Jackson County Executive White and Appointments Project® Partner to Increase Women’s Participation on Boards and Commissions

Women’s Foundation Appointments Project® Announces Expanded Programming to Jackson County, Missouri

Kansas City, MO – September 24, 2020 –  The Office of County Executive Frank White, Jr., in partnership with the Appointments Project® today announce their collaborative partnership to increase the number of women on county boards and commissions. Started in 2014, the Appointments Project® has successfully placed 140 women on boards and commissions, including 28 percent women of color since inception.  

“I’ve seen first-hand the need to increase gender parity and better drive representation across civic leadership to ensure that we’re drawing on the talents and diversity of all our residents,” County Executive White said. “We are eager to partner with the Appointments Project® and strengthen our county by increasing the number of appointed women, with an initial focus on the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. It is my understanding that there have likely only been three female commissioners in the Authority’s 50-year history.”

The Appointments Project® serves as a talent bank, advisor and advocate for women seeking opportunities to lead their communities and works to attract diverse, qualified applicants for appointed positions on boards and commissions. The Appointments Project® formula trains and mentors women through the process of applying for these positions, fast-tracking their ability to get appointed at every level of government.

“Our research showed us that women don’t become civically engaged because they weren’t being asked. As a result, we created the Appointments Project® so boards and commissions could reflect the communities they serve,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “We are grateful to have County Executive White join us as a partner to expand the program in the Kansas City metro area. Together, we are addressing the gender disparities in local civic leadership and are able to make real changes in our communities.” 

Based on a growing number of success stories, the pipeline of women leaders is growing rapidly across the country. The Appointments Project® fills a critical need in creating a pathway to work with elected officials and better community representation that leads to better lives for all.  To learn more about the Appointments Project® visit www.appointmentsproject.org. 

About Appointments Project®

To create lasting change for women and their families, the Women’s Foundation headquartered in Kansas City focuses on relevant research and strategic partnerships. In 2014, they established the Appointments Project® to empower women and strengthen communities by increasing the gender diversity of civic boards and commissions. Through a landmark study, they identified the barriers causing women to be underrepresented on civic boards and commissions and established the Appointments Project® to improve the number of women serving. For more information, please visit www.appointmentsproject.org or follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @appointmentsproject).

Women’s Foundation Commends Bipartisan Momentum Behind Paid Family Leave

KANSAS CITY – The Women’s Foundation today commended the bipartisan momentum behind paid family and medical leave after President Donald Trump reiterated his support for the policy in his State of the Union Address earlier this week. 

“Paid family leave means strong families and strong businesses, and we’re thrilled that bipartisan momentum behind this policy continues to build,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “The progress we’re making here in Missouri and Kansas has become a national model for how leaders of both parties can come together to make a positive difference for families and businesses alike.”

Expanding access to paid family and medical leave is a top priority of the Women’s Foundation, which worked with elected officials to provide parental leave to nearly all state employees in Missouri and Kansas. 

The organization also advocates for reforms such as salary history bans, which help break the cycle of pay inequity by ensuring women are paid based on their merits rather than their previous salary level.

Women’s Foundation research on the benefits of paid family leave can be found here: 
http://www.womens-foundation.org/paid-leave

The mission of Women's Foundation is to advance all women’s economic and civic leadership. We envision a world where all women are empowered to strengthen America’s economy and democracy.

Governor Colyer Signs Executive Order Providing Paid Parental Leave to Kansas State Employees

The policy will give primary caregivers six weeks of paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child

TOPEKA – The Women’s Foundation today commended Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer for signing an executive order providing paid parental leave to Kansas state employees. Expanding access to paid leave has been a top priority of the Women’s Foundation, which worked with the Governor’s office to provide research on the benefits of paid family and medical leave.

“This is great news for state employees, and all Kansans who will benefit from a healthier, stronger and more productive state workforce,” said Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of the Women’s Foundation. “Over the past two years, the family-friendly policies we championed here in the heartland have helped spur a national movement towards paid family leave that is benefiting state employees from coast to coast. We commend Governor Colyer for taking this positive step, and look forward to continuing to promote equity and opportunity across the region.”

