Inform Women, Transform Lives Baltimore

The Project

• In August 2023, the Baltimore City Women’s Commission received a $50,000 grant from the Carter Center.
• This grant is part of the Inform Women, Transform Lives (IWTL) program, a global campaign that promotes women’s right to information and access to city services.
• The Women’s Commission is partnering with the Baltimore City Health Department’s Family Caregivers Program to implement this initiative.
• The Family Caregivers Program is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of caregivers and their care recipients by increasing access to supplemental services, caregiver education, respite care, support groups, and engaging activities, including caregiver training.
• The overall goal of this initiative is to enhance the wellbeing of caregivers, their families, and their communities.

Family Caregivers Strengthen Baltimore Communities

• Family caregivers play a vital role in keeping Baltimore communities strong by providing essential care to children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.
• Their unpaid labor reduces the burden on hospitals, nursing homes, and social services, allowing these systems to function more efficiently.
• By supporting loved ones at home, caregivers help maintain stable households, which strengthens neighborhoods and promotes community well-being.
• Caregivers also contribute to the local economy by enabling family members to remain in the workforce and reducing long-term healthcare costs.
• Their dedication fosters a culture of compassion and support, making Baltimore a more resilient and connected city.
• Caregivers play a crucial role in supporting our disabled veterans, ensuring they receive the care, assistance, and dignity they deserve.

Family Caregivers Often Go Unrecognized  

• Many caregivers don’t self-identify: Most family members who assist loved ones with daily tasks don’t realize they are caregivers.
• Caregiving includes many tasks: Driving to appointments, managing finances, arranging home care, and handling household chores all qualify as caregiving. Someone who does any one of these tasks is a caregiver and deserves support! 
• Significant unpaid labor: Family caregivers provide an estimated $5.2 billion in unreimbursed care.
• Maryland has a large caregiver population: Over 770,000 people care for aging loved ones, allowing them to stay in their homes.
• Most caregivers are women: Many juggle caregiving with full-time (66%) or part-time (23%) jobs, while 24% are retired.
• Aging caregivers will soon need care: Over 80% of caregivers are 50+, and nearly 25% are 65 or older.
• Caregiving is complex: Many caregivers assist with basic needs like eating and dressing, but others handle medical tasks like medication management and wound care.

Supporting Caregivers Advances Equity

• Supporting family caregivers ensures that unpaid care work, often performed by women and low-income individuals, is recognized and valued, reducing economic disparities.
• Providing resources and respite for caregivers allows them to maintain employment and financial stability, helping to break cycles of poverty.
• Increased access to caregiver education and support improves health outcomes for both caregivers and care recipients, reducing strain on the healthcare system.
• Equipping caregivers with resources helps prevent burnout and mental health struggles, promoting overall community well-being.
• Strengthening caregiver support programs fosters a more inclusive and equitable Baltimore by addressing systemic barriers to healthcare, employment, and social services.

Caregivers are a Key Part of the Mayor's Action Plan

Mayor Brandon Scott’s Action Plan for Baltimore is a strategic roadmap focused on building a safer, healthier, and more equitable city.

Pillar 3: Clean and Healthy Communities

• Supporting family caregivers helps prevent housing insecurity and homelessness by enabling older adults and individuals with disabilities to remain safely in their homes.
• Caregiver support programs improve overall community health by reducing stress and burnout, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes for both caregivers and care recipients

Pillar 4: Equitable Neighborhood Development

• Providing resources for caregivers ensures a more equitable recovery from COVID-19 by addressing ongoing health disparities and economic hardships faced by families.
• Strengthening caregiver support helps seniors age in place, preserving Baltimore’s legacy residents and stabilizing communities.
• Investing in caregiving infrastructure makes Baltimore more attractive to Black middle-income and immigrant families, who often rely on strong intergenerational support systems.

Pillar 5: Responsible Stewardship of City Resources

• Supporting family caregivers reduces strain on emergency services, hospitals, and long-term care facilities, leading to cost savings for the city.
• Improved caregiver support fosters better coordination between city agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations, enhancing government efficiency and service delivery.
• Investing in caregiver resources demonstrates accountability and commitment to sustainable, long-term community well-being.

