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Statement

North Carolina Moms Applaud ‘All Ages, All Stages Multisector Plan for Aging,’ Which Prioritizes Paid Family and Medical Leave, Elder Care, Other Urgent Priorities

September 27, 2024
Paid Family & Medical Leave, North Carolina

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Beth Messersmith, Senior Director, North Carolina at MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, including 47,000 in North Carolina, on today’s release of the North Carolina Multisector Plan for Aging:

“North Carolina moms – and all voters – are keenly aware that our state’s families, communities, businesses, and economy are suffering because we are without the kind of care infrastructure every society needs. The ‘NC Multisector Plan for Aging,’ a part of the ‘All Ages, All Stages NC Roadmap for Aging and Living Well,’ offers solutions that North Carolinians have long supported, including strengthening family leave policies to support those who are breadwinners as well as caregivers to children and/or older loved ones, and support businesses by helping them retain employees.

“Moms also cheer its recommendations to:

  • Increase funding for home- and community-based services to meet the growing need among older adults for high-quality, community-based care;

  • Ensure a skilled workforce for diverse aging field jobs by developing targeted recruitment campaigns, creating partnerships with educational institutions, and enhancing training programs to better prepare individuals for careers in aging services;

  • Strengthen and support the health care workforce; and

  • Expand financial incentives for health care careers such as loan repayment programs, tuition reimbursement, and stipends.

“The new report notes that North Carolina faces a significant demographic shift with its aging population projected to grow from 1.9 million in 2022 to more than 2.8 million individuals aged 65 and older by 2042. That makes adopting policies that support families and caregivers across the life spectrum essential for our state to thrive. We thank Gov. Roy Cooper, Secretary Kody H. Kinsley, and everyone at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Aging who worked on this report and urge lawmakers to implement its recommendations without delay.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.