Sittercity Announces Internet Safety Law During Cyber Safety Month

CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sittercity.com, the nation's leading online network where families and caregivers connect, announced as a part of its Cyber Safety Month initiatives the passage of the The Internet Dating, Child Care, Senior Care and Home Safety Act.  The new law, authored by Sittercity and recently signed into law by Governor Quinn, is designed to enhance cyber safety by requiring websites connecting families with child care, senior care and home care services to disclose the nature and scope of background checks performed on caregivers.

According to Jeremy Gottschalk, Sittercity's Senior Vice President and General Counsel, "Sittercity.com was founded on the commitment to provide a safe, trusted care network and the tools and resources to help families select and hire the right caregiver.  To this end, Sittercity offers third-party background checks as just one part of the caregiver screening process.  This law supports Sittercity's commitment to safety and ensures our members understand the benefits and limitations of background checks as part of the caregiver screening process."

In addition to the new law, Sittercity announced its partnership with the National Cyber Safety Alliance, working alongside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), corporate founding sponsors (Symantec, CISCO, Microsoft, SAIC, EMC, McAfee) and nonprofit collaborators to promote cyber security awareness. As a part of this partnership, Sittercity has planned many cyber safety initiatives that build on its industry-leading position.  Sittercity is also a founding member of an online family care safety coalition composed of industry leaders exploring best practices, innovative tools, and technologies to enhance the ability of families to make the most informed decisions when choosing caregivers.

About Sittercity
Sittercity®, founded in 2001, is America's most trusted online solution for connecting families with high-quality local caregivers, including babysitters, nannies, special needs sitters, care companions, and pet sitters. With over 4 million members nationwide, Sittercity meets every family's need by providing detailed profiles reviewed by industry professionals complete with photos, parent reviews, up-to-date availability, references and caregiving experience. Sittercity also provides tools to help families throughout the screening and hiring process, including two levels of background checks, motor vehicle records checks, and an online safety guide.  As the Department of Defense's solution of choice, military families in all four branches (Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force) have access to Sittercity funded through an exclusive Department of Defense contract.

SOURCE Sittercity