The Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving Overview
Download a one-page version of this information here.
Sign up for updates from that Task Force and download all meeting materials and minutes here. 
- Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers established the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving in February 2019 in response to requests by The Arc Wisconsin and other disability and aging groups.
- An Executive Order typically creates a time-limited priority that ends after the Governor leaves office. Executive orders can outline or direct the creation of recommendations, the legislature may need to act to implement initiatives or provide funding.
- The Caregiving Executive Order defines membership of a Task Force that is directed to address key issues, including:
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- Strategies to attract and retain a strong direct care workforce;
- Supports for families providing care;
- The need for a registry of home care providers and services that help match people to workers who can help them; and
- Attention to wages and health benefits for workers to strengthen the workforce.
- The Task Force has 29 members appointed by the Governor, including bi-partisan legislators, recipients of care, caregivers, providers who hire direct care workers, organizations that offer respite care and others with expertise and personal experience on this issue.
What is the Need
– Family caregivers provide nearly 80 percent of all care to family members with disabilities and older adults.
– In Wisconsin, 60 percent of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (of a total of 54,202) live with their family.
– More than 85 percent of Wisconsinites who rely on paid direct care workers for some or all their support needs cannot find enough help to meet their needs.
– Nearly three-quarters of private sector employers say that caregiving increases stress in the workplace, including lost work time.
– In a 2018 survey, 97% of responding families from Wisconsin reported difficulties finding direct care workers and 98% said they had trouble finding respite. 98% reported some level of stress with more than half indicating they are very or extremely stressed.
– 93% of Wisconsin personal care agencies have difficulty filling shifts
Key Facts
- There is increasing demand for direct care workers caused mainly by:
- growth in aging population
- decrease in working age population
- low unemployment
- demand for home care and policy changes in Wisconsin
Key Challenges for Paid Workforce
- Average wages have stagnated over last 10 years: $12.56 in 2008 -$12.28 in 2018 (adjusted for inflation)
- 2 in 5 workers relies on public assistance programs
Key Challenges for Family Caregivers
- Working family caregivers don’t have access to paid family leave
- There are not enough resources (i.e. funds, providers) for respite care and other supports
- Programs are focused on the care recipient and often do not ask/assess the needs of the caregiver
How to Track the Work of the Governor’s Task Force on Caregiving
- Sign up for updates https://gtfc.wisconsin.gov/
- Meetings include a short public comment period; the public can call-in.
- Meeting schedule:
- December 2019: Workgroups meet
- January 30, 2020: Full Task Force meets
- February through April 2020: Workgroups meet to develop proposals
- May 28, 2020: Full Task Force meets
- June through August 2020: Workgroups meet
- September 17, 2020: Full Task Force meets for final review of proposals
- October 30, 2020: Proposals are presented to the Governor
Supporting the Work of the Task Force
- Write a letter to the Task Force representing a perspective from a unique region or group
- Recognize caregivers; create awareness in your community (i.e. press release; social media; proclamation)
- Contact your state legislators informing them of your interest in this issue; follow-up
- Invite your legislator to your home or organization to see your caregiving work first-hand
- Support the Task Force recommendations when they are presented October in 2020
