Care for Our Caregivers

Care For Our Caregivers

SHEcovery™ Actions

Caregiving responsibilities have landed squarely on women throughout the pandemic. This fact has resulted in a cascade of crises such as job loss, added responsibilities such as homeschooling, caring for those sick with COVID-19, aging parents, and those at greater risk during the pandemic.

The increase in caregiving responsibilities often found women with no time or energy to engage in critical acts of self-care.Without help supporting wage losses and managing family care, effects will further oppress women in Chicago.

Impact on Caregiving Women

Impact on Women

Research results indicate that 60% of working parents do not receive outside help when it comes to childcare. During the pandemic, 13% of working parents resigned or reduced their work hours due to a lack of childcare.²⁰

Impact on Women

For those already caring for someone under 18, more than one in ten now say they have additional caregiving responsibilities as a result of the pandemic due to school closures.

Impact on Women

Income loss and intensifying childcare responsibilities during the pandemic also called on many young women, ages 22 and younger, to take on jobs and sometimes simultaneously care for family members.

Impact on Women

Research also shows that 27% of women reported an increase in challenges associated with mental illness, compared to only 10% of men. Women mention skyrocketing unpaid care burdens as a source of stress, in addition to anxiety regarding livelihoods, food access, and health care.²¹

Impact on Women

In addition to juggling new, increased home and work responsibilities, many women went without pay. Almost half (47%) of working mothers said they took unpaid sick leave because their child’s school or daycare was closed. This rose to 65% among low-income mothers and 70% among those working part-time jobs.²²

Impact on Women

SHEcovery™

Priorities
In Action

CFW is stepping up its efforts to ensure an equitable recovery by identifying, uplifting, funding, advocating for and supporting nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and legislation focused on:

Advocate for Medicare and Medicaid to cover home and community-based services (HCBS)
Support Child Care for Working Families Act
Support Universal Child Care and Learning Act
Increase funding for care options during non-standard hours
Increase subsidies and tax incentives for home childcare providers
Increase the financial compensation and health assistance for caregivers

"Survivors who lost their jobs and healthcare were forced
to rely on abusive partners for their financial survival."

HEALING TO ACTION CFW Grantee