Creating A Nationwide Nonpartisan Initiative for Family Caregivers in Political Party Platforms

Area of Science:

• Public Policy
• Health Advocacy
• Political Science

Background:

• Policymakers have historically overlooked the significant challenges faced by family caregivers, including financial burdens and employment impacts.
• Political agendas rarely address the complexities of long-term care tasks assumed by family members.

Purpose of the Study:

• To increase policymakers' awareness of family caregiver issues.
• To integrate family caregiving concerns into the 2016 Republican and Democratic party platforms.

Main Methods:

• The Family Caregiver Platform Project (FCPP) analyzed state-level party platform submission processes nationwide.
• Developed a website and model submissions to assist caregiver advocates.
• Recruited and mobilized volunteers for grassroots advocacy efforts.

Main Results:

• Family caregiver language was incorporated into eight state party platforms, one state resolution, two bipartisan legislative resolutions, and one national platform.
• Advocacy efforts resulted in 39 states hosting platform processes, with submissions made in 22 states.
• Democratic party platforms showed more receptiveness, with seven Democratic and one Republican party adopting caregiver language.

Conclusions:

• The FCPP demonstrated a successful non-partisan, grassroots approach to educating policymakers on caregiving.
• The project highlighted the need for continued advocacy to ensure family caregiver issues are addressed in political decision-making.