Webinar

Why Care About Care? Intersectional and Intergenerational Policy Solutions for an Equitable Care Economy in a New World

Even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, working families have been struggling against the rising costs of caring for family members young and old. Care giving threatens their financial health and damages their incomes, workforce productivity, and health. Studies show that childcare costs are 37% of the average single parent’s household income and 25% of people taking care of children (most of whom are women) are also taking care of seniors.

Exacerbating this issue is the recent health crisis, threatening to destroy the fragile financial lives of millions of families who were already living on the financial margins. It’s placing further strain on families’ ability to care for children and older parents. Given the impending recession, ongoing costs, and additional caregiving impacts of the current healthcare crisis along with a rapidly aging and diversifying population in California, a caregiving crisis is emerging that disproportionately affects low-income people, people of color, women, and immigrants.

On Wednesday, May 6, AFN presented a briefing and discussion on the interwoven issues of the caregiving workforce, racial and gender justice, economic security, and health, within the context of the current pandemic. We will identify intersectional short-term responses and long-term policy solutions such as paid family leave and universal family care related to these issues.