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Health & Safety Committee

Committee Chair: Commissioners Mary Daly & Lisa Carlson
Staff: Lilly Talbert    

VCW believes that health care coverage should be affordable and accessible to all Vermonters; that every woman has a right to privacy and access to comprehensive educational, medical, and counseling services; and that everyone has the indisputable right to live free of domestic and sexual violence.

VCW monitors legislation and public policies, provides research and information, and collaborates on measures that support the following outcomes:

  • Women and children live free of all forms of violence.
  • Women have access to quality affordable health care.
  • Women and girls have access to information about health and safety.

In September 2019, VCW commissioners identified areas of interest to them, listed below. The ones in bold may fall under this committee’s purview.

1.    Reducing use of term “Women’s Issues”, and increasing buy-in that we all benefit 
2.    Increase discussion of lack of options for low-wage workers experiencing harassment 

3.    Mandatory (required to be taken) maternity and paternity leave
4.    Requirement that all salary information is public including private employers 
5.    Listening Project – data
a.    Not what we think – what do we hear?
6.    Easy wins (little things like “Men Working” sign, changing tables in men’s rooms)

7.    ERA x2
8.    Title IX Discrimination against incarcerated women.  Education, job training, access.
9.    Paid Family Leave
10.    Raise the minimum wage
11.    Women’s economic power, specifically low wage workers
12.    Child protection reform and transparency
13.    Child Care
14.    Communication around legal protections – breastfeeding protections, sexual harassment protections, etc.  
15.    Obesity – poor nutrition 
16.    Continued investment in childcare
17.    Massive culture change within women’s correctional facility needed
18.    Children’s health – school lunch programs, nutrition taught in schools (P-12) 
19.    Universal basic income
20.    Promote our resources -> social media, website, send a rep to conferences, advisory organizations

Meets the second Monday of each month at 9:00 a.m. via conference call

2021

July 19, 2021 Agenda | Minutes (Joint Meeting With Health & Safety Committee)
June 2, 2021 Agenda | Minutes (Joint Meeting With Health & Safety Committee)
May 10, 2021 Rescheduled - Joining With Education Committee At June 2, 9 Am Meeting
April 12, 2021 Agenda | Minutes
March 8, 2021  Agenda | Minutes
February 8, 2021 Agenda | Minutes

2020

December 7, 2020 Agenda | Minutes
November 9, 2020 Agenda | Minutes | 3 Initiatives Handout
October 12, 2020 Agenda | Minutes
June 8, 2020 Agenda | Minutes
May 11, 2020  Agenda | Minutes
April 13, 2020 Agenda | Minutes
February 10, 2020 Agenda | Minutes
January 24, 2020   Agenda | Minutes Special Meeting; Re: Universal School Meals

2019

March 12, 2019  Agenda | Minutes

2018

April 10, 2018  Agenda | Minutes
March 13, 2018  Agenda  | Minutes
February 13, 2018 Agenda | Minutes