals in their first five years of post-graduate employment) who meet one of the following criteria

  • Parent or guardian of a child age 12 years or younger who is either also traveling to the conference and/or requires additional care while the parent attends the conference.
  • Primary caregiver for an elderly parent who is either also traveling to the conference and/or requires additional care while the caregiver attends the conference.
  • Primary caregiver for a family member who requires additional assistance who is either also traveling to the conference and/ or requires additional care while the caregiver attends the conference.

Up to $500 in expenses will be reimbursed upon submittal of receipts to INFORMS staff to cover extra expenses related to the care of family members, which are due to the caregiver attending the conference.  This may include travel expenses for the family member, extra caregiving expenses at home or at the conference location.  At most one grant will be awarded per family, and priority will be given to those who have never received the award in prior years.

Application Procedures:

Applications are due September 20, 2019.  Applicants should email Beth West ([email protected]) the following information with the subject line "2019 Annual Meeting WORMS Family Care Award"

  1. Statement of need (not to exceed 200 words):
  • Why is attendance at this conference important to you?
  • Why do you need family care?
  • What family care do you plan to arrange?
  • Why are you requesting financial support?
  1. Estimated family care budget, including travel costs and/or caregiving expenses.
  2. Statement verifying applicant's eligibility from applicant's department chair or supervisor.

The President, President-Elect and Past-President of WORMS will appoint the selection committee from amongst the officers of WORMS.  The selection committee will assess the applications based on their stated need for travel support.  The selection committee will notify recipients no later than October 9, 2019.  Recipients should submit all receipts for reimbursement to Beth West ([email protected]) no later than 30 days following the conclusion of the conference, along with proof of conference registration.

Notes:

  • Family care must be arranged by the awardee. 
  • INFORMS is pleased to announce that it is offering full-time, professionally managed and staffed onsite childcare services in Seattle. The onsite childcare services will be provided by Accent on Children's Arrangements, Inc.(ACCENT), which will design and run a children's program called CAMP INFORMS. CAMP INFORMS will offer age-appropriate activities for children ranging from 6 months to 12 years of age (separated into age-appropriate groups) including curriculum-enriched, hands-on, creative activities, arts & crafts projects, active games, and more. ACCENT will staff CAMP INFORMS with teacher professional childcare providers who have completed ACCENT's specialized training program. In addition, ACCENT's onsite supervisors are CPR and Pediatric First Aid certified. All children must be registered by October 14th. Please contact Accent on Childcare Arrangements at (504) 524-0188for any inquires relating to CAMP INFORMS. If you would like to register your children for childcare during the 2019 INFORMS Annual Meeting, please click here.