STOP LOSING GREAT STAFF
Affordable health benefits that make your best people stay.
Scroll to see how it works
A NEW WAY FORWARD
There's a whole new way to take care of your teachers. Most childcare center owners don't even know it exists.
Big companies have always been able to give their people amazing benefits. Now there’s a way for childcare centers to do the same thing, and it’s free for qualifying centers.
The Sheperd benefits program is a benefits solution built specifically for small employers like childcare centers. It uses tax codes that have been part of the Affordable Care Act since 2013 to deliver real, comprehensive healthcare to your teachers, at no cost to you and no reduction in their take-home pay.
$0 cost to your center
No take-home pay reduction
Live within 30 days
2,000+ employers enrolled
What employers and members are saying
“We love the ability to offer the Sheperd program to employees at a $0 net cost.”
Jack, Employervia Sheperd
“By offering the Sheperd program, we have seen a significant uptick in both existing employee retention and new employee recruitment.”
Marine, Employervia Sheperd
“Thanks to the Sheperd program offered by my company, I have been granted access to local and virtual medical care for myself and family that we did not have prior.”
Anna, Employeevia Sheperd
“Utilizing the prescription program through Sheperd has been super helpful for me and my whole family.”
David, Employeevia Sheperd
“Implementing Shepherd Wellness was the best decision we made for our clients. We hear over and over again how impactful this benefit is, not just on the cost savings, but that their employees are happier and their productivity is up!”
Grant Deviney, Benefits Partnervia Shepherd Wellness
“The Shepherd Wellness supplemental benefit has made a meaningful difference for our staff, offering them peace of mind and extra coverage without added expenses.”
Steve Jones, School Administratorvia Shepherd Wellness
“The mental health support and wellness coaching through Shepherd have been transformative for me and my family. The 24/7 telehealth access means I can get care when I need it, without disrupting my busy schedule.”
Jennifer Rodriguez, Membervia Shepherd Wellness
“We love the ability to offer the Sheperd program to employees at a $0 net cost.”
Jack, Employervia Sheperd
“By offering the Sheperd program, we have seen a significant uptick in both existing employee retention and new employee recruitment.”
Marine, Employervia Sheperd
“Thanks to the Sheperd program offered by my company, I have been granted access to local and virtual medical care for myself and family that we did not have prior.”
Anna, Employeevia Sheperd
“Utilizing the prescription program through Sheperd has been super helpful for me and my whole family.”
David, Employeevia Sheperd
“Implementing Shepherd Wellness was the best decision we made for our clients. We hear over and over again how impactful this benefit is, not just on the cost savings, but that their employees are happier and their productivity is up!”
Grant Deviney, Benefits Partnervia Shepherd Wellness
“The Shepherd Wellness supplemental benefit has made a meaningful difference for our staff, offering them peace of mind and extra coverage without added expenses.”
Steve Jones, School Administratorvia Shepherd Wellness
“The mental health support and wellness coaching through Shepherd have been transformative for me and my family. The 24/7 telehealth access means I can get care when I need it, without disrupting my busy schedule.”
Jennifer Rodriguez, Membervia Shepherd Wellness
THE BENEFITS
What Your Teachers Actually Get
Not someday. Not “if they qualify for a sub-plan.” This is what every enrolled member receives.
24/7 Urgent Care
94% of visits happen in under 20 minutes. 12 virtual visits per year per member. No copays. No deductibles. 70+ medications at no cost.
Primary Care
Same doctor every visit. 12 visits per member, plus 12 for each child ages 2+.
Mental Health
12 therapy sessions per year. Master’s level clinicians. 24/7 availability. Confidential.
Free Prescriptions
1,000+ medications delivered to her door. 90-day supply. 70+ urgent meds at 70,000 pharmacies.
Weight Health
Provider-prescribed medications. One-on-one coaching. FitOn PRO access. All 50 states.
Dental, Vision, and More
PPO dental and vision. Accident coverage. Life insurance. Hospital gap. Health dashboard.
Urgent Care: A Real Doctor When She Needs One
Your teacher wakes up sick at 3 AM. She opens her phone and schedules a virtual visit. A doctor sees her in under 20 minutes. No waiting room. No copay. No bill. She gets 12 urgent care visits a year, available 24/7/365. Whether it's a sore throat, an ear infection, a UTI, or a stomach bug, she has access to a real doctor who can diagnose, prescribe, and refer.
