Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 | 2 a.m.
In 2024, Nevada voters made history by overwhelmingly passing a ballot initiative to protect reproductive rights, ensuring the right to abortion in the state constitution. This landmark decision built upon a 1990 referendum that had already secured abortion rights for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, the fight isn’t over. Nevada law requires ballot initiatives to pass twice before they become part of the constitution, meaning voters will revisit the issue in 2026.
As organizations like Silver State Equality gear up for their 2025 civil rights campaigns, they’re focusing on the interconnectedness of human rights. Affordable child care, home-based health care, reproductive freedom, and paid family leave are all part of a broader vision for a more equitable society. Partnering with national groups like Caring Across Generations, whose motto is “Our Families.Our Futures. We Decide.,” they aim to elect leaders who will champion these essential rights.
At the heart of this movement is the belief that individual freedom—whether it’s deciding when to start a family, how to define family, or how to care for loved ones—is crucial for both personal and community well-being. Yet, ongoing attacks on abortion access and transgender rights threaten to divert attention from other critical issues, such as improving education, closing gaps in the care workforce, and ensuring affordable child care. It’s time to enact policies that give children a strong start in life and allow aging adults to live their later years with dignity.
home and Community-Based Health Care: A Growing Need
Table of Contents
- 1. home and Community-Based Health Care: A Growing Need
- 2. Reproductive Health Rights: A Essential Freedom
- 3. The Child care Crisis: A National Challenge
- 4. Looking Ahead: Advocacy and Action
- 5. During your interview with Dr. martinez, what specific statistics did she cite regarding access to paid family leave in the U.S.?
No one should have to choose between earning a living and caring for a loved one. A recent Data For Progress report highlights that 91% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans support expanding Medicare to cover long-term, in-home care services. This bipartisan consensus underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.
Paid family medical leave is another critical piece of the puzzle.The U.S. remains one of the few nations without a national paid leave policy. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, as of March 2023, only 27% of civilian workers had access to paid family leave through their employers, and just 41% had access to short-term disability insurance. for low-wage workers, the numbers are even more stark: only 6% have access to paid leave.
The statistics paint a grim picture. One in five Americans provides unpaid care to an adult, nearly a quarter of employed mothers return to work within two weeks of giving birth, and one in five retirees leave the workforce early to care for a sick family member, according to Paid Leave for All.
Reproductive Health Rights: A Essential Freedom
Reproductive rights are about more than access to abortion—they’re about bodily autonomy and the ability to make decisions about one’s own health and future. Attacks on these rights not only undermine individual freedoms but also distract from other pressing issues like affordable child care and caregiving support.
As we look ahead to 2026, the fight to enshrine reproductive rights in Nevada’s constitution will continue. But the broader battle for human rights—encompassing health care, family leave, and caregiving—remains equally vital. By working together, we can create a future where everyone has the freedom to care for themselves and their loved ones without sacrificing their livelihoods or their dignity.
In today’s rapidly evolving society, the definition of family has expanded far beyond traditional norms. Yet, government policies often lag behind, failing to recognize the diverse family structures that exist, especially within the LGBTQ+ community. This oversight can have profound consequences,especially when it comes to caregiving and support systems. For manny, chosen families—those who may not share legal or biological ties but are nonetheless integral to their lives—are a lifeline. However, the absence of policies that acknowledge these relationships leaves countless individuals without the care they need.
Modern American families are dynamic,with configurations that shift over time. to truly support these families, policies must be adaptable, embracing a wide array of caregiving relationships. This is especially critical for LGBTQ+ individuals, who often face barriers to accessing care from traditional family structures. By broadening the scope of what constitutes a family, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society.
The Child care Crisis: A National Challenge
Another pressing issue facing families across the United States is the lack of affordable, high-quality child care. According to a 2023 report by Nevada’s Governor’s Workforce Development Board, nearly 74% of children aged 0-5 in Nevada do not have access to licensed child care facilities. This problem is not confined to one state; nationally, two-thirds of Americans reside in areas classified as infant and toddler child care deserts. A 2022 report from child Care Aware highlights a staggering shortage of 3.6 million licensed child care slots nationwide.
The repercussions of this crisis extend far beyond individual families. The council for a Strong America estimates that the U.S.loses approximately $122 billion annually in earnings, productivity, and revenue due to inadequate access to affordable child care. The challenges are widespread: 85% of primary caregivers report that child care issues interfere with their work hours or productivity, while 64% admit to being late to work consequently. More alarmingly, 58% have missed entire workdays, and 53% say they’ve been distracted on the job. For some, the burden is even greater—33% have reduced their work hours from full-time to part-time, 26% have quit their jobs, and 23% have been fired due to child care-related problems.
Public sentiment underscores the urgency of this issue. A poll conducted by the First Five Years Fund reveals that 93% of voters believe it is crucial for working parents to have access to affordable, quality child care programs. Additionally, 74% of respondents support increased funding for child care and early childhood education, viewing it as a wise investment of taxpayer dollars.
