For too long our country has looked at care as something families have to figure out on their own. What’s worse is too many people feel like they’ve personally failed in some way if they’re unable to afford care for their family.
Right now, there are 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S. By 2040, that number is expected to DOUBLE.
Caregivers and those who need care deserve more than a crumbling, patchwork system that leaves more gaps than it fills. We want to live in a country where people have community, support, and solutions for their increasing care needs so they don’t feel so alone.
As care advocates, we have unfinished business and we’re done waiting.
Here’s what we’re working on to transform the way the U.S. cares.
#PaidLeaveForAll!
Worker leave benefits under FMLA (the Family and Medical Leave Act) are not enough and don’t include paid family leave.
FMLA’s limited definition of family – just spouse, parent, or child – does not reflect the caregiving reality for many people and our country’s varying and diverse family structures. We're working to ensure all types of families have access to paid leave.
We’re currently working to secure comprehensive and inclusive federal and state paid leave for all legislation because all workers should be able to take care of their families and themselves without compromising their well-being or risking their job.
Aging and Disability Care
We’re diligently working to secure more accessible federal and state care benefits for aging adults and disabled people. This means fighting to make Medicaid’s HCBS (home- and community-based services) program more accessible and comprehensive so aging adults and disabled people can live independently and receive care services in their homes.
Here’s why it’s so important. 90% of older adults and 95% of disabled people prefer to receive care in their homes and communities yet 650,000 people are on Medicaid HCBS waiting lists where the average waiting period for the services they need is 45 months. This means a large population of people in the U.S. functionally cannot receive the paid care services they desperately need to live independent lives of their choosing and age with dignity.
With 10,000 people turning 65 every day in the US, the care crisis is only getting worse. Join our fight for better aging and disability care!
Affordable Child Care
Child care is out of reach for many families in the U.S. For most, it’s unaffordable or too hard to access. This means parents, early learning providers, and program administrators are overwhelmed, overburdened, and under-resourced – and everyone is feeling the impact.
Child care is the work that makes all other work possible. The U.S. loses $122 billion each year in economic productivity and revenue due to the lack of accessible and affordable child care. The chronic underinvestment in child care has significant negative consequences on families when it comes to economic stability, educational opportunities, racial equality, child development, and school readiness.
We’re currently working to implement affordable child care access for those who need it nationwide and in key states.
Like clean water, safe food, and good public schools, high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care is a national priority that benefits everyone. We must ensure that all children, families, and communities can thrive by investing in a bright future for all of us. Join us!
Fair Wages and Benefits for Care Workers
Throughout this country’s history, the essential work of unpaid family caregivers and the underpaid direct care workers for older adults disabled people, and children has been passed over for federal investments.
Currently, the majority (61%) of the country’s 2.4 million home care workers are Black, brown, and immigrant women who haven’t seen pay increases in decades — they currently earn $20,000 a year on average —and have little to no benefits, such as paid leave or medical insurance.
We’re fighting for more federal and state investments in care workers who do the essential work of taking care of our loved ones.
