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Dear Friends and Allies,
Welcome to a jam-packed fall edition of our newsletter. It’s been a while, so consider the below a snippet of the latest and most critical updates (we know, it’s still long but so much good stuff to share!) - and don’t hesitate to reply if you see something missing or have a question.
- Janet, Antonia and all of us at Caring Across
Welcome to Our New Managing Director!
We say new, but Beth Shipp has been with us for almost three months and already taken the reigns like a boss. Beth connects with Caring Across in ways that are deeply personal and professional - helping to care for both her parents in rural Montana while having led various nonprofits through transitions before joining our team. Please say hello, check out this insightful Q+A with her, and if you’re on our list, answer her campaign emails :) Welcome Beth!
Caregivers Want Solutions and Support: Will We Hear It from Candidates?
Last week we released a poll with the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement that echoed what we’ve long been hearing from caregiving families, and excitingly, new evidence of support for a program like Universal Family Care. Toplines include:
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2 of 3 Americans are or have been caregivers.
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1 in 5 said they had not voted because caregiving responsibilities made it too difficult, with Latinx voters (28%) and millennials aged 18-34 (30%) more likely to face this barrier.
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82% would support the creation of a federal program that everyone pays into to access childcare, LTSS and paid family and medical leave - including 90% of Dems and 71% of Republicans.
Check out coverage so far in The Hill, Stria, and POLITICO with more to come, and the official word from our blog. Now if only the candidates would cover it. Over the last week, we asked Caring Across members what one question they would ask the candidates. After dozens of submissions and hundreds of votes, we identified one here which you can help us submit to NBC News for tomorrow’s debate.
CARE Fellows
Since April, we’ve been Zooming every month with eight committed, current and former caregivers, building skills together - and more importantly, building community. The fellowship culminated with our fabulous Fellows leading a powerful, values-centered storytelling workshop at our National Convening. Here’s a look at what they’ve been up to, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.
In the Field
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Earlier this month, our state partners flocked to Detroit for our annual National Field Convening. We discussed federal policy proposals,  started planning national actions, visited the James and Grace Lee Boggs school to learn about their powerful and historic anti-racism organizing, exchanged experiences organizing on care with each other, and made some great protest art together!
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On October 1, with strong bipartisan support, the Michigan Caring Majority won a 5% budget increase for the MI Choice Waiver Program, even after the governor initially tried to cut it.
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Also last month, the New York Caring Majority and New York’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association secured an important win when Judge Christina L. Ryba struck down a reimbursement policy that would have reduced services for seniors and people with disabilities.
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And in California, after a 16-year battle, 40,000 childcare workers secured collective bargaining rights to improve job quality. Read about what that means to one worker.
Our partners have also been stepping up their town-hall game, building people power with caregivers engaging directly with elected officials while building community.
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In August and September, the Michigan Caring Majority hosted six town halls, including one with Rashida Tlaib, who talked about building a stronger care economy and called for dignity for the care workforce: “It’s about creating a caring economy, a caring system...Who are the people that we need to employ, and to make sure that they have human dignity as well?”
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Illinois Caring Majority hosted two rallies and three town halls focused on creating a Senior Bill of Rights, increasing caregiving support, bolstering LTSS programs, and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid.
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The California Aging and Disability Alliance unveiled their care agenda during three LTSS community forums in September, featuring caregiver stories and discussions with local lawmakers who pledged to expand LTSS. Check out the highlights from the Orange County forum.
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Lastly, our friends at Hand in Hand New York launched the Hudson Valley Caring Majority at an event hosting over 100 family caregivers, seniors and supporters.
On the Hill
Paid leave legislation is garnering support on both sides of the aisle:
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A proposal to provide 12 weeks of paid family leave to two million federal employees may make it into the new defense spending bill
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The FAMILY Act gained its first Republican supporter: Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)
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A bipartisan tax proposal from Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) would allow parents to claim a child tax credit against future benefits
While some plans are better able to speak to the needs of families than others, the momentum behind paid leave -- and by extension, care -- signals its emergence as a uniting political issue.
On November 26th, we’ll be releasing a report on Sandwich Generation caregivers with the National Alliance for Caregiving. Initial findings indicate that sandwich generation caregivers are younger and more diverse than other caregivers and may have different policy needs.
Speaking of reports, earlier this summer, we co-released Workforce Matters with PHI highlighting how strengthening the direct care workforce alongside developing social insurance programs is key to a strong care infrastructure. Check out coverage in Forbes, McKnight’s Senior Living, and Truthout.
Around Town
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Our research director Ben is on a four-stop, UFC policy roadshow, joining experts to talk about what UFC could mean to local constituents and communities. It kicked off at the Economic Policy Institute in DC, followed by the Gerontological Society of America in Austin and Salem, OR yesterday. If you’re in San Francisco, register for our last event tomorrow at The San Francisco Public Library.
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Last month, Family Values @ Work honored Caring Across at their annual GameChangers awards for our work developing UFC and for bringing the family caregiver voice to conversations around paid family and medical leave
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In early September, at the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, our policy director Josie and national organizer Vanessa presented on UFC and our work to influence state governments to adopt caregiving resolutions, which received tremendous support from participating organizations.
ICYMI: CAG in Other News
#TeamNoraForever
Our hearts go out to our dear friends and partners at The Second City, Anne Libera and Kelly Leonard, who lost their daughter Nora to cancer in August. For the past year, Kelly and Anne have been modeling caregiving as an act of love, courage, and compassion; and they have shown us what caring in community, the importance of connection, and the ability to stay present in the midst of profound grief looks like in real time. These are all things we’ve had the privilege to learn and strengthen in our own practice through our work with The Second City. But Kelly and Anne have lived it, and then had the immense generosity to share their story to further remind us that at a time when we are constantly being reminded of our differences, we need to harness our collective courage and humanity and ensure that our nation continues to hold the doors open for immigrant families and the children they’re caring for. Kelly and Anne, we love you, we are here for you, and we will forever be #TeamNora.
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