Looking Ahead: Advocacy and Action
As we navigate these challenges, it is clear that collective action is essential.Organizations like Silver State Equality are at the forefront of advocating for policies that reflect the realities of modern families. By working to elect representatives who prioritize the needs of all residents, we can ensure that every family—regardless of its structure—has the support it needs to thrive. With an eye toward the 2025 and 2027 Nevada legislative sessions, advocates are already laying the groundwork for meaningful change.
As André Wade, state director of Silver State Equality, aptly puts it, “We must honor our freedom to decide what’s best for our families and our futures.” this sentiment resonates deeply in a time when the definition of family is more diverse than ever, and the need for inclusive, flexible policies has never been greater.
During your interview with Dr. martinez, what specific statistics did she cite regarding access to paid family leave in the U.S.?
Interview with Dr. Elena Martinez, Policy Director at Caring Across Generations
Archyde News: Dr. Martinez,thank you for joining us today. your work at Caring Across Generations focuses on advocating for policies that support families, caregivers, and aging adults. Can you start by telling us about the current state of caregiving in the United States and why it’s such a pressing issue?
Dr. Elena Martinez: Thank you for having me. The state of caregiving in the U.S. is at a critical juncture.We’re facing a dual crisis: an aging population that requires more long-term care and a care workforce that’s underpaid, overworked, and undervalued. One in five Americans is providing unpaid care to an adult, often while juggling full-time jobs and other responsibilities. This is unsustainable. Families are being forced to make unachievable choices—between earning a living and caring for a loved one. The lack of affordable child care and paid family leave exacerbates the problem, leaving many without the support they need.
Archyde News: You mentioned the care workforce. What are the gaps in this sector, and how do they impact families?
Dr. Martinez: The care workforce is in dire need of investment. There’s a critically important shortage of home health aides, nursing assistants, and other care professionals. This shortage is driven by low wages, lack of benefits, and limited career advancement opportunities. As a result, many families struggle to find reliable, affordable care for their loved ones. This disproportionately affects low-income families and communities of color, who frequently enough have fewer resources to bridge the gap.Expanding Medicare to cover long-term, in-home care services, as supported by 91% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans, would be a game-changer. It would not only improve access to care but also create jobs and stabilize the workforce.
Archyde News: Paid family leave is another critical issue you’ve highlighted. Why is it so critically important, and how does the U.S. compare to other nations?
Dr. Martinez: Paid family leave is essential for both economic security and public health. The U.S. is one of the few countries without a national paid leave policy. as of 2023, only 27% of civilian workers had access to paid family leave thru their employers, and for low-wage workers, that number drops to a shocking 6%. This forces many parents to return to work just weeks after giving birth or caring for a sick family member, which can have long-term consequences for their health and financial stability. Countries with robust paid leave policies see better health outcomes, higher workforce participation, and stronger family bonds. It’s time for the U.S. to catch up.
Archyde News: Reproductive rights have also been a major focus of your advocacy. How do these rights intersect with caregiving and family support?
Dr. martinez: Reproductive rights are fundamentally about autonomy—the ability to make decisions about one’s body, health, and future. When these rights are under attack,it undermines the broader fight for caregiving and family support. Such as, restrictions on abortion access disproportionately affect low-income women and people of color, who are already more likely to face challenges in accessing affordable child care and paid leave. Reproductive freedom is not just about abortion; it’s about ensuring that individuals can plan their families and care for them without sacrificing their livelihoods or dignity.
Archyde News: Nevada recently made history by passing a ballot initiative to protect reproductive rights in its constitution. What does this mean for the broader movement?
Dr. Martinez: Nevada’s decision is a significant victory and a model for other states. By enshrining reproductive rights in the constitution, Nevada has taken a bold step toward protecting individual freedoms. However,the fight isn’t over. Nevada law requires ballot initiatives to pass twice, so voters will revisit the issue in 2026. This underscores the importance of sustained advocacy and coalition-building. Reproductive rights, caregiving, and family support are all interconnected, and we need to address them holistically.
Archyde news: what policies or initiatives do you believe are most urgent to support families and caregivers in the coming years?
Dr. Martinez: We need a comprehensive approach that includes expanding Medicare to cover home-based care, enacting a national paid family leave policy, and investing in affordable child care.We also need to recognize and support diverse family structures, including chosen families within the LGBTQ+ community.policies must be adaptable and inclusive to reflect the realities of modern American families. By working together, we can create a future where everyone has the freedom to care for themselves and their loved ones without sacrificing their livelihoods or dignity.
Archyde News: Thank you, Dr. Martinez, for your insights and for your tireless advocacy on these critical issues.We look forward to seeing the impact of your work in the years to come.
Dr. Elena Martinez: Thank you. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.
