From the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy:
Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy Launches Virginia Voices Storybook Project
RICHMOND — Today, the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy launched the Virginia Voices Storybook Project. Every month, Va-CFFE will publish stories showcasing the experiences of working Virginians, small business owners, healthcare providers and patient advocates from every corner of the Commonwealth to highlight the need for a statewide paid family and medical leave program in Virginia.
“Today, 55 percent of working adults in Virginia are either not eligible for or can’t afford to take even unpaid leave to welcome a new child or to care for themselves or a loved one when a health emergency strikes,” said Virginia Campaign Director Kristina Hagen. “COVID-19 has exposed many of the inequities in our system. These are inequities that pre-date the pandemic, and they will outlast it unless we act now.”
Each of the 20 stories in the April Storybook highlights the consequences working Virginians and families face because of the absence of a statewide paid family and medical leave policy. These powerful stories illustrate the struggles faced by many today and the impact such a program could have on families across the Commonwealth:
- Abbey, Henrico: Parental leave
- Adam, Arlington: Parental leave
- Amada, Reston: Parental leave
- Becky, Chesterfield: Parental leave; medical emergency
- Chiquita, Newport News: COVID
- Christine, Fairfax: Parental leave
- Conrad, Virginia Beach: COVID
- Doug, Henrico: Self-employed
- Ella, Charlottesville: COVID; eldercare
- Emily, Roanoke: Special needs childcare
- Estefania, Prince William: COVID
- Gena, Chesterfield: Parental leave; COVID
- Melissa, Prince William: Medical emergency; eldercare
- Michelle, Springfield: Parental leave
- Misha, Annandale: Medical emergency
- Rebecca, Reston: Parental leave
- Shannon, Henrico: Provider perspective
- Shyamali, Reston: Medical emergency
- Terrence, Henrico: End of life care
- Tim, Manassas: End of life care
For more information about the Virginia Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, please visit http://www.
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
