URGENT: Our Voices Are Being Heard! The Fight for Caregivers is NOW!

Dear Supporters of the Federal & Colorado CARE Act,

First, a massive thank you to each and every one of you! We've reached an incredible milestone of 568 signatures and have 507 dedicated supporters for the "Empower Working Caregivers: Enact Federal & Colorado CARE Act to Amend ADA & CADA" petition! Every signature, every share, every conversation truly counts.

This outpouring of support underscores a critical truth: the time for caregiver advocacy is no longer coming – it is here.

As many of you know, my work as Director of Advocacy for Professionals Who Care (a non-profit supporting 32 million working caregivers nationwide) and my personal mission as a Colorado resident are driven by the urgent reality facing families like mine. My mother, living with end-stage Dementia, constantly resets, asking the same heart-wrenching questions, her body aching. This daily struggle is a microcosm of the "Caregiver Gap" we face: a projected 115,000-person shortage of caregivers in Colorado alone by 2030, a crisis replicated across the U.S.

To understand the full scope of this crisis and why our advocacy is so urgent, please read my latest post: Caregiving Under the Microscope: The "Caregiver Gap" - Why Colorado and America Can't Afford to Wait [https://www.professionalswhocare.org/post/caregiving-under-the-microscope-the-caregiver-gap-why-colorado-and-america-can-t-afford-to-wait]

 
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher

The urgency of our mission has intensified dramatically. The U.S. House has recently passed legislation that could significantly cut vital benefits to programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This legislation is now being considered by the Senate. If these cuts go through, they will devastate vulnerable populations and place an even heavier, unsustainable burden on unpaid family caregivers and state budgets nationwide.

This is why we need to act with unprecedented force, both in Colorado and nationally.

The Colorado CARE Act is designed as a strategic, fiscally responsible investment to support caregivers and stabilize our state's long-term care infrastructure. Similarly, the proposed Federal CARE Act aims to amend Article 42 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), creating crucial national protections for working caregivers.

 
Your Story is Our Power – Share It Anonymously, If You Wish!

Numbers are powerful, but personal stories are what move hearts and change minds. As we gear up for the next legislative session in Colorado in January, I will be gathering your voices to share directly with Colorado committees. Legislators need to hear from real people – caregivers, their families, and even employers – about the challenges you face and why the CARE Act is essential.

Did caregiving impact your job? Your finances? Your health? Did you face discrimination? Do you worry about the future of care?

I want to hear from you directly! While this petition doesn't allow direct comments, you can share your story with me. I understand and deeply respect your privacy. You can choose to share your story completely anonymously. If you prefer your story to be shared without your name or any identifying details, simply let me know when you reach out. Your privacy is paramount, and your story's power lies in its truth, not in identifying who shared it.

Here's how you can connect with me:

Visit the Professionals Who Care Website: [Professionals Who Care]
Connect with me on LinkedIn:Professionals Who Care LinkedIn Page: [Link to PWC LinkedIn]
CASI LinkedIn Page: [Link to CASI LinkedIn]
Mark Fukae Personal LinkedIn Profile: [Link to Mark's Personal LinkedIn]
Email me directly: mark_fukae@casiadvocacy.org

Please reach out and share your experience. Even a few sentences can make a profound difference. We will use these stories to show the human cost of inaction and the imperative for change.

 
Keep Sharing the Petition – The Time Is NOW!

We've achieved great momentum, but we need to amplify our voices even further. Every share brings us closer to securing the protections and support working caregivers desperately need.

Please share this petition widely with your friends, family, colleagues, and networks across Colorado and the U.S. now!

[ Empower Working Caregivers: Enact Federal & Colorado CARE Act to Amend ADA & CADA]

Thank you for being part of this vital movement. Together, we can ensure that caregivers are seen, supported, and valued.

Kindly,

Mark Fukae Director of Advocacy | Professionals Who Care

Concerned Colorado Citizen & Advocate (CASI: Caregiver Advocacy and Support Initiative)