NCJW is committed to keeping its members informed on important issues as they relate to protecting individual freedoms. Here is a sampling of issues in recent months.

Higher Ground: Higher Ground is a national effort by NCJW to end domestic violence by strengthening the economic status of women. According to NCJW President Nancy Ratzan, "NCJW believes that by working to improve women's economic status we can help eradicate one of the largest systemic reasons that violence against women persists: lack of financial security." Higher Ground will focus on promoting progressive policy solutions that improve women's economic security -- issues that NCJW has always championed, but now has a new platform to expose and address the insidious link between violence and economic insecurity. The campaign was launched on March 21 at Washington Institute.

Homeless Youth in Minnesota: According to the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, an estimated 22,410 unaccompanied youth runaway or experience homeless every year, and nearly 40% are homeless for at least six months or longer. There are a variety of reasons homeless youth cannot live with their families: 63% cannot live at home due to severe conflict or abuse; 15% cannot live at home because of lack of adequate housing, 7% have been kicked out of the home due to sexual orientation or gender identity, and nearly 70% of homeless youth have been in foster care, group home or corrections placement. You can take action on behalf of homeless youth, by urging your state elected officials to protect funds dedicated to serving homeless and runaway youth; by participating in your local affordable housing coalitions; by volunteering on behalf of homeless youth, and by raising awareness of the issues. For more information, contact Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless.

(Note: NCJW’s Stuff for Kids program is dedicated to meeting needs of homeless and highly mobile students in the Minneapolis Public Schools.)

Advocates for Family Welfare: NCJW has been active on a national level with increasing awareness of children’s issues and by influencing policies related to family welfare. In 1985, NCJW established its own internal research institute, the NCJW Center for the Child, which conducts research studies that have evolved into programs and legislative initiatives impacting children and their parents. Today, NCJW continues to work for quality, comprehensive childcare and early childhood education programs that are affordable and accessible for all. We were proud to play a role in supporting passage of $2 billion in funds for the Child Care Development Block Grant as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. NCJW is currently working on passage of the Healthy Families Act (HR 1902/S 932), introduced last April by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA). The Healthy Families Act would guarantee workers the opportunity to earn up to seven paid sick days per year to be used to care for themselves, their children, an ill family member, as well as to deal with the consequences of domestic violence.

Health Care Reform: NCJW supports access to high quality affordable health care for all, and believes that a public health insurance plan option is central to that goal. Through competition with private insurers, a public plan would help lower costs and improve quality, as well as provide women and their families with a range of options to select the best plan for their needs.

Abstinence-Only Funding: NCJW firmly believes that young people need medically accurate, age-appropriate information about sex and sexuality. To date, the US government has spent over 1.3 billion dollars on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. As a result of pressure from NCJW and other advocates, President Obama proposed eliminating this funding in his fiscal year 2010 budget. The final step remains for the Senate to pass its health appropriations bill with no funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

Immigration Reform: NCJW is currently working in coalition to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Family reunification, expanding a pathway to citizenship for more individuals, ensuring safe working conditions, and addressing the educational and social needs of immigrant children are among the issues we hope to see addressed by legislation.

To make your voice heard on these and other national issues, visit the NCJW Action Center. To sign up for Action Alerts on local issues, please contact the NCJW office or Jodi Wolk, State Public Affairs Chair.