The Golden State came out on top in a new state-by-state survey of family-protection laws for new parents, earning an A-minus in the study’s letter-grade ranking. Conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families, the analysis looks at laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
FMLA Leave Would Cover Same-Sex Couples Who Are Married No Matter Where They Live – Bloomberg BNA
Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families, called the proposal “a very welcome pro-family step that makes our country more fair and family friendly.”
Expecting Better: Most States Get Poor Grades for Failing to Adopt Workplace Policies that Support New Parents in New Study; 31 States Get Grades of “D” or “F”
In Advance of Monday’s White House Summit on Working Families, New State-by-State Analysis Reinforces Compelling Need for Congress to Act
Senate Appropriations Committee Acted “Wisely” in Lifting the Ban on Abortion Coverage for Peace Corps Volunteers Victimized by Violence or Who Need Life-Saving Care
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
What are the best states for working parents? – Washington Post
In the third edition of the National Partnership for Women and Families report, which was first done in 2005 and then in 2012, the partnership found there has been more progress when it comes to policies that help working parents.
Proposed Meaningful Use Delay Gets Mixed Reaction From Stakeholders – iHealthBeat
Senate Confirmation of “Superbly Qualified” Burwell is “Great News for the Country”
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
Wage Discrimination: What Women Can Do To Beat It – Forbes
“We know that millions of women in virtually every occupation are paid less than men,” says Vicki Shabo, a vice president at the National Partnership for Women and Families. “The gender pay gap wage differential is a tremendous and enduring problem, not just for women being paid less but for families’ economic security. This has lasting impacts throughout the year.”
California lawmakers advance bill to mandate paid sick leave – Reuters
Worker rights groups and others are campaigning for an expansion of paid sick leave rights in the private sector. So far, mandates on paid sick days have primarily been taken up by local governments, with San Francisco in 2006 becoming the first U.S. city to require it, according to the Washington-based National Partnership for Women and Families.
EHR Vendors Tell Federal Advisors They Want Narrower Stage 3 Requirements – Bloomberg BNA
“Patients want to share relevant health information with their provider and they want some control over their records,” said Mark Savage, director of health IT policy and programs for the National Partnership for Women and Families.
Seattle Women Earn Less Than Men. The City Wants To Change That – KUOW
A 2013 report from the National Partnership for Women & Families found that Seattle has the largest gender wage gap among big U.S. cities.
Time isn’t enough: MU stakeholders want more – Government Health IT
“This additional time should be used to strengthen the Meaningful Use program and ensure that it is designed and implemented in ways that meet the needs of patients and families across the nation and improve their healthcare experience,” Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women and Families, said in prepared remarks.
Labor Department Forum in San Francisco Continues Critically Important Dialogue on Working Families’ Needs
Statement of Vicki Shabo, Vice President, National Partnership for Women & Families
Industry Divided Over Proposal To Change Meaningful Use Timeline – iHealthBeat
“CMS should use the additional time associated with Stage 3 to revisit the recently withdrawn requirements to send patient reminders for preventive or follow-up care,” said Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Health IT industry groups grumpy with CMS over meaningful use – Electronic prescribing up – Politico Morning eHealth
“We recognize that the work is not simple or easy but at the same time, it is disappointing that, once again, patients and families will have to wait to realize many of the benefits of health IT,” says Debra Ness, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
Women’s Leader Applauds Senate Hearing on Women’s Economic Security
Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families
Are black women MIA in the equal pay debate? – Washington Post
Nevertheless, African-American women are heads of households in larger numbers than any other group. Some 4,078,457 U.S. households are headed by black women, and 38.1 percent, or 1,553,892, of those families live below the poverty level, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families.
TTC Extra: Mothers, Babies, & Paid Leave – PBS’ “To The Contrary”
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand & Rep. Rose DeLauro spoke in support of paid family leave at the Best for Babies event, organized by Zero To Three, MomsRising, and National Partnership for Women & Families.
C-section rates vary, may be climbing unnecessarily – Modern Healthcare
“Unless there is a definitive need for a C-section, vaginal birth has major benefits for moms and babies, both in the short term and throughout the course of their lives,” Carol Sakala, director of Childbirth Connection Programs at the National Partnership for Women & Families, said in a release.
Advocates Back Paid Sick Leave, But Opponents Won’t Cough It Up – NPR
“Servers in restaurants and home health workers are the least likely to have paid sick time and the most likely to have contact with the public,” says Vicki Shabo, vice president of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

