FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 5, 2023
Contact: Daniela Perez, [email protected]
Domestic and care workers, critical in 2020, turn out to vote in the Nevada primary
Care in Action, the advocacy home for more than 2 million domestic and care workers—who played a vital role in the 2020 elections—is mobilizing again in 2024, representing a diverse coalition of Black, Brown, Indigenous, AAPI, and immigrant women.
LAS VEGAS, NV — As Nevada hosts its primary election on February 6, Care in Action, the advocacy home for more than two million domestic and care workers across America, takes a moment to reflect on the significance of this early and pivotal event in the 2024 election cycle. Care in Action has been at the forefront of mobilizing voters who support a robust care agenda, representing a workforce that is among the fastest-growing yet remains undervalued. This agenda promises new investments in child care, guarantees paid family and medical leave, and aims to expand home- and community-based services, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable and undervalued among us — primarily women of color, who are significantly represented in the care workforce.
In 2020, Care in Action’s first year in Nevada, we elected 13 of 16 endorsed women of color candidates, with nearly 2 million voter contact attempts. As we move through the 2024 election cycle, Care in Action Nevada remains dedicated to advocating for the care agenda, aiming to secure new investments and policy changes that support child care, family and medical leave, and home-based services. Care in Action’s work is fundamental to ensuring a stronger future for domestic workers, their families, and all Americans who depend on their invaluable services.
Falasha Parlin-Watson, Nevada State Director of Care in Action, stated, “The Nevada primary has laid the groundwork for a crucial dialogue about the future of care in America. As we approach the Nevada primary and future primary elections across the country, we must continue championing the needs of domestic workers, caregivers, and their families, ensuring their voices are heard and their work valued. The fight for a fair and just care infrastructure is far from over, and Care in Action stands ready to lead the charge.”
Amid these efforts, the story of Guadalupe, a Las Vegas housekeeper and volunteer with Care in Action NV since 2021, exemplifies the resilience and dedication of those at the heart of this movement. Originally from a small town in Edo de Mexico, Guadalupe moved to the U.S. in 1998, seeking a better life. Today, she works full-time as a housekeeper at a Las Vegas Strip resort and casino while caring for her mother, undergoing dialysis treatments at home. Guadalupe’s commitment extends beyond her family; she volunteers with Care in Action to advocate for recognition and fair compensation for workers like herself. Her story is a testament to the critical importance of the care agenda and the impact of policy on real lives.
Guadalupe shared, “Every day, I meet women who are the backbone of their families and our economy, yet they remain invisible in the eyes of society. Volunteering with Care in Action has given me a platform to fight for our rights and ensure our voices are heard. It’s not just about me; it’s about all of us standing together for the dignity and recognition we deserve.”
Nevada voters are the first to cast their ballots in the West – signaling the critical importance of Latinx voters, who make up 1 in 5 voters in the state, in the country’s election. Care in Action Nevada is engaging in meaningful conversations with women of color voters, especially domestic workers and caregivers – who see themselves as the most impacted by a future without a robust care infrastructure.
2023 has been a challenging year for caregivers across the country. An AARP report highlighted that family caregivers provided $600 billion in unpaid care, a testament to many’s financial and personal sacrifices. The care industry is at a crossroads, facing historic turnover rates that threaten the sustainability of a cared-for and robust workforce.
Moreover, the financial strain on American families is exacerbated by the rising costs of child care, a concern that has only grown in the wake of the pandemic. A recent Care.com survey revealed that most US adults who pay for professional childcare anticipate an increase of $7,000 in annual expenses, mainly attributed to the expiration of pandemic-era safety nets and ongoing staffing shortages.
A 2023 Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that Nevada families have the highest childcare cost burden in the nation, ranking 47th in child well-being among all states, with the cost of child care as a big factor. According to the report, approximately 28,000 Nevada children had families that dealt with “with big job-related disruptions in the previous year – meaning someone in the family quit a job, didn’t take a job or had to greatly change their job – because of child-care problems.”
As the country looks forward to future elections, it’s important to remember that the issues at stake in this election deeply affect the lives of millions of domestic workers, caregivers, and their families. Care in Action remains committed to advocating for policies that recognize and support the care agenda, growing grassroots support and political power needed to pass legislation in 2025 that ensures new investments in child care, guarantees paid family and medical leave, and expands home- and community-based services.
The Nevada primary is pivotal for national discussions on care, health care, and economic stability. Care in Action has mobilized voters, particularly women of color, advocating for a more robust care infrastructure, including investments in child care, paid family and medical leave, and expanded home- and community-based services. These issues are particularly pressing in Nevada, where many domestic and care workers live in poverty or near-poverty conditions despite their essential contributions to the nation’s workforce.
Care in Action is the policy and advocacy home for women who care, working on behalf of more than two million domestic workers and care workers across America. Among the fastest-growing sectors in our economy, domestic workers are also among the most vulnerable and undervalued. As a mostly women and majority women of color workforce, this growing constituency consistently and overwhelmingly supports progressive values in American political life. Learn more at www.careinaction.us.