Under the policy, all state employees under the governor's jurisdiction will be eligible to receive paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child, with primary caregivers receiving six weeks and secondary caregivers receiving three weeks. Employees will receive 100 percent of their regular salary during their leave.

Over the past two years, the Women’s Foundation worked with Missouri officials to expand paid parental leave to employees of nearly every state agency. Women’s Foundation research, commissioned in partnership with the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy, found that PFL programs prevent families from falling into poverty, reduce reliance on public assistance, recruit and retain talented employees, and increase worker productivity.

Kansas joins 14 states and the District of Columbia that provide paid parental leave to all or some of their workforce: Arkansas, California, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.

Women’s Foundation’s Paid Leave Policy Research Brief is available here.

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

Women’s Foundation Recognized for Work in Expanding Paid Leave

Kansas City, Mo. - Today the Women’s Foundation was recognized by Mayor Sly James and the City of Kansas City, Missouri City Council with a resolution honoring their efforts to enact paid family and medical leave.  

Mayor James also revealed plans to add an additional week to the City’s paid parental leave policy. City employees will now have access to seven weeks of paid leave. 

“It is an honor to be recognized for our work in furthering paid family leave,” said Women’s Foundation President and CEO, Wendy Doyle. “Taking time off to bond a child shouldn’t mean going without a paycheck and we know from our research that when organizations adopt more family-friendly policies like paid leave, employee retention and long-term productivity improve. We commend Mayor James for his continued commitment to making Kansas City a great place to live, work and raise a family.” 

More information about Women’s Foundation’s paid leave research and policy solutions is available at: http://www.womens-foundation.org/paid-leave/ 

City of Kansas City, Missouri Mayor, Sly James, Women's Foundation President & CEO, Wendy Doyle and Vice President of Research & Policy And General Counsel,  Kendall Seal

The Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using
Research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information
about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.

Women’s Foundation Celebrates Introduction of Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act; Releases New Research on Paid Family Leave

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Women’s Foundation today celebrated the introduction of the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act (House Bill 1974) and released new research detailing the benefits of paid family leave (PFL). 

The research, commissioned in partnership with the University of Missouri Institute of Public Policy, found that PFL programs prevent families from falling into poverty, reduce reliance on public assistance, raise retention of talented employees, and increase worker productivity as well as employers’ stock prices.

“Our research has shown that paid family leave has real and far-reaching benefits for families and businesses,” said Wendy Doyle, Women’s Foundation President & CEO. “Allowing Missourians to care for children and loved-ones without sacrificing their income is a win-win – strengthening families, strengthening businesses, and growing the economy. We commend Representatives Hannah Kelly for introducing this family-friendly legislation and urge the General Assembly to a paid family and medical leave bill without delay.” 

The bill, introduced by state Representative Hannah Kelly, proposes a statewide ballot initiative to make Missouri the sixth state nationwide, after California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington, to pass PFL legislation. If approved by Missouri voters, it would grant eligible employees up to 8 weeks of leave per 12 month period to bond with a new child, to care for a seriously ill family member, to care for their own serious illness, or to “assume any familial responsibility because a [family member] is on or called to active duty.” Employees would contribute 0.25% of their weekly pay beginning in 2020 and would be able to receive the 67% wage replacement leave in 2021. 

The Women’s Foundation also voiced support for the two other paid family leave bills that have been introduced: Senate Bill 607, sponsored by Senator Jill Schupp, and House Bill 1956, sponsored by Representative Tracy McCreery.

In addition to detailing the benefits of paid family leave, Women’s Foundation research provided an analysis of estimated paid leave payouts, based on the experiences of other states. Statistical inferences based on paid leave programs in New Jersey and California applied to Missouri demographics indicate lower potential payouts than previous estimates.

