Public Policy
Wider Opportunities for Women works to address policy issues that seek broader, systemic solutions to alleviate poverty and move people towards economic independence. WOW does this through conducting original research, analyzing issues, and developing solutions.
WOW works with local, state and/or federal policy makers, the media and other nonprofit organizations to publish policy briefs, craft op-eds, write reports, speak at forums, and work in coalition with other advocacy groups. WOW advocates for policies that improve educational opportunities, increase access to work supports, promote promising programs, and support women, older workers and youth.
WOW’s work has been influential in shaping public policies to benefit low-income workers across the country. Today, WOW is working on behalf of its state and local partners in the following areas:
Women and Family Economic Security
- Quality jobs and wages including minimum wage, FMLA, and health benefits
- Provide for Inclusive Hiring in Any Jobs Creation in Infrastructure Development
1. Facts on Working Women: the Department of Labor has just updated its statistics on women for 2008. Oct. 2, 2009
2 . WOW's Women in Infrastructure Jobs Proposal
3. Why Part-Time Work is Important to Working Families
4. Full Speed Ahead: Making the Workforce Work for Women
5 . Suggested Policy Objectives and Executive Orders for the White House Task Force
on Middle Class Working Families
6 . WOW's Press Release on the President's Formation of the Council on Women and Girls - Skills training including the Workforce Investment Act, PACT, WANTO, and Green Jobs Training
1. Coalition Sign-On Letter Calls for Jobs3. Women and the Green Economy, Updated July 2009
2. Recommendations on Reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act to the Senate HELP Committee, Nov. 24, 2008
4 . WOW Presentation on Women and Green Jobs at the Women Work!/NAPE conference
5. Summary of Green Construction Careers Proposal for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
6 . Proposed Green Construction Careers Demonstration Program in ACES (American Clean Energy and Security Act), 6/26/09
7 . Fact Sheet on the Green Jobs in House Climate Change Bill
8 . Women WIN Jobs Act
9. WOW's Women's Work in 2008 Report
10. Top 50 Occupations Employing Women and Earnings Chart
11. A Women's Agenda for Job Creation
- NCWJT Jobs Sign-on Letter
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Model Legislation for Jobs and Apprenticeships in Climate Change Bill
- Department of Labor Budget Features Innovation, Follows WOW’s Suggestions for Enforcement of Equal Opportunity Laws
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Education including Perkins, Pell, and tax credits
- Income and Work Supports including TANF, UI, Food Stamps, child care, housing, LIHEAP, tax credits, savings and debt reduction
Elder Economic Security
- Making Ends Meet: Monthly Newsletters
- Income Security including Food Stamps, LIHEAP, work and wages, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income and pensions
- Health Security including Medicare, Medicaid, the Medicare Savings Plans: QMB, SLMB & QI, and Long-Term Care
- Housing including Section 8, Section 202 and The National Housing Trust Fund
- Older Worker Supports including flextime and the Senior Community Service Employment Program
- Elder Economic Security and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Federal Program Funding such as Budget and Appropriations
1. WOW's Policy Brief 2009: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
2. WOW's Letter to Congress on the President's 2010 Budget Proposal
2. Job and Skill Development Opportunities From the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
3. Child Care Opportunities from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
4. DOL Budget Features Innovation, Follows WOW’s Suggestions for Enforcement of Equal Opportunity Laws
5. Highlights of the 2011 Obama Budget Affecting Lifetime Economic Security
DC Metro Advocacy