Primary Care: A Doctor Who Knows Her Name
Not a random doctor every time. She can see the same provider at every visit. Someone who knows her history, manages her blood pressure, orders lab work. She gets 12 primary care visits a year. Her kids (ages 2+) each get 12 visits too. Appointments available Monday through Friday. Personalized health plans. Lab work coordination.
Mental Health: Someone to Talk To
Every member gets 12 virtual therapy sessions a year with a master's level clinician. Available 24/7 for anyone age 12 and up. Completely confidential. Her employer never sees her records. Plus access to the wellness platform with live group support, guided journaling, coaching courses, and mental health assessments.
Prescriptions: Medications Delivered Free
Over 1,000 generic medications delivered to her door. 90-day supply. Unmarked box for privacy. 12 free shipments a year. Blood pressure meds, anxiety medication, thyroid meds, diabetes management, asthma inhalers, birth control, and more. Plus 70+ urgent care medications available at over 70,000 retail pharmacies nationwide. Pharmacy discount card for anything not on the formulary.
Weight Health: Real Support, Not a Pamphlet
A personalized weight health program with provider-prescribed medications (for eligible members), one-on-one coaching, and full access to FitOn PRO. Free home delivery. Available in all 50 states. Built to support conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, PCOS, sleep apnea, and more.
Dental, Vision, and More
PPO dental and vision plans. Accident and critical illness coverage. Hospital gap coverage. Life insurance. A personal health dashboard. Plus family coverage: each member can add up to six family members. Every adult gets their own private account. Children ages 2+ get their own primary care visits.
Urgent Care
Primary Care
Mental Health
Prescriptions
Weight Health
Dental & Vision
All included. No copays. No deductibles. No out-of-pocket costs. No take-home pay reduction.
There is a way to stop this cycle. It starts with one question: does your center qualify?
Join a free, live session. 20 minutes. No pressure. No commitment.
FOR YOUR CENTER
What This Does For Your Center
Before Sheperd
- Constant hiring cycle
- No benefits to offer
- Rising costs everywhere
- Teachers leaving for school districts
- High stress, no margin
With Sheperd
- Stable, loyal team
- Real health benefits for everyone
- Meaningful tax savings that go straight to your bottom line
- Teachers staying because they’re taken care of
- Professional operation, competitive edge
Teacher Retention
When your teachers have real benefits, they stop looking elsewhere. The number one reason childcare teachers leave for school districts is benefits. Remove that gap and you remove the revolving door.
Recruiting Advantage
You can now put "full health benefits" in your job postings. That changes who applies and how fast you fill open positions.
Real Tax Savings for Your Center
This is not just a benefits program. It is a financial strategy. Sheperd uses ACA tax codes to reduce your FICA payroll taxes. Sheperd reports average savings of over $1,000 per participating employee per year. Your custom proposal will show you the exact numbers for your center.
Reduce Workers’ Comp Costs by Up to 30%
When your team has access to preventive care, urgent care, and mental health support, claims go down. Sheperd employer groups have seen reductions in Workers’ Compensation costs of up to 30%. Fewer claims mean lower premiums and more money staying in your center.
A Healthier, More Present Team
Teachers who have access to doctors, therapy, and prescriptions are healthier, more consistent, and more engaged. Less absenteeism. Fewer last-minute call-outs. More stability in your classrooms.
By offering the Sheperd program, we have seen a significant uptick in both existing employee retention and new employee recruitment.
Marine, Employer, via Sheperd
No upfront cost. No ongoing expense.
The program pays for itself through existing tax codes. You don't write a check. You don't reduce anyone's pay. You just offer your team something that most small employers can't.
THE PROCESS
Three Steps. That's the Whole Process.
1
Spend 20 minutes with us.
Join a free, live session with Jean and the team. We’ll walk you through how the program works, what it covers, and what it could mean for your center. No jargon. Plain English. No pressure.
2
Share your payroll report.
If you want to move forward, we’ll need a simple payroll report. Names, roles, and hours. Takes about five minutes. We handle everything from there.
3
Get your custom proposal.
