Universal Family Care
Covid-19 has taught us that any one person’s wellness depends on everyone else’s. Now more than ever, this virus has made clear that we are dependent on each other, and no matter where we come from, what we look like, or how much money we have, we know it's time to pull together to ensure all of us can access the care we need.
Whether we need to stay home to take care of a family member who falls ill, to find a professional home care worker to care for a chronically ill loved one, or to find childcare so we can return to work, we must ensure all of us can access the care we need and have the support required to make the best choices for everyone’s health.
Despite Maine families needing more caregiving support than ever before, caregiving work is still not valued and supported well enough to meet the soaring demand. Professional caregivers and early childhood educators, primarily low-income women and people of color, are doing some of the most crucial work there is: caring for our loved ones.
It is time for universal family care, a social contract for the twenty-first century. We must guarantee paid family and medical leave, universal childcare for children up to school age, and universal homecare for seniors and people with disabilities. It must be accessible to every Mainer who needs care, regardless of income. There is no more important job in Maine than caring for our loved ones.
Family caregivers should be supported and professional caregivers and early educators should have quality jobs that pay a living wage, with access to government protections and full benefits, and the right to join unions and bargain collectively for a better life, regardless of race, class, or country of origin. All professional caregivers and early educators must have the resources needed to be culturally responsive, both knowledgeable and sensitive to issues of race and ethnicity.
See the Education and Training section for more information about educators working in child care and the vision for universal child care in Maine.
The Maine Paid Family Leave Coalition is a group of Maine nonprofits, community members, and policy experts advocating for comprehensive Paid Family and Medical Leave for all Maine workers. Whether you're welcoming a new child, recovering from an injury or illness, or caring for a sick family member, we all deserve flexible workplace policies that allow us to take time away from our jobs without risking unemployment or financial insecurity. For more information about Paid Family and Medical Leave and to join our campaign you can visit us atwww.mainefamilyleave.com.