Project Components

Information Campaign

Goal: Increase women's participation in caregiving programs in Baltimore by 15% by the end of September 2025 through a targeted education initiative. 

Goal target: Serve 842 new caregivers for an overall total of 6,454 by August 2025.

Campaign Components:

• Host Caregiver Events
• Develop of Informational Video and Brochures
• Advertise caregiving services on public transportation, online geofencing, social media and local media outlets
• Leverage Community Partnerships

Mural Magic

Each of the cities that participate in the Inform Women, Transform Lives initiative have the opportunity to commission a public art project funded by the Carter Center, through their Mural Magic Program.

In Baltimore, a call has been put out for artists to design and paint a mural that reflects the transformative power of women’s access to information. The selected artist and partnering organization will be announced in March 2025.

Learn more about the Mural Magic Program.

Complementary CBO Project

Baltimore is seeking community-based organizations to apply for a $10,000 grant to support programs related to caregiver services as part of the Carter Center's "Inform Women, Transform Lives" campaign. These programs may include respite care, support groups, and resources for aging adults or veterans. The goal is to increase awareness and access to services for caregivers. The call for proposals for the grant will be launched in early March. 

Get Involved! 

Here are some ways you can support this effort:

• Empower
  • Identify, connect, and express gratitude to caregivers in your life. 
• Amplify
  • Spread the word via social media and word of mouth
  • Donate advertising space
  • Place informational materials in community spaces or businesses
• Host
  • Host a caregiver education class/support group/respite outing
  • Teach or share expertise in a topic that touches caregivers
• Advocate
  • Volunteer or donate to a local caregiver support program
  • Provide funding for caregivers and programs

Complete the Caregiver Commitment Pledge

The Carter Center

The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is dedicated to human rights and reducing human suffering by promoting peace, democracy, and public health. Focused on action and measurable results, it tackles pressing global challenges through research-driven, innovative solutions. The Center works in difficult situations, embraces risk, and collaborates with governments and communities without duplicating existing efforts. Committed to nonpartisanship, it believes in empowering people with the skills, knowledge, and resources to improve their own lives.

Learn more about the Carter Center here.

Inform Women, Transform Lives

The fundamental right of access to information is critical for both governments and the people they serve and is particularly crucial for women. It provides for a more meaningful voice, enabling women to participate in public life, access public services, and make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Yet for many women, the power of information remains unreachable.

Women are less likely to demand and receive access to information, yet they are often responsible for earning income and caring for family; are more likely to be poor or illiterate; are less likely to participate or use their voices; are more susceptible to and affected by corruption; and are sometimes in danger of retribution in cultures dominated by men if they ask for information.

The Carter Center’s groundbreaking Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign is working to change that. Through the campaign, the Center partners with city leaders around the globe to raise awareness about women’s right to information and to help cities provide women with information about beneficial city services.

Learn more about the Inform Women, Transform Lives Program.

The Family Caregiver Program

The Baltimore City Family Caregiver Program, part of the National Family Caregiver Support Program, provides essential services to family caregivers who help older adults, children, or disabled individuals. This program offers resources such as counseling, support groups, respite care, and supplemental services like home repairs and medical supplies. Caregivers in Baltimore City can access financial grants for respite or other caregiving-related expenses, with assistance ranging from $300-$600 annually. The program is available to caregivers of individuals aged 60+ or grandparents/relative caregivers aged 55+ caring for children or disabled individuals. Services are designed to support caregivers in maintaining their roles while improving the quality of care for their loved ones.

Learn more about the Family Caregiver Program.

The Baltimore City Women's Commission

The Baltimore Commission for Women believes in a high quality of life and in equal rights, opportunities, and access to services for all women, women-identifying, non-binary, and/or assigned-female-at-birth individuals. The Commission develops information systems, provides advice and counsel, conducts research, hosts educational programming, analyzes policy, and advocates for women’s issues to improve the lives of and opportunities for all women, women-identifying, non-binary, and/or assigned-female-at-birth individuals in Baltimore.

Learn more about the Baltimore City Women's Commission.

Project Contacts

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