“These other states have demonstrated that strong families and strong businesses go hand-in-hand,” said Rep. Hannah Kelly. “The evidence is overwhelming that paid leave programs benefit everyone – helping children and families thrive, while giving businesses a stronger and more productive workforce. Given the example set by Governor Greitens and Speaker Richardson for their state employees, I’m confident that legislators on both sides of the aisle will join us in working to establish an earned family and medical leave program that works for all Missourians.”

Women’s Foundation has been working to educate public officials on the importance of paid family and medical leave and encouraging them to extend the benefit to their employees. As a result, five out of six statewide executive branch officials in Missouri, along with the House of Representatives and four independent executive agencies have now adopted paid parental leave policies for their state employees. 

In March Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order granting paid parental leave to employees in the governor's office or in agencies controlled by his appointees. Since then, four other statewide elected officials and the House of Representatives have followed suit. As a result, employees of nearly every state agency are now able to take paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child.

Current public opinion strongly supports some sort of paid family and medical leave program, with 80% of the public favoring paid leave for maternal leave and serious medical conditions and 60-70% favoring paternal bonding leave and leave to care for seriously ill family members. About 35% of the country believes expanding paid leave should be a top government priority.

A copy of the research brief is available here. 

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.
 

Watch the virtual press conference here. 

Women's Foundation today celebrated the introduction of the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act (House Bill 1974) and released new research detailing the benefits of paid family leave (PFL).

Paid Parental Leave Expands In Missouri to Include More State Employees

Missouri House and Five of Six Statewide Elected Officials Implement Paid Parental Leave

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Five out of six statewide executive branch officials in Missouri, along with the House of Representatives and four independent executive agencies have now adopted paid parental leave policies for their state employees, Women’s Foundation announced today.  

Women’s Foundation has been working to educate public officials on the importance of paid family and medical leave and encouraging them to extend the benefit to their employees. 

In March, Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order granting paid parental leave to employees in the governor’s office and in agencies controlled by his appointees. Since then, four other statewide elected officials and the House of Representatives have followed suit. As a result, employees of nearly every state agency are now able to take paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child. 

“Our research has shown that paid family leave benefits families, employers and the economy, so we’re thrilled that Missouri officials are offering this family-friendly benefit to state employees,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of Women’s Foundation. “No one should have to choose between caring for a child and paying the bills, and we thank Governor Greitens, Speaker Todd Richardson and all the officials who have stepped up to provide parental leave to their employees. Paid leave makes for strong families and strong businesses, so we look forward to working with legislators to pass an earned family and medical leave law that will give all Missourians the ability to care for a child or loved-one without losing their income.”

To date, paid parental leave policies have been adopted by Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, for state employees in executive branch agencies, as well as by Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson, State Auditor Nicole Galloway, State Treasurer Eric Schmitt, Attorney General Josh Hawley, and the Missouri House of Representatives. Four independent executive agencies governed by independent commissions have also adopted paid leave policies: the Missouri Department of Mental Health, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Missouri Department of Higher Education, and the Missouri Department of Transportation. 

Last year, Women’s Foundation released preliminary research on the benefits of paid leave in partnership with the University of Missouri Truman School Institute of Public Policy, which found that paid family leave reduces reliance on public assistance and encourages women to stay in the workforce.

This research has helped inform administrative and legislative solutions that would expand paid family leave options for women and their families. For example, during the 2017 legislative session, Women’s Foundation supported the Missouri Earned Family and Medical Leave Act (House Bill 1059), which would grant eligible employees up to 8 weeks of leave per 12 month period to bond with a new child, to care for a seriously ill family member, to care for their own serious illness, or to “assume any familial responsibility because a [family member] is on or called to active duty.” Employees would contribute 0.25% of their weekly pay beginning in 2019 and would be able to receive the 67% wage replacement leave in 2020. 

Women’s Foundation promotes equity and opportunity for women of all ages, using research, philanthropy and policy solutions to make meaningful change. More information about the organization can be found at www.Womens-Foundation.org.