Caring Across Generations Statement on White House Proclamation Recognizing April as Care Workers Recognition Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 31, 2023) –Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a White House Proclamation declaring April as Care Workers Recognition Month. This proclamation comes amidst a mounting workforce crisis, caused by low wages and poor benefits.
Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy at Caring Across Generations, released the following statement:
“As a former direct care worker and someone who has family members who rely on direct care workers every day, I can tell you this: care work is the work that makes all other work possible. And yet this workforce is consistently undervalued, and worse, unseen. The needs of our country’s direct care workforce have been neglected, put on the backburner for too long, making it impossible for them to care for their own families and interrupting the aging and disabled care they provide to millions.
“Direct care workers — disproportionately women of color — are often paid poverty wages in unstable jobs with no future. That harms not only the workers, but everyone who depends on their work — which is to say, all of us.
“We applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for shining a light on our country’s care workers. Recognizing and acknowledging the critical services that our care workers deliver to families every day is a crucial first step. Care workers are a key pillar of our economy and lives; they’re at the frontlines of the care crisis. We cannot wait another moment to invest in their work. We must recognize the essential role of this workforce in every way possible.”
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Caring Across Generations is a national organization of family caregivers, care workers, disabled people, and aging adults working to transform the way we care in this country so that care is accessible, affordable and equitable — and our systems of care enable everyone to live and age with dignity. To achieve our vision, we transform cultural norms and narratives about aging, disability and care; win federal and state-level policies; and build power amongst the people touched by care. For more information, visit CARINGACROSS.ORG.