Hi John,

We will ALL need care at some point in our lives — care for our children, care for an aging parent, care for a disabled loved one, or care for ourselves so we can age with dignity in our own homes.

The need for care is exploding and care work is one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy, but also one of the least understood. So, we wanted to break it down for you.

WHAT IS CARE?

Care work is work done in service of others. 

Care work can be paid or unpaid labor that is performed everyday by family caregivers, home care workers, nannies, childhood educators, childcare workers, teachers, nurses and more.

WHY IS CARE ESSENTIAL?

Caregivers nurture children, allow parents to work throughout the day, and provide crucial assistance to those who are aging and people who are disabled.

Caregivers ensure everyone who needs care — seniors, people with disabilities, and children — can live safely at home. 

Care work is, and has always been, essential to the strength of our economy. It is the work that makes all other work possible.  

CARE CAN'T WAIT

By 2040, the number of people 65 and older will nearly double, and the number of adults 85 and older will nearly triple.

To meet the rising demand for care, the U.S. will need to fill over 4.4 million home care job openings over the next few years. 

That's more new jobs than any other occupation in the U.S, but care work isn’t valued the way it should be:  wages are extremely low (home care workers earn an average hourly wage of just $12.12), conditions are often bad, and exploitation is too common. (This is no accident! Find out why domestic work has been systematically devalued.) 

WHAT DO WE NEED?

We need a care infrastructure that includes comprehensive support and services for caregivers.

That means the policies, resources, and services necessary to help families meet their caregiving needs. 

In the U.S. we often associate “infrastructure” with physical infrastructure — such as roads, bridges, and utilities – that families need to get to work and live their lives.

Care infrastructure is the same: without it, our families are unable to work, survive and thrive.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Together with our partners Caring Across Generations, we’ve joined the #CareCantWait coalition to advocate for:

• Better pay and benefits for care workers
  
  

• #PaidLeaveForAll

  
  

• Access to high-quality and affordable childcare and early education

  
  
• Programs for aging and disabled people to live at home
  

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

We have big plans this year, from the local to the state to the national level, to make sure that our care priorities win and that members of congress understand that we need care NOW. 

But we can’t do it alone. We’re building the largest care force in history —  including care workers, activists, electeds, and more — and we need supporters like you to join us.

With every petition you sign, every post you share, every call you make, you help get us one step closer to the caring society we all deserve. Sign our pledge to let us know that you’re ready to become a Care Champion TODAY!

America is facing a care crisis where many of us can’t access the care we depend on. That's why NDWA, together with our partners, is leading the fight to ensure our government makes the investments, passes the policies and gives us the supports we need because #CareCantWait.

Thank you for all you do,

Care Team

National Domestic Workers Alliance

 This email was sent by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, the nation's leading voice for dignity and fairness for the millions of domestic workers in the United States.

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