Within a few business days, you’ll receive a proposal built for your specific center. It shows you exactly what your team qualifies for, what benefits they’ll receive, and the exact tax savings per employee and for your entire center.
What You DON'T Have to Do
- Figure out tax codes.
- Become a benefits administrator.
- Change your existing insurance.
- Reduce anyone’s paycheck.
- Learn new software.
- Manage enrollment paperwork.
- Invest a single dollar upfront.
We handle it. You've got enough on your plate.
Your center is fully operational within 30 days.
Your teachers take care of everyone else’s kids every day. It’s time someone took care of them.
Jean and the team will walk you through how this works in a free, live session. You’ll see what your center could qualify for. No sales pitch. Just the facts.
THE FOUNDER
Who's Behind This
Her name is Jean Baglien. She purchased a closed childcare center at a sheriff sale and reopened it. Started with a big dream, a thin budget, and no roadmap for running a childcare center. She figured everything out by doing it. The licensing. The staffing. The finances. The days where she was director, bookkeeper, janitor, and substitute teacher all at the same time.
She grew that little center into a thriving operation. Families loved it. Teachers were proud to be there. When the time was right, Jean exited successfully, selling a business worth being proud of.
Now she spends her time helping other childcare center owners do what she did: build something sustainable, take care of their team, and run a center that works for everyone.
If I had known about this program when I was running my center, it would have changed everything. I could have kept teachers I lost. I could have recruited faster. I could have given my team what they deserved.
Jean Baglien, Founder of Childcare Elevated
THE PROOF
Why This Works and Why You Can Trust It
Built on existing tax law.
The tax codes that make Sheperd work were added by the ACA in 2013. This is not a loophole. It’s the tax code working the way it was intended for small employers.
Fully ACA-compliant.
The program satisfies all requirements for a Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) program. Your center is covered. Your team is covered. No gray areas.
Launches in 30 days.
Fully automated setup. You don’t need to hire anyone, learn new software, or manage enrollment. We handle it from start to finish.
Works alongside your existing coverage.
If you already offer some form of insurance, Sheperd doesn’t replace it. It adds to it. No disruption.
Healthcare delivered by Shepherd Wellness.
Shepherd Wellness is an AI-driven preventive healthcare platform with predictive technology validated to identify future risk factors with 80-93% accuracy. Real doctors, real therapists, real pharmacists, and real medications. Available 24/7, 365 days a year through a secure member portal and mobile app.
Thousands of small employers are already using this.
The model is proven. The compliance is verified. The outcomes are documented.
Real words from real people:
“
We love the ability to offer the Sheperd program to employees at a $0 net cost.
Jack
Sheperd Benefits Partner, via Sheperd
Zero Cost Benefits“
By offering the Sheperd program, we have seen a significant uptick in both existing employee retention and new employee recruitment.
Marine
Sheperd Benefits Partner, via Sheperd
Retention and Recruitment“
Thanks to the Sheperd program offered by my company, I have been granted access to local and virtual medical care for myself and family that we did not have prior.
Anna
Sheperd Benefits Member, via Sheperd
Access to CareCenters across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa
Sheperd is not insurance and is not regulated as such. Limitations apply. Contact us for full program details.
You built something amazing. Let’s take it higher.
Spots are limited for each live session. Pick a time that works for your schedule.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Straight Answers to the Questions in Your Head
That’s exactly why this program exists. Sheperd was designed for small employers who don’t have Fortune 500 budgets. The program creates savings through existing tax codes, not expenses. Most centers see a positive financial impact from the very first month. We don’t ask you to buy anything. We ask you to see if your center qualifies, and we show you your own numbers before you decide.
ONE LAST THING
Here's What 20 Minutes Gets You
A clear understanding of what the Employee Health Program is, how it works, and whether your center qualifies.
No jargon. No pressure. No follow-up calls unless you want them. Just the facts, explained by someone who has been in your shoes.
Think about the teacher on your team who hasn't been to the doctor in two years because she can't afford it. The one who skips her prescriptions to make rent. The one who is one bad day away from updating her resume.
You can change that. In 20 minutes.
Your teachers take care of everyone else’s kids every single day.
It's time someone took care of them.
Free. Live. 20 minutes. No obligation.
Questions first? Reach out anytime. We're real people and